Posted by OddipusRex on June 20, 2003, at 20:03:51
In reply to Re: Suicidal posters, posted by Dr. Bob on April 3, 2003, at 7:45:19
Dr Bob when you publicly post that you will intervene then aren't you creating the expectation that you will? And doesn't that just encourage this sort of thing? And someday if you don't intervene don't you think someone out there is going to sue the psycho pants off you?You have said that you think the posters handle these posts well but I don't think they do. It comes at quite a cost. Just because something blows over and the board moves on doesn't mean all is well. It takes an enormous toll on people who stumble into these situations.
I think the best solution is to remove those posts and insist that those people use all their energy to call 911. I think that treats suicide with the seriousness it deserves. Suicidal depression could be discussed without making threats.
I think leaving all those threads in the archives creates a kind of momentum and encourages this kind of behaviour. If you need to keep all posts for posterity couldn't you keep them privately?
Another alternative is a separate board for suicidal posts but that wouldn't solve a lot of problems.
OddipusRex Esq
> > The anonymity of the web is a double edged sword. It helps us feel comfortable disclosing our darkest most dangerous thoughts. But it also makes it difficult for anyone to help us when we do.
> >
> > Often with regular posters, there are other posters who have outside contact with the person in crisis, and they usually do what they can. But even then the amount of information might not really be enough to help. It makes for a lot of frustration when we see someone in very real pain and at risk.
> >
> > Dinah
>
> > I guess the answer is ... there's not much you can do but try to get a person to get a person to be *rational* and seek help.
> >
> > Too dicey an area and is causing me to rethink how I want to use this site or others like it - good as it is.
> >
> > Dragonslayer
>
> > Personally, I think there should be intervention if someone says he is in danger but that's different from just talking about suicide in general. At one time a poster made multiple posts about suicidal feelings (no threats) and also mentioned having guns in his house. What about situations like that? And what about posters who aren't popular or able to generate much popular support? Couldn't the lack of support drive them over the edge? What about suicidal posters who are banned for incivility in the middle of suicidal episodes? What about posters who are led into further despair by reading suicidal thoughts of others? What about the loss of trust if someone was turned into the authorities for something he posted here? What about ambiguous posts? What about attention seekers?
> >
> > If anyone posted something that I thought meant their life was in danger and I had anyway to notify someone I would and I would expect Bob or anyone else to do the same. But I would rather not be put in that position.
> >
> > OddipusRex
>
> This has been a good discussion. These are complicated issues. I said before, in the thread that Oddipus referred to:
>
> > It can be hard to know where to draw the line, but if I thought I could keep someone from killing themselves, I'd do what I could.
> >
> > http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20021128/msgs/8580.html
>
> And that would include, as Nikki says:
>
> > I know Dr Bob can access our IP numbers.. from that number you can find out who the persons ISP (internet service provider) is. You ISP can then find out who the IP address was assigned to at that particular time. Your ISP will have contact details for you.
> >
> > if Dr Bob was the contact the police, and the police thought it was serious enough to act upon, then I expect the police would be able to contact the poster.
>
> Bob
poster:OddipusRex
thread:215122
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20030508/msgs/235583.html