Golden Gate Bridge Suicides

[RoadDebris]

Jason, I'm a veteran as well, as I'm sure many others here are. It's no secret how things run in the service. However, the idea that our warriors need a fence to keep them from killing themselves is pathetic.

 

[jasoncran]

Jason, I'm a veteran as well, as I'm sure many others here are. It's no secret how things run in the service. However, the idea that our warriors need a fence to keep them from killing themselves is pathetic.

theres a lot of things that the services does these that you wouldnt like. i can list the overreactions to accidents and so on.

i am all for safety,

my favorite is wearing the kevlar while in the contonement area just because(in a tactical vehicle) one soldier hit her head while in a car accident. she had her seat belt on. or the tree hugging rule(laughing?) clean the road after the your convoy crosses it from the woods. or posts that dont allowing foxholes to be dug.

 

[Pard]

Just so you are all aware. They looked into a suicide barrier for the GG bridge. Total cost? $60 million. Looking at some examples of ones they have in place, I'd put them as harder to climb than a chain-link fence and easier than a wall, both of which are climbable.

Still, let's face it. That $60 million isn't going to stop people from killing themselves. It's only going to stop people from killing themselves on the Golden Gate, in front of on lookers. If the city decides to go for it, the sole reason is to lessen negative publicity. No fewer people will be killing themselves, they will just find a new "hot spot".

You can wrap the entire house in bubble wrap, but the baby is still going to find a way to get hurt.

 

[Pizzaguy]

Just so you are all aware. They looked into a suicide barrier for the GG bridge. Total cost? $60 million. Looking at some examples of ones they have in place, I'd put them as harder to climb than a chain-link fence and easier than a wall, both of which are climbable.

Still, let's face it. That $60 million isn't going to stop people from killing themselves. It's only going to stop people from killing themselves on the Golden Gate, in front of on lookers. If the city decides to go for it, the sole reason is to lessen negative publicity. No fewer people will be killing themselves, they will just find a new "hot spot".

You can wrap the entire house in bubble wrap, but the baby is still going to find a way to get hurt.

You cut thru the crap very well with that post.

 

[Nick]

About what, that I'm a bit of a libertarian, the Nancy Pelosi isn't my mother, that freedom isn't free, that it's not always pretty, or that it's better than totalitarianism?

That freedom is better than the alternative. I'm talking about the libertarian type of freedom here.

Just so you are all aware. They looked into a suicide barrier for the GG bridge. Total cost? $60 million. Looking at some examples of ones they have in place, I'd put them as harder to climb than a chain-link fence and easier than a wall, both of which are climbable.

Still, let's face it. That $60 million isn't going to stop people from killing themselves. It's only going to stop people from killing themselves on the Golden Gate, in front of on lookers. If the city decides to go for it, the sole reason is to lessen negative publicity. No fewer people will be killing themselves, they will just find a new "hot spot".

You can wrap the entire house in bubble wrap, but the baby is still going to find a way to get hurt.

Money would be better spend on education.

 

[Pard]

Money would be better spend on education.

No, if anything money will harm the education system. Look at the state of the US education system right now. They only pile money onto the problem, but money isn't the answer, it's just a giant curtain that hides the hideous truth.

The $60 million would be best spent enriching the community, or here's a grand idea, kick it back to the citizens. I but that would sure lift the spirits of many a suicidal person. I mean economic issues are the leading cause of depression (after a lack of Jesus!) so giving it back to the people (of whatever city the Golden Gate bridge is in...) might just cheer them up.

 

[Nick]

No, if anything money will harm the education system. Look at the state of the US education system right now. They only pile money onto the problem, but money isn't the answer, it's just a giant curtain that hides the hideous truth.

Money is needed to improve the education system. No matter what/how you want to improve the quality of the educaiton system, it will require money.

Something should be done about the problem. Either something with the bridge, or something with education or social support. I don't like standing by and doing nothing.

How would you improve the education system?

