Creepiest part of that NY article was the guy who left a note in his apartment.
"I'm walking to the bridge. If one person smiles at me on the way, I will not jump."
Natch, the guy jumped.
Sometimes I miss having powers... Oh. Oh! I know what this is! This is peer pressure! Any second now you're gonna make me smoke tobacco and--and have drugs!
Anya ,'Showtime'
Boxed Set, Vol. 1: Smallville, Due South, Farscape
A topic for the discussion of Farscape, Smallville, and Due South. Beware possible invasions of Stargate, Highlander, or pretty much anything else that captures our fancy. Expect Adult Content and discussion of the Big Gay Sex.
Miracleman - Oct 24, 2003 8:30:59 am PDT #1448 of 10000
No, I don't think I will - me, quoting Captain Steve Rogers, to all of 2020
Emily - Oct 24, 2003 8:37:35 am PDT #1449 of 10000
"In the equation E = mc⬧, c⬧ is a pretty big honking number." - Scola
It was a pretty disturbing article, largely because for me it raises real questions about self-determination and responsibility. There's a part of me that wants to say people have a right to take their own lives, and what method they choose to do so doesn't make it the method's fault. On the other hand, that article quotes a study which followed people who were dissuaded from jumping off the bridge and, what, 95% of them are still alive and quite happy to be so? Mind you, this group isn't necessarily representative. Still, if opportunity so strongly affects action... I can't quite express what's bugging me here. There's something about the idea of complete responsibility for one's own actions and having one's rationality not be a consistent thing (I don't mean sanity, I mean degrees of rationality) that just feels like a big knot of moral ambiguity.
Um, much like, uh... Daniel Jackson! In the Light! (Whew.)
§ ita § - Oct 24, 2003 8:46:43 am PDT #1450 of 10000
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
that article quotes a study which followed people who were dissuaded from jumping off the bridge and, what, 95% of them are still alive and quite happy to be so? Mind you, this group isn't necessarily representative.
The group is representative of those who could be talked out of jumping. It's possible that 100% of those that killed themselves are happy with their decision.
I fully think people that want to end their lives should have that freedom, even if they're wrong. And I have no idea what wrong means in that context.
Madrigal Costello - Oct 24, 2003 10:28:49 am PDT #1451 of 10000
It's a remora, dimwit.
With me, it would have been, "If one person smiles at me on the way, I will jump." And if a person tells me to smile on the way there, they're going down with me.
Nutty - Oct 24, 2003 10:41:44 am PDT #1452 of 10000
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."
The group is representative of those who could be talked out of jumping. It's possible that 100% of those that killed themselves are happy with their decision.
The real question to me is comparing did it/didn't do it outcomes in other methods of suicide. Are 95% of those who held a gun to their heads and then didn't pull the trigger happier after 1 year? What about those who had the pills and then decided not to take them? Basically, is it "I didn't commit suicide, resulting in my increased happiness", or is it "I didn't jump off a bridge, resulting in my increased happiness"?
(You could also get way granular and compare those who were on a bridge and decided by themselves not to jump, and those who held up traffic on the Woodrow Wilson for 5 hours and then got tackled by a bunch of cops. Which group reports a higher level of happiness? Is the fame involved in threatening or attempting to jump at all a factor in the happiness level outcome? Can you tell I talk to social scientists all day?)
Clark fell off a bridge in the first episode of Smallville, although he had help from an expensive car. Therefore, this post is on topic. Right on!
JenP - Oct 24, 2003 10:47:10 am PDT #1453 of 10000
And if a person tells me to smile on the way there, they're going down with me.
Wrod! God, I hate that. Whatthefuckbusinessisit of yours what my facial expression is, random, dumbass stranger? Hate. That.
Ummm. And ... Clark doesn't have many facial expressions, so I wonder if he gets smile thing alot?
Matt the Bruins fan - Oct 24, 2003 10:51:09 am PDT #1454 of 10000
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand
I think when people tell you to smile, they should be greeted by a grin like Wednesday Addams' from Addams Family Values.
Madrigal Costello - Oct 24, 2003 10:53:23 am PDT #1455 of 10000
It's a remora, dimwit.
And I'd bet Lex had just the same annoyances growing up with all the people making bald jokes, or trying to pat him on the head. Plus, in school there'd be risk of people using it as a writing surface.
JenP - Oct 24, 2003 11:01:58 am PDT #1456 of 10000
I think when people tell you to smile, they should be greeted by a grin like Wednesday Addams' from Addams Family Values.
This is making me laugh like a loon. I hope I remember to do it the next time. Maybe I'll try and bait someone on the way home by looking as pissed and broody as possible.
DCJensen - Oct 24, 2003 11:27:37 am PDT #1457 of 10000
All is well that ends in pizza.
I think when people tell you to smile, they should be greeted by a grin like Wednesday Addams' from Addams Family Values.
Not having seen that movie, I'd prefer to grin in my best imitation of the Gentlemen.