The Bridge

[Max Power]

Has anyone else seen this documentary? It's so surreal to actually watch people commit suicide. I think what drew all those people to the Golden Gate Bridge was the fact that there were always so many people there and the jumpers probably just wanted someone to notice them and stop them from jumping. Why else go to such a crowded place?

Anyway, I recommend the movie to anyone who hasn't seen it. It actually makes you think...

[Poormojo]

One of my best friends worked for years at SF's Suicide Prevention Hotline. She had really mixed feelings about the documentary. Like, "will it encourage even more people to jump? Is it exploitative to show all of these dying people?"

As a result, I have pretty mixed feelings about it.

Every few years they talk about putting up giant security barriers to prevent people from jumping. But as they would spoil the view--and possibly not be very effective--they never get installed.

[Max Power]

[howtaobrowncow]

I disagree entirely. It's unfortunate that there are people that unhappy, but you can't protect people from themselves. If you put up barriers in one place, they'll just go to another. (And it's debatable whether you should -- I happen to think that is is our inalienable right to determine the end of our own lives.) Meanwhile, in the name of protecting a very few from themselves, you're ruining a beautiful view that improves the mental tone of the many thousands of people crossing that bridge every day.

_________________

Not a shred of evidence exists in favor of the idea that life is serious.
- Brendan Gill

[Max Power]

I would called a problem area. If there's a known spot for many suicides a year that could be preventable, they should do what they can to prevent them. After watching the movie, it seems that a good deal of those suicides went to that spot hoping for someone to stop them. So call it a very serious cry for help. They would go to a spot on the bridge where there were people. I think that you can protect people from themselves in many situations. If someone fails suicide by slitting their own wrists, you'll probably do what you can to keep razors out of their reach entirely. It's my belief that many people choose certain methods of suicide because they're quick and/or relatively painless. If you take away opportunity, they may reconsider. When I went to the top of the Eiffel Tower, I wasn't upset that I couldn't take a very good picture from up there. I understand that they have barriers to prevent people from jumping. Those barriers don't stop people from going up there, though. It's still a nice view, you just lose your photo op. There will be others. It's a small sacrifice in my opinion and it's still a beautiful view even with a fence.

[ultimatexavior]

Well they could just post a guard that will shot anyone that gets too close the edge.

I think i might stany away from this one just considering how my job makes me feel right now, i feel as though it might encourgae me more than discourage.

x a v i o r

[howtaobrowncow]

I think a better solution would be to build a ledge below bridge level, and then put the fence around that. That way, anyone wanting to jump would just be jumping down 10 feet, and wouldn't be able to exit the ledge until the psykes come to collect them.

That way you stop the suicides -- if that's really necessary -- without ruining the view.

_________________

Not a shred of evidence exists in favor of the idea that life is serious.
- Brendan Gill

[Max Power]

I accept your compromise