The $60 million would be best spent enriching the community, or here's a grand idea, kick it back to the citizens. I but that would sure lift the spirits of many a suicidal person. I mean economic issues are the leading cause of depression (after a lack of Jesus!) so giving it back to the people (of whatever city the Golden Gate bridge is in...) might just cheer them up.

How about giving it back to the people in services? Such as health for instance? Or public transport?

I assume what you mean by giving it back to the people is a tax cut? If so, then that money is better spent on the community by the government. If the tax cut is say $6 a week (this was the case in the previous federal Australian government) that is enough to buy a couple of coffees or a Big Mac meal. That is how it was campaigned. But if that money was put to good use in improving infrastructure, that would have been mroe useful. Tax cuts are not all they're cracked up to be, IMO. Having said that, reckless spending is not a good option either.

I agree, the economy affects many people, and I can't imagine what it's like in the US at this point in time. Wise stimulus spending could be beneficial. But $60 million doesn't go far. When you consider that the size of Australia's economy is about that of some US states, it took about $60 billion (Australian) to prevent the Australian economy from going into recession. From memory we suffered from only 1 quarter of negative growth, and even then it was at the most a 1.4% contraction.

After all that, I don't want to get into an economics debate. But I was trying to point out that government wisely spending the money on services, infrastructure etc would be more beneficial than giving a tax cut. And something should be done about the suicides. Perhaps the best means have yet to be discussed

 

[Pizzaguy]

Money is needed to improve the education system. No matter what/how you want to improve the quality of the educaiton system, it will require money.

Wow, seldom do you post something that I'd go to the trouble of saying this, but are you wrong there.

 

[Pard]

Wow, seldom do you post something that I'd go to the trouble of saying this, but are you wrong there.

Pizzeaguy is right, :yes

Like I said. Look at the US education system. It is failing. It is one of the worst systems in the world! Look at how much money goes into that failing system! The US education system is either second or third in terms of money put into it every year, and like 32 in terms of success.

Sticking money into the education system is just plugging the sinking ship with paper. It apeasesthe masses with a "quick fix" but it doesn't get us anywhere but broke. "Quick fixes" make for long solutions.

You get $6 a week from your government? That sucks. Our tax breaks come all at once. Like the Bush tax cuts gave us personally about $3000 in a neat little check.

 

[Nick]

Wow, seldom do you post something that I'd go to the trouble of saying this, but are you wrong there.

Can you explain where?

Pizzeaguy is right, :yes

Like I said. Look at the US education system. It is failing. It is one of the worst systems in the world! Look at how much money goes into that failing system! The US education system is either second or third in terms of money put into it every year, and like 32 in terms of success.

Sticking money into the education system is just plugging the sinking ship with paper. It apeasesthe masses with a "quick fix" but it doesn't get us anywhere but broke. "Quick fixes" make for long solutions.

I am not denying this. What I said is that any measure to change the education system for good or bad will require money. Things cost money.

You get $6 a week from your government? That sucks. Our tax breaks come all at once. Like the Bush tax cuts gave us personally about $3000 in a neat little check.

No. This particular tax cut, which was at least 6-10 years ago now was equal to $6 a week. This was part of a series of many tax cuts (at least 6 I think). We get a single payout too.

 

[jasoncran]

Just so you are all aware. They looked into a suicide barrier for the GG bridge. Total cost? $60 million. Looking at some examples of ones they have in place, I'd put them as harder to climb than a chain-link fence and easier than a wall, both of which are climbable.

Still, let's face it. That $60 million isn't going to stop people from killing themselves. It's only going to stop people from killing themselves on the Golden Gate, in front of on lookers. If the city decides to go for it, the sole reason is to lessen negative publicity. No fewer people will be killing themselves, they will just find a new "hot spot".

You can wrap the entire house in bubble wrap, but the baby is still going to find a way to get hurt.

that is why i did say earlier that only jesus heals and i do agree. pointless now.

sigh on education.nick. theres alot of issues that arent so easily solved by social programs. if a parent CARES that child will succeed. I was poor and as a kid i got free meals at times(yet seldom did i eat lunch). i graduated, yes i could have done better but thats on ME not the schools. i didnt care anymore.

