*trigger warning*(?) public suicide

[ed miliband]

there were two helicopters circling my neighbourhood about an hour ago so i thought i'd go down to the high street to check out what was happening. long story short, a guy who looked a little older than me (early - mid 20s) was on top of a building threatening to throw himself off. huge crowds of people were waiting at every available corner, behind police cordons, watching in anticipation of him jumping. some had phones out and were filming or taking pictures. even worse, listening to the conversations between the onlookers, the majority were more concerned about the delay this would cause to their journey than the poor guy about to jump...

i didn't hang around, but have been looking at twitter -- even worse. people wishing he'd jump, complaining bitterly about the delay he is causing (and the fact that they now have to walk!), laughing, speculating about whether he has substance abuse issues or is mentally ill (of course, in crass language), and on and on. so full of hate and cruelty.

helicopters are back out, so something must have changed. i hope he's okay.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Yeah, it's a shame that people are like that sometimes. I remember that case of the guy who committed suicide live on the internet (by overdosing on pills)...a lot of people watched it but no one called 911 until well after he was dead. And then of course there are the people who encourage suicidal people to act on their thoughts etc.

[GiantMonkeyMan]

Complete and utter alienation within communities (if you can even call them 'communities' these days).

[Ele'ill]

Makes you wonder who actually has the mental health issues.

[Ele'ill]

Complete and utter alienation within communities (if you can even call them 'communities' these days).


also within communities that are supposed to be understanding of it, like a lot of 'radical communities'

[ed miliband]

Complete and utter alienation within communities (if you can even call them 'communities' these days).

yep, i was thinking to myself how i never see people talk amongst each other in the street; it takes something as terrible as this, and even then...

[GiantMonkeyMan]

also within communities that are supposed to be understanding of it, like a lot of 'radical communities'
Fucking tell me about it... :(

[Quail]

Wow, that is pretty fucked up. But sadly it doesn't surprise me.

[Art Vandelay]

Makes you wonder who actually has the mental health issues.

So this.


Insanity - a perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world. - R.D. Laing.

[mew]

Yes it's sad. I know people who have lived in Japan and of course there it's not so uncommon for people to jump infront of trains. The people (japanese and expats) seem to just mostly complain about the delay caused? If you say that's cruel they'll just say it's so common and it's selfish to waste everyone's time...
I detest rubbernecking wrt car accidents which is kind of similar...but I guess that can turn into patting myself on the back for being sensitive.

[Ocean Seal]

So this.

I think that society needs a serious case of medication.


Yes it's sad. I know people who have lived in Japan and of course there it's not so uncommon for people to jump infront of trains. The people (japanese and expats) seem to just mostly complain about the delay caused? If you say that's cruel they'll just say it's so common and it's selfish to waste everyone's time...
I detest rubbernecking wrt car accidents which is kind of similar...but I guess that can turn into patting myself on the back for being sensitive.
No you're right. Its not just patting yourself on the back, some people are just genuinely mean, and that's fucked up.

[Flying Purple People Eater]

I'm so sorry you had to see that Ed, and I also hope the guy is alive and well.

I completely agree about the apathet bit. People like that can be more disturbing than a hotblooded racist.


Yes it's sad. I know people who have lived in Japan and of course there it's not so uncommon for people to jump infront of trains. The people (japanese and expats) seem to just mostly complain about the delay caused? If you say that's cruel they'll just say it's so common and it's selfish to waste everyone's time...
I detest rubbernecking wrt car accidents which is kind of similar...but I guess that can turn into patting myself on the back for being sensitive.

Not only that, but the families of the people who killed themselves actually have to pay the train companies for damage repairs. (http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/man-jumps-to-death-at-shinjuku-station-in-tokyo)

[Leftsolidarity]

Not only that, but the families of the people who killed themselves actually have to pay the train companies for damage repairs. (http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/man-jumps-to-death-at-shinjuku-station-in-tokyo)

I looked at the article and it didn't say anything about the families having to pay.