I have not seen the video and don’t really plan to.
What a stupid end to a foolish life. I wonder how many people saw this coming. He doesn’t seem like he was particularly depressed, but he must have been. Why anyone would broadcast their own death is beyond me.
Swedish Man Uses Webcam to Stream Suicide
You can read about this odd case in the story above.
Puts the entire “your brain doesn’t really mature until mid-20s” thing into perspective.
I wonder if the people egging him on believed he was going to do it, or just thought he was trolling. If they believed, then the lack of empathy is chilling.
This happened a couple of years ago in Florida and people were egging Abraham Biggs on until they realized he was serious and contacted the police.
Welcome to the age of technology, blogging about any and everything and all of life – and death – being available for public consumption.
Amazingly enough, I was in a computer lab the other day and passed by someone who was watching a video that was vaguely familiar. Now that I’m thinking about it, it was Biggs.
I’m sure for many suicide victims (are they considered victims?), the process is personal. I have a degree of respect for these types of people. I don’t think that one should ever judge someone someone like this because you really can’t ever ( and probably would never want to) put yourself in their shoes. I know that if I ever offed myself, I would not want anyone there. Then again, who knows what my mindset would be if I ever got to that point in my life?
OTOH, I know that others want to go out in a blaze of glory affecting as many others lives as possible. Every few months, rush hour on the Northeast Corridor is disrupted for hours due to someone killing themselves by standing or jumping in front of a train. The investigations take forever because the authorities have to conclude that it truly was a suicide, which can sometimes be difficult. It’s hard to be sympathetic in this situation, especially when you have to get grilled by your managers for coming late to an important meeting.
The link below summarizes the sad story of a couple that killed themselves at my train station. I would normally be very sympathetic, but they kind of screwed up my week. Then again, if they killed themselves quietly at home, I would probably never know their story (which I’m guessing was their point).
Selfishness and attention seeking.
Don’t get me wrong. The problems of many people that seek death are not trivial, but they are also not worthy of killing yourself. Suicide is typically a response of “getting back” or “I’ll show them” or “let’s see if they’ll notice me now”. If also ignores the feelings of those around them and the impact that such actions will have on those that do love them.
I can only quote Swedish singer/songwriter Magnus Uggla who has written a song called “Va ska man ta livet av sig för när man ändå inte får höra snacket efteråt?” = “Why take your own life when you can’t even hear what they’re saying afterwards?”
Doesn’t seem like the first time I’ve heard this sad story - of a young person ending their life either deliberately or by misadventure while their friends are all LOLing as they watch. That’s what makes me saddest, I think - that there are people whose entire circle of friends consists of uncaring, callous wankers.
According to that article, the police showed up within 22 minutes of being called.
They weren’t called until half an hour after he put the cable around his neck, and almost 2 hours after he first announced his plans on the web-cast.
This is inexcusable.
If you think he’s serious – CALL THE COPS so they can stop him!
If you think he’s being a douche and faking the whole thing – CALL THE COPS so he has to pay the price for scaring everyone!
Regardless, if someone is actively threatening to commit suicide in front of you – DO SOMETHING!