Golden Gate Bridge Suicides

[Nick]

while i disagree with the premise here on this situation. i wish others see that. we cant go back to 1789. american life has changed to much and from what i have read and also know about the early 20th century life i wouldnt want to live back then.

Yeah, the "good old days" where people washed once every few months, and urinated on their clothes to keep of the moth holes. No thanks!

Apparantly it took quite a lot of convincing Queen Elizabeth 1 to have a bath a month.

 

[Lewis]

Wow people are jumping and nobody knows that they have jumped. The parking lot has cars that are never returned to. People travel across the country just to kill themselves on that bridge. One female jumped and lived and was rescued, only to go back and jump again and she died the second time. A film crew saw 23 people jump in a 3 month span. About 1 person jumps off of that bridge every 2 weeks. All I can say is wow, what is the thing with that bridge. Do they think that they are making a statement, by jumping of the Golden Gate Bridge ? Why do people travel from New York and Philadelphia which is 3000 miles just to jump off of that bridge. People drive up to the parking lot get out and jump off of that bridge and get washed out to the biggest ocean in the world which is the Pacific and never get seen again, and family and friends don't know that they even jumped. This is bad, real bad.

 

[Pizzaguy]

I personally know three people who killed themselves in my lifetime (doesn't that sound like a LOT for one person???)

None of them drove all the way across the COUNTRY to do it.

They all shot themselves in the head.


Maybe people drive all the way out there as a "last adventure" on this earth or something. Or, maybe it's easier to kill yourself in a "special" place like that, not sure.

I'd think that the beauty of the bridge and the area would cause me to re-think my plan. But who knows - those willing to kill themselves are SO overwhelmed by their emotions that I guess nothing can get thru to them.

 

[RockyVanRen]

I think the bridge is a draw to those that are committed to the task. While I, personally, have not known anyone that has succeeded, I, personally, do know those that have attempted.

IMO, for most people the bridge is a last gasp, a last call for attention. In all honesty I’m biases. Every time I go to work I run the risk of being part of the last attention they get. Whether 200 feet to the water below or stepping in front of a train doing 70 an hour, the results the same..

 

[Lewis]

I knew a guy who jumped in front of a commuter train, and I had a cousin who blew his own brains out, because he had incurable brain cancer.

 

[RoadDebris]

Have any "concerned" members here done anything personally to stop the suicides on the bridge yet, besides just moaning about it? Just wondering.

 

[Lewis]

You know what Roadie, I have to love you, but I am going to have to ignore you because it seems that you lack any compassion. You keep talking about has anybody on this board done something, you need to stop that. It is only like, about 6 of us talking about this, what could we do. There thousands of things that I don't like about our government, but things are different today when I was younger in my hippie days we stuck together and protested when we did not like something. People today do not stick together, and they hardly protest about anything. So you will be out there alone except for a few. If your child jumped off of that bridge, you would be singing a different tune, you know it, and I know it, and everybody else knows it.
You keep talking about putting out our money that would be great if you can get many to do that also, but what you are saying is just plain unrealistic. Money from a few people is just not going to get it.

 

[Pard]

If my kid jumped off the golden gate I'd probably be reflecting on what I did to be such a terrible parent...

 

[RoadDebris]

You know what Roadie, I have to love you, but I am going to have to ignore you because it seems that you lack any compassion. You keep talking about has anybody on this board done something, you need to stop that. It is only like, about 6 of us talking about this, what could we do. There thousands of things that I don't like about our government, but things are different today when I was younger in my hippie days we stuck together and protested when we did not like something. People today do not stick together, and they hardly protest about anything. So you will be out there alone except for a few. If your child jumped off of that bridge, you would be singing a different tune, you know it, and I know it, and everybody else knows it.
You keep talking about putting out our money that would be great if you can get many to do that also, but what you are saying is just plain unrealistic. Money from a few people is just not going to get it.

You brought my family into it and you really need to stop that, Lewis.

If those who're expressing concern over this issue were genuinely motivated to stop or at least curtail suicides on the Golden Gate bridge they could go out there and keep watch with their own two eyes, calling authorities if someone looked like they were going to jump, and/or intervening physically if there was no authority available. They could also start a non-profit organization to fund a bridge watch if they don't care to be on site themselves. Instead, they're demanding that I pay for some device that may or may not thwart would-be jumpers. While this might make them feel better about the situation, it's totally unrealistic.

Your comment about my lack of caring is a lot of hooey to boot. Disagreeing with people on an issue is not synonymous with not caring.

 

[Nick]

If my kid jumped off the golden gate I'd probably be reflecting on what I did to be such a terrible parent...

Me too.

 

[Lewis]

If my kid jumped off the golden gate I'd probably be reflecting on what I did to be such a terrible parent...

Me too.

But back to my pal Roadie, I do not wish anything but great things for you and your family, and I really, really mean that. May God bless you and them. I was trying to make a point and you are a bright person, so I know that you can figure that out.

