Shocker: Man Is Taunted Into Commiting Suicide ... By People On A Message Board!!!

reply to post by prototism

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You bring up a good question. I was thinking about the stuff going on right now with the girl in St. Louis, MO hanging herself after the mother posted on her myspace.

I have wondered about this and still am not sure about the whole internet bullying thing. I think that these people had issues that needed to be dealt with regardless of what others did. At the same time I think it is wrong to mess with what is obviously a weak mind. Again though how is one to know they are dealing with someone who is really thinking about killing themselves?

I am sure most of us have at least once been mean or insulting to someone on the internet. If they killed themselves directly after should we have been charged? Not saying what they did was right but at the same time people need to look at those who killed themselves to start with. Something tells me that these people would have done this regardless of others most of the time.

Each of us interact with countless people every day and anything we say or do could set off a reaction such as this. Before anyone bashes those on that board (again not defending them for being jerks) think about each time you have yelled at someone, think about each time you cut someone off, or did something out of spite. Look at some of the personal attacks on people or their beliefs on ATS even. Then think about if they were unstable and weak minded what they might have done or still might do because of you and your actions or words. I am just as guilty of this as anybody. But where does it end and who decides what the limit is. I have seen some boards where everyone is joking around and things are going fine and then someone just gets mad for seemingly no reason. The human mind is strange indeed and trying to understand it can really only confuse a person.

Raist

reply to post by Raist

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I think there is a difference between commands, and insults. The former is direct antagonization, while the latter is indirect antagonization.

In other words, we are all guilty of message board insult and ad-hominem, but what these people did goes beyond that; they encouraged and commanded the victim to commit suicide.

Cmon!! Have people just lost their minds all together to go as far as killing themselves over a post or video and forums????

Quite frankly, it is NOT sad, it is STUPID to the core.


Ok so go knock yourself off because a bunch of no-body-you-will-ever-know-in-person says to go do it!

THAT is NOT sad...it is STUPID!!!

I can think of far better ways to get attention and 15 minutes of fame without following a bunch of people suggesting something STUPID.

What is this country turning into..a nation full of brainless wannabe's????

Sheesh!!!

Cheers!!!!

reply to post by RFBurns

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Its not stupid, per se.

The anonymous nature of the Internet allows, breeds, and perpetuates this behavior.

This would be more shocking if this had happened in real life.

reply to post by prototism

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With the girl in MO the mother said something along the lines of how she should kill herself or the world would be better off without her.

She is going through trial now or so.

Again though really with many of the stunts people do to get attention how did the posters not know if he were taking candy instead of pills or only taking one or two sleeping pills instead of a handful? I did not see the video of him so I can only speculate on what he was doing but the camera can be tricked if the angle is not good. The posters may have been simply playing along as well as being jerks. But who knows this could certainly bring about some more legislation.

I know the issue with the girl in St. Louis brought up tons of talk about bills of internet bullying. But again that brings up the question of who is to judge what is joking and what is straight provocation? All I know is that people are getting way too involved in what is happening on the internet. To me this signals people lack of being able to separate real life from internet life which is dangerous and scary to say the least.

Raist

reply to post by Raist

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I'm sure you would agree that the inability to separate reality from virtual reality is only going to get worse, as technology improves and/or as people become more desensitized.



[edit on 11/21/2008 by prototism]

reply to post by prototism

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Yes, and that is truly the most saddening thing of all.

I sometimes wonder when I see things some people write or hear what they say if intelligence does not destroy some common sense. It seems the more knowledge we gain as humans the less common sense we have.

Every day I wonder more and more about the state of the world we live in because of the people I come across in my life. Sometimes it is a pleasant surprise other times it sends shivers down my spine or makes me sit in awe for good or bad.

Raist

reply to post by Raist

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I agree completely.

Going further, I propose that the religious movement is somewhat similar to the Internet one.

That is, if you consider the beliefs of the religious as a virtual reality, then one can say the problem of not being able to separate virtual reality from reality has always been a problem of humanity. Except now, there is another avenue.