 

[Nick]

sigh on education.nick. theres alot of issues that arent so easily solved by social programs. if a parent CARES that child will succeed. I was poor and as a kid i got free meals at times(yet seldom did i eat lunch). i graduated, yes i could have done better but thats on ME not the schools. i didnt care anymore.

I do agree, caring and supportive parents are essential. But if the education system is not good, then that's a pretty big problem and should be fixed. How? That's not an easy question to answer.

 

[jasoncran]

I do agree, caring and supportive parents are essential. But if the education system is not good, then that's a pretty big problem and should be fixed. How? That's not an easy question to answer.

the problem in part here in america is that the family is breaking down and also instutions cant be better then the society they are in.

one cant make a student learn if he doesnt want to.but the more i look at this neither politically party has the answer. one wants money and money and wants vote to keep in office the other wants to run it like a business. kids arent customers like a business.

 

[RockyVanRen]

I going to try to bring this back to the original thread, I live in the bay area and see the Golden Gate every time I drive to work. I also work for Amtrak. I can tell you that people do not need a bridge to kill themselves. I, unfortunately, have been used as that instrument while working more then once. No matter what you do to the bridge people will find a way. I don’t know how to fix it, I have no suggestions, but the bridge is not the key to solving the underlying problem.

 

[RoadDebris]

What Rocky said.

 

[Christ_empowered]

Once, when I was deeply psychotic, I considered jumping off a bridge. The design of the bridge prevented it, and I was picked up off the street by an ambulance and hospitalized. Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of prevention to save a life.

 

[RoadDebris]

We could lock everyone up in padded cells and there'd be no suicides.

 

[Mike]

To me, this isn't so much about the bridge as it is a bigger issue, and it depends on what someone expects of their government. If this were a privately owned bridge, the owner would take measures to reduce their exposure to risk. But, it isn't. It's publicly run.

IMO, the government isn't there to hold our hand and protect us from our own decisions. That's the same mindset that allows an inflated welfare state. People make bad decisions, and the government is supposed to carry them? Not MY government. They are supposed to get out of the way and allow me to pursue my dream. They're supposed to get out of the way so that we can all have the pursuit of happiness.

I'm sorry if I sound heartless, but the more government is seen as the answer to all our problems, the further they are allowed to go way off track! That's how far we've come - how far from the intended purpose of our government has come. It doesn't surprise me that some want the government to flip the bill, when we see similar lines being crossed all the time. More and more people are depending on the government, and it continues to consume our liberty at a startling rate. I believe if our founding fathers could see what the government they set up looks like today, they would be horrified. Upon reflection, I'd think they'd come to be in dark despair. They'd cry out, "This is not what we gave our lives for!!"

I'm only one person with one voice. People need to stop immediately looking for the government to handle their problems. It was designed to provide freedom. Sometimes this freedom is used to make good decisions, and sometimes bad ones.

Nothing should be done, IMO, by the government, but if we as Christians love these people, we should have the desire to help. Ironically, with the story about the crying guy with people passing him up, I was waiting for someone from Samaria to come by and take him home. Helping our neighbors with their problems. That's what Christians do. That's not what the government is supposed to do.

 

[farouk]

I going to try to bring this back to the original thread, I live in the bay area and see the Golden Gate every time I drive to work. I also work for Amtrak. I can tell you that people do not need a bridge to kill themselves. I, unfortunately, have been used as that instrument while working more then once. No matter what you do to the bridge people will find a way. I don’t know how to fix it, I have no suggestions, but the bridge is not the key to solving the underlying problem.

RvR:

The Bloor Bridge, an enormous structure over Toronto's Don Valley, has had wire netting put over the sides to try to prevent suicides. (If can also be dangerous for anyone unfortunate to be directly underneath, too.)

But you are right; determined people are likely to do it anyway, in one way or another.

 

[Mike]

My post #78, was mostly directed at the government taking control who would then be forced to recompense through the deceptive art of taxes for Cal citizens. They are overstepping their intended involvement in the goings on of society, and FAR, FAR, FAR too many people are willing to forsake control of their own lives and give it to Big Bro.