Really disgusted at the human race right now.

**draggar** · 06-30-2011, 06:15 AM

I came across a news article about a suicide the other day and something really struck me about it so I did some research and checked at least 5 news articles about it. The suicide was (I won't get into the details or link the story):

- In a public place and at a place people will wait for at least a few minutes
- During a time of day where it is busier than usual (and most articles quoted at least 3-4 witnesses)
- You could see it coming from a few minutes away, the victim set themself up to die and it was almost clear they intended to die
- The actual death was quick (few seconds)
- "Saving" the person would have been easy and at little to no risk at their rescuers.

What has disgusted me the most is that out of all the articles, not a SINGLE ONE mentioned that ANYONE tried to intervene. People stood around and watched this unfold in front of them, knowing the victim was in peril and just watched.

Have we, as human, become either that self centered or that desensitized to someone clearly in need? Are we too used to watching death and destruction in far away places on the news and fake scenes like in shows and movies that we just shrug off something like this when it unfolds right in front of us?

People mentioned the horror of itnessing what happened - really? Why didn't you do anything a minute or two before!! Someone was pretty much shouting out that they wanted to help and not a single person lent a hand to lift them out of their dark hole.

To quote a radio show personality I used to listen to when I lived in NJ, "Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?"

**DomainsInc** · 06-30-2011, 06:49 AM

i don't get why people do this in the first place. they obviously want to be stopped or want some kind of attention. why not seek out help properly? why do this in public for kids or anyone else to see?

**draggar** · 06-30-2011, 07:06 AM

If they did it in a public place then they were asking for help and no one offered it. Suicideal people who don't wat help will usually do it in privacy.

I'm wondering why no one offered to help.

**amcdonald** · 06-30-2011, 07:25 AM

I am always disgusted with it.
the world has changed, life has lost its value. there was also a time when the news would not report a suicide.

**south** · 06-30-2011, 07:55 AM

I used to give people the benefit of the doubt until I got to know them. Now I assume they are all assholes until they prove otherwise.

I love my dogs...

**amcdonald** · 06-30-2011, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by south

I used to give people the benefit of the doubt until I got to know them. Now I assume they are all assholes until they prove otherwise.

I love my dogs...

You are a good person! I judge people on how much they love their animals.

**draggar** · 06-30-2011, 08:47 AM

Then you'd love me. We have a dog who isn't ours living in hour home (several months now) because the "owner" neglected him (she did nothing with him, he spent most of his days in an outdoor kennel). We're also trying to correct the issues that the neglect caused (and this is on top of the zoo we alreayd have!).

**biggedon** · 06-30-2011, 09:03 AM

people often won't get involved in public suicide attempts, but will risk their lives to save a cat or a dog

guess it depends on who you love more at the time... yourself, another person or that animal in distress.

**Gerry** · 06-30-2011, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by draggar

If they did it in a public place then they were asking for help and no one offered it. Suicideal people who don't wat help will usually do it in privacy.

I'm wondering why no one offered to help.

Nor will they call 911...

**Mike Cruz** · 06-30-2011, 10:33 AM

Was it someone who was trying to plank something and accidentally killed themselves? This seems to be quite popular lately. I would be interested in knowing the full story before judging 1.) the person who supposedly killed themselves and 2.) the people who supposedly could of done something to help this person.

**Gerry** · 06-30-2011, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by zurc.net

Was it someone who was trying to plank something and accidentally killed themselves? This seems to be quite popular lately. I would be interested in knowing the full story before judging 1.) the person who supposedly killed themselves and 2.) the people who supposedly could of done something to help this person.

Australia, drunk, trying to plank himself on a balcony rail several stories up.

**ksinclair** · 06-30-2011, 05:32 PM

When people are in shock, they freeze up. They might also fear the person could lash out.

But our culture now does seem more paranoid then a few decades go. Look at the US press - we are constantly 'taught' to be afraid. Fear of terrorists, murderers, etc. So where are the terrorists? We have this enormous budget now for terrorism and they never detect anything. But 50,000 americans die every year in car accidents; why dont people demand safer cars? Conservatives in particular focus all the time on social issues, but real people are dying, for real reasons, and no one talks about it. We live in a "culture of paranoia" and the impressionable all get sucked right in.

