Tonight's BBC News carried the disturbing tale of someone in an internet chatroom, announcing he was going to kill himself. Which he did. Nobody in the chatroom took any action at the time. In other instances, people have been encouraged to take their own life whilst in a chatroom, and given advice how to proceed.
I think that's atrocious. In law, it is a criminal offense to assist in suicide. By morality it is unspeakable to act like that. I am no longer a frequenter of chatrooms, but if I were to find myself in such a position, I would imagine there are several avenues open.
- keep talking to the person
- dissuade them in any way possible
- get them to speak to someone on the phone (Samaritans) or face-to-face
Failing all that, and fearing the worst has happened, I think an emergency call should be placed with police.
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This happened last year and on the play back you could hear people telling him to do it, which sadly he did, I agree with trying to help but with so many people egging someone on its hard to give positive assistance. In chatrooms there should always be a moderator, who can report these actions also to remove anyone who is assisting.
ReplyDeleteYasmin
This is horrible Guido ,arent there some odd people about ,I mean fancy encouraging some one to committ suiside, which as you say is illegal ,..love Jan xx
ReplyDeleteI find it appaling that others in the chatroom would egg someone on to commit suicide!! It's like people are living in a fantasy world and thinking of this seriousness as "just a game!" Mean while someone took their life! I so wish someone would have at least tried to help him~maybe he'd still be with us today.
ReplyDeleteHUGS~Donna
This is really sad, perhaps if someone had reached out to them they would not have gone through with it. What is the matter with people?
ReplyDeleteLisa
So sad, all it might have taken is just one person to step up to the plate and chat with that person. What a shame. We must not let opportunities go by to reach out to someone, especially someone who seems desperate. Linda in WA
ReplyDeleteThat makes me very sad. I cannot phathom feeling so hopeless that I would take my own life. No matter where I was...chatroom...rest room if I heard someone saying they wanted to committ suicide I would reach for them. I only wish the world would be kinder. Take care - Irene
ReplyDeleteThat's horrible. You're right about what to do in the case of someone threatening suicide. Not more you could do. Perhaps try to get in touch with AOL if it's an AOL chat. So sad.
ReplyDeleteBarb
How sad. It is terrible when a suicide-threat is not taken seriously. They should ALWAYS be taken seriously.
ReplyDeleteLori
how awful, i imagine that these people were using the chatrooms as a cry for help, and i guess that in their state anything said to them to confirm their decision, rather than contradict it, would sound logical to them. I can understand what drives people to this terrible decision, help and support is what they need not encouragement. I agree with you guido that all threats should be taken seriously and that anyone who hears this threat should act on it if they can't help the person themselves then the police should be called in. mrs t x
ReplyDeletehttp://journals.aol.co.uk/mleppard06/eternity/
I think that there should be no chatroom unless each one has a moderator policing what is said.
ReplyDeleteI can't begin to believe the depravity and emotionless state some of these chatroom visitor's reveal to others without any qualms of how others will react to their suggestions. They must be insane to stand by and allow someone so depressed commit suicide.! It just beggars belief that human beings are capable of such acts!
I hope they are haunted forever by their deeds.
Jeanie
What made this case particularly awful was that one of the room had his brother's mobile number. ? There was discussion between these roomies as to whether to intervene; they decided not to. I do wonder if they thought that they had choices. And if all these kids were suicidal. I've visited the child protection on line site recently, and that site has a button you hit to report anything untoward. I know we have the ability to "report" on aol...but i'm not convinced the reports are instantly accessed, particularly in the case of someone wanting to commit suicide. With all the technological expertise, there has to be a way of getting some thing into a pc where in the case of suicide, home attack, that you can hit a button. Young people are being subliminly threatened, someone, must know how to set something up. End of rant. Peg. oxo
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