Sunday, November 06, 2005
We're all gullible and dumb
A lot of people sure seem comfortable relating how easily manipulated they are when someone tries to make them feel bad. Look at these masses of silly putty. You can even draw a Venn diagram.
I am the stereotypical bleeding heart liberal who is comfortable spending huge sums of other people's money to feel good about myself if someone raises an emotional issue: Liz Froneberger, Keith Perdue
I am the stereotypical bleeding heart liberal who thinks that if a life can be saved in an obvious manner, we should save it at huge cost (and possibly by not saving other lives) by taking responsibility for someone else's decision about her own life: Jan Weith, Marya Grambs, John King, Chris Hawkins, Liz Froneberger, Carma Winfrey-Hayes, Bill Tilden
I am a complete idiot who thinks that the impact of someone trying to kill herself and failing is the same as the impact of someone not trying to kill herself: Jan Weith
Special considerations:
Nutcase Marya Grambs tried to jump off the bridge but couldn't, and thinks this somehow means a suicide barrier should go up. It wouldn't save Marya's life, of course, because Marya didn't even jump when there wasn't a barrier.
Awards:
While I disagree with the conclusion, Mary-Colleen Tinney is at least consistent about wanting to save lives, rather than just wanting to save lives obviously.
But I have no hope of that, and instead foresee tens of millions of dollars spent on erecting a barrier to prevent those 19 deaths while hundreds, if not thousands, suffer and die in the streets and homes of San Francisco not just from suicide but from other causes that an influx of $2 million would help. But, as you point out, those stories occurring in darkened alleyways or graying homes don't have the so-called romantic beauty of the leap from the Golden Gate Bridge, nor the public outcry, nor the seven-day series.
Chris Rasmussen had close pals suiciding with dugs and hanging.
While neither of my friends used the Golden Gate Bridge as a vehicle for death, in response to their passing I would humbly submit that I've neither the urge to ban prescription drugs nor the growing of trees.
Glenn Perry is a psychotherapist who calls it correctly:
It might come as something of a shock, but I am completely opposed to erecting a barrier to prevent these acts. While I would do everything in my power to dissuade someone from jumping, it is not right to require society to pay the price of someone else's reckless act.
...
In my opinion, barrier building is synonymous with co-dependency and the out-of-control PC mentality that has taken our culture by the throat. It presumes collective responsibility for actions that are individually self-destructive. We are not responsible. You are not responsible. The person who commits suicide is responsible.
While I sympathize with the grief of those who are left behind, their suffering is not sufficient cause to create a barrier that not only would destroy the natural beauty of both the bridge and the view but also would serve as a constant, grim reminder of the selfish, hostile and ultimately immoral actions of those who have jumped.
In my opinion, the proper response to bridge suicides is to ignore them. They are not newsworthy. We should focus instead on doing everything we can to increase quality of life and celebrate its beauty. A morbid preoccupation with death, and frantic efforts to control it, is not charitable; it is merely symptomatic of an anxious, fear-ridden, death-phobic society that confuses intrusiveness with compassion.
While I disagree with him that jumpers are immoral and selfish, those who are related to those who jump and demand a suicide barrier certainly are.
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