[edit on 11/21/2008 by prototism]

And just where in the hell is this story?

reply to post by prototism

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Well I consider myself a Christian, though really I understand I should have more compassion for the man who killed himself (that is an issue I must work on). I do though feel great amounts of sorrow for his family and friends.


For the religion perspective I will tell you that man has interfered far too much with religion and possibly created the largest amount of religion. I believe that faith is what matters, not the religious dogma that you see practiced so often. I think that God is far more concerned with what is in my heart than what direction I face when reading something, if I am burning a certain incent, if I read only in a certain language, or if I raise my hands during worship. That is not to say I should not worry about my works as well. I need to also show my love for God in the things I do, that would mean loving those around me.

So to answer your question I think to a point that yes many people are unable to see past religion and see things for how they really are.


Raist

[reply to post by Raist

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I'm anti-religious and agnostic. And while I have no problem with the "original", intended, theoretical purpose of religion (Christianity specifically, in this case), I do have a problem with what it has turned into, generally speaking. That is, people misinterpret things for their own ends, and build their own "virtual reality", a reality that is neither reality, nor the intended Christian reality.

But I am glad you are one of the few Christians who can at least recognize this notion.

[edit on 11/21/2008 by prototism]

Already being discussed...

Like all day too.. where have you been?


www.abovetopsecret.com...

reply to post by HunkaHunka

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This thread was posted 8 hours earlier than the one you referenced.

reply to post by prototism

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I think it is more important to fix myself first. I have my own issues to fix before I could begin to fix others so to speak. Sort of how I see suicide for me it is a personal issue and have seen what it does to those involved. This guy had issues, but he hurt his family and friend more than he knows.

reply to post by HunkaHunka

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I ask the same to you. Look at the time stamps on the threads more closely this time.


Raist

I hear a lot of times how people don't feel bad for the people who commit suicide. I understand why- it seems like a completely selfish act because the person's family and friends are devastated. Truth is, it is too late to feel sorry for a person who is dead anyway. I think a lot of people don't realize that an irrational suicidal person is not thinking only about themselves- no telling what is really going through their heads. They are often in a state of depression and even psychosis where they are not living in reality. They could be in extreme pain under delusions. I have been there- I thought I would help everyone by dying and that God wanted me to die. I can't stress enough how important it is to get someone help. Don't just assume they want attention. I never told anyone about my feelings until felt that I might not make it through the night. I had an extremely difficult time getting the words out to the doctor, too. It never hurts anyone to err on the side of caution.

reply to post by raven bombshell

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I can understand that. But I will say that someone in my family actually went through with the deed because alcohol was more important to them.

I guess I have a bias against those who would commit suicide. Possibly sometimes unfairly against those who are feeling as you mention. I try to feel at least some compassion for them but often it is hard to do. I can admit that I have this bias and why I have it. I cannot answer for the why others have such a bias.

In the case of this kid I believe he just gave up and wanted people to see it. I do not believe that these people talked him into it I think he already had it planned.

I will say though that since he took it to this board it might have had some to do with things that took place prior to this. Maybe he had what he believed to be a relationship or friendship with someone who basically stomped his heart. But that is pure speculation.

Raist

reply to post by prototism

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ye I agree. I can't believe such a thing happened. I am sure the website must be having loads of comments about it.

I would hate to be the owner of the site where this occurred cause it will hurt business and rep.

I am currently trying to make my own website. I will make sure to have rules to avoid these things.

reply to post by anachryon

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Ya that's true but there was a delay. I knew this when the guy done it. I was alerted by my friend.

He goes on that site alot. He told me some kid was going to kill himself and then when I got on that site he already done it so while trying to hear for any new info and also trying to find some source to post here.

I then type this. while typing I was waiting for more news. Then finally just posted this.

Which after I posted it I refreshed my browser and found other postings happening at that time.

There is nothing funny about depression.

Preying on it for spectator sport should be a crime.

But this - medium - and others - separates us from each other - I would like to think that at least ONE of those posters is doing some soul-searching right now.

But then, maybe there are people on this planet who simply have no empathy, no heart, no soul.