Paranoia: recently TSA searched a 95 year old woman, who was flying. They forced her to remove her diaper even. Its SICK.

In contrast, let me tell a story from my own family. In the 1940's, my uncle (who is white) was walking down the street
and saw a man (black) who seemed despondent. He stopped and asked him what was wrong. The guy had moved to Oregon from the south and could not find a job, and had become homeless. My uncle let him stay at his house for a time, and gave him a job where he worked. Its an amazing story and there are other details too. I never even knew this story - my uncle never talked about it - until, at my uncles funeral, this man came and stood up and told the story - it was very heartwarming. I just dont see that happening nowadays. People are more selfish.

And people are greedy now. In the 1950's people were just as happy as now, but happy with less. Nowadays every family wants a new SUV and a 2nd car and a big LCD tv and all kinds of other things. Greed and selfishness go hand-in-hand.

We should each try to help someone, each day. Even if its a small thing; make that effort. That is how I live.

Kevin

**James Jean** · 06-30-2011, 06:09 PM

Erich Fromm: The Sane society.... a must read!!!

**Mike Cruz** · 06-30-2011, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by Doc Com

Australia, drunk, trying to plank himself on a balcony rail several stories up.

Exactly what I thought... so he was not trying to commit suicide, nor did anyone around him think he was trying to commit suicide, he was just planking and it was a horrible accident... That's why I don't judge til I know the details.

**lordbyroniv** · 06-30-2011, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by south

I used to give people the benefit of the doubt until I got to know them. Now I assume they are all assholes until they prove otherwise.

I love my dogs...

U and me both - My girl always asks me why I have so few friends. Who needs friends ? I have my dogs.

**Mike Cruz** · 06-30-2011, 09:59 PM

Hah. I love people... mehh well... some... but I do have a plaque in the shape of a dog bone that reads "the more people I meet, the more I like my dog"... I have a French Mastiff... (Dogue de Bordeaux)... awesome, smart, beautiful dog.

**Poker** · 06-30-2011, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by draggar

Have we, as human, become either that self centered or that desensitized to someone clearly in need? Are we too used to watching death and destruction in far away places on the news and fake scenes like in shows and movies that we just shrug off something like this when it unfolds right in front of us?

The majority of people in the world are spectators, they find themselves so often in that mode that they become conditioned by it and identify with it. A minority of the world are movers and shakers, people that actually add value to the world through their behavior. We all have a choice to break out of the stupor or to stay in it.

A very similar story occurred downtown a little more than a year ago when I was going to get coffee. I didn't know about it until after the person had jumped, but many people were there and many of them had been there while he was on the ledge. This occurred in a huge tourist spot in daytime and the crowd just watched, some taking pictures, some even yelling "jump". I couldn't believe it when I read the details later. Google: forever 21 suicide.

Use these type of stories to build your determination to not get sucked into the ignorance that covers far too many people.

**Dynamic1** · 06-30-2011, 11:44 PM

Be the change you want to see in the world. I do my best to live by this.

**draggar** · 07-01-2011, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by zurc.net

Was it someone who was trying to plank something and accidentally killed themselves? This seems to be quite popular lately. I would be interested in knowing the full story before judging 1.) the person who supposedly killed themselves and 2.) the people who supposedly could of done something to help this person.

I don't want to give out details but think of the old James Bond-style killer, he's tied on a board with a laser slowly working it's way to him, it'll take about to miutes. Now think of the person lying down on that board with no restraints and it takes several minutes for the laser to reach them. Bystanders have a few minutes to save James Bond's life with little to no risk to themselves. All they have to do is tell himits notsafe, to move, and maybe even move him off the board.

I found one news story that came out the next day that reports everyone was yelling at the victim. Only one story reporting this?

Originally Posted by Dynamic1

Be the change you want to see in the world. I do my best to live by this.

Great words to live by. Who knows what this person could have done if one bystander said "stop, don't do this" or taken stronger measures to stop it.

As for dogs, I'm sure there are planety pictures of mine all over. Funny how vacation pictures include more picturesof dogs than of humans.

**JB Lions** · 07-01-2011, 08:36 AM

Details would actually help. Was it somebody about to kill themselves with a gun in their hand? Most people aren't going to run up and try to help in that situation. Did it look like that had something strapped to them? Maybe people were thinking it could have been a bomb. Details help round out the story.