 

[RoadDebris]

Me too.

But back to my pal Roadie, I do not wish anything but great things for you and your family, and I really, really mean that. May God bless you and them. I was trying to make a point and you are a bright person, so I know that you can figure that out.

Lewis, I don't think you were trying to dog my family. I just think it's over the line to bring anyone's family into a conversation to try to prove a point on the internet. If I bring them up that's one thing, but for others to drag them into it is not cool.

Additionally, in my opinion you're using an argument based on emotionalism. That's pretty weak (IMO). "Feel good" policies don't solve problems like these. Those who're helped in these situation are aided by level-headed interaction, not emotionalism.

And on my "brightness", I'm the typical "Joe Sixpack." Not stupid but no genius either.

 

[pjt]

I have to agree w/Pard and Mike that a fence isn`t going to stop suicidal ppl. They`ll just do something else. At least on the bridge someone might see them and stop them as opposed to the suicidal person secretly killing themselves alone at home where there is no chance of someone stopping them. But something I like is in Japan at the 2nd most popular place in the world to commit suicide a retired police goes there on his own time and money, and if he sees someone walking in that forrest looking suicidal he talks to them like a friend or father. Of course he can`t forceably stop them, but he has stopped many suicides simply by talking to the people and getting them to realize there are other options. Some people just don`t see any other options but death. I think putting up a wall or gate is a rather cold solution compared to what this man does. He gives his heart and isn`t that really what a lot of these people need? So if people are really that concerned about potential suicides maybe instead of just putting up another frustrating block in life, maybe caring people could walk around the bridge and share hope to any potential jumpers. I also prefer a kind, volunteer approach compared to a criminalized approach. I`ve never understood arresting and locking up suicidal people like they were criminals. That seems cruel to me too.

 

[pjt]

If my kid jumped off the golden gate I'd probably be reflecting on what I did to be such a terrible parent...

Pard, I think this is the normal parent`s reaction, but I don`t think it`s always the healthiest reaction because not all suicides are based on parental failure. I had a classmate in highschool to run in front of a car because her boyfriend broke up with her. The girl was fine but clearly this was not the parents` fault. It was an impulsive,hormonal teen just acting on her emotions. I know a man who`s daughter did commit suicide and he went through a lot of guilt before he finally realized it wasn`t his fault. So I think we have to be very careful in realizing not all childhood suicides are based on terrible parents. There was a case in Poland where a boy killed himself because he got tired of being molested by the priest. This wasn`t the parents` fault. Or you have children killing themselves because they are bullied at school. This isn`t the parents` fault. There are all sorts of reasons kids try to kill themselves, but it`s not always the parents` fault. Sometimes it is, but not always.

 

[Lewis]

Roadie, emotion is a God given gift, and some people lack it. You know""""people like you.

 

[RoadDebris]

I have it. But it doesn't govern my life. I believe being practical is better than trying to "feel good."

 

[Pard]

Pard, I think this is the normal parent`s reaction, but I don`t think it`s always the healthiest reaction because not all suicides are based on parental failure.

Oh I was referring to my inability to notice my child's spiral into depression and subsequent suicide. A parent ought to be able to notice that kind of thing in their own kids. If not than they must of messed up somewhere along the road.

But I get what you mean.

 

[RoadDebris]

Personally, I can't relate to parents who don't accept responsibility for the direction their children take in life.

Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate. - Psalm 127:3-5

 

[Lewis]

I think that parents should be able to pick up on their kids having mental problems.
And then some kids are almost experts at hiding a mental illness. My friend Jessie who jumped in front of a elevated commuter train, when we were coming up was a total surprise. Jessie had to be about 14 when he did that. Then you had my cousin Billy, a grown man who was always full of life, he was always the life of the party. But brain cancer made him put a 38 to his head and pull the trigger. Some things you just don't know people are going to do, but the things that you do notice a little intervention goes a long way, you might be able to talk a kid down off the edge of that bridge. And 50 years from now he or she still might be around. but the people who are bent on killing themselves there is nothing that humans can do. I think that the patrols on that bridge should be paid for by the government, they own the bridge. The people paid for the bridge, but it is under government control.

 

[pjt]

I think that parents should be able to pick up on their kids having mental problems.
I think that the patrols on that bridge should be paid for by the government, they own the bridge. The people paid for the bridge, but it is under government control.

I`d be completely opposed to paying patrols on the bridge because all they would do is arrest and lock up these people. I prefer the retired Japanese policeman`s approach to just go on his own and talk to any potential suicidal people. Surely if someone really cared from a church or society they could do the same thing but with the motive of love not money/career. Why do we have to hire someone to patrol for suicidal people? It sounds so cold and controlling like a person does not even have the freedom to take their own life. It is the government`s choice. I don`t believe that. I`m not supporting suicide because as a Christian I believe life and death should be in the hands of God, but I`m really opposed to taking the stance that individual lives are treated like government property.