# A fucking idiot videotaped Tony Scott's suicide jump and is showing it. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 21, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204 "2012-08-21T20:10:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/41 "2012-08-22T20:22:57Z")
What’s the difference between this and making a documentary about [people jumping off the bridge?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bridge_(2006_film)) ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/42 "2012-08-22T20:23:06Z")
According to TMZ, many people taped the incident, and all are shopping their videos around. TMZ saw the videos and passed, so they must be pretty crappy anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Tad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tad)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/43 "2012-08-22T20:44:56Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > What’s the difference between this and making a documentary about [people jumping off the bridge?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bridge_(2006_film)) An attempt to humanize the jumpers, attempt (though in some cases misguided) to discuss the issue of suicide, and give some kind of respect to their final desperate moments. I’m not saying that the documentary isn’t necessarily guilty of some of the charges you’re hinting at, but the real difference ultimately comes down to voyeurism vs. documentary. In the former case, where people lately have really loved to watch videos online of people dying or being murdered, there is no way to describe it other than a perverted voyeurism. In the latter case, it at least offers some border between it and documentation. A blurry line, often, but still the line is more or less visible. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/44 "2012-08-23T05:07:09Z")
I’m not getting the difference between the guy wanting to sell a video he happened to get, and all of the “professional” news people who rush to get the latest death/disaster on tape, and shove their microphones and cameras into the faces of the grief stricken. Asking inane questions like “how do you feel about this tragedy?”. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/45 "2012-08-23T11:18:38Z")
> [@Rand Rover](#): > > "moral duty " is a meaningless concept. and for the opposing team: > [@Ayn Rand](#): > > the fact that a living entity is, determines what it ought to do ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/46 "2012-08-23T12:59:34Z")
All those pictures of people leaping to their deaths on September 11- are the photographers there fucking arseholes as well? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/47 "2012-08-23T13:15:03Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > All those pictures of people leaping to their deaths on September 11- are the photographers there fucking arseholes as well? Well…perhaps if people were actively selling those photos of such an event to TMZ they’d be accused of “profiteering” off of a catastrophe. One man killing himself doesn’t really amount to much in the face of a terrorist attack along the lines of 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/48 "2012-08-23T13:39:00Z")
It amounts to a hell of a lot if you are that person. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/49 "2012-08-23T13:41:20Z")
What amazes me is that someone with Tony Scott’s experience didn’t foresee that his closeups had to be shot\*\* first\*\*. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/50 "2012-08-23T13:41:48Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Well…perhaps if people were actively selling those photos of such an event to TMZ they’d be accused of “profiteering” off of a catastrophe. One man killing himself doesn’t really amount to much in the face of a terrorist attack along the lines of 9/11. Why to TMZ specifically? Photographers were taking those photos and video on September 11 because they were paid to. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/51 "2012-08-23T13:43:58Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > It amounts to a hell of a lot if you are that person. But what if you were that person _and_ it was 9/11? There’s a grassy knoll in there somewhere! > [@bup](#): > > Why to TMZ specifically? Photographers were taking those photos and video on September 11 because they were paid to. So…TMZ had set-piece photographers in place _before_ the incident occurred? What kind of terroristic madness is this? First the dancing Israelis, now TMZ…next, the galaxy! ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/52 "2012-08-23T15:22:21Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#): > > and for the opposing team: Yes, I disagree with Rand. Big whoop. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/53 "2012-08-23T15:26:33Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > What amazes me is that someone with Tony Scott’s experience didn’t foresee that his closeups had to be shot\*\* first\*\*. Ba-ziiing! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/54 "2012-08-23T15:38:40Z")
I see no problem with it. Something newsworthy happened in public. If I had that video, I’d have no moral qualms trying to sell it to TMZ or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/55 "2012-08-23T15:44:47Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Well…perhaps if people were actively selling those photos of such an event to TMZ they’d be accused of “profiteering” off of a catastrophe. One man killing himself doesn’t really amount to much in the face of a terrorist attack along the lines of 9/11. Just reflecting on it, the difference (to me) is that the folk on September 11 had no choice. They faced a horrible death, or could jump and probably face the same. However, it was not their preference to jump in the first place. In the instance of a guy wishing to top himself, yes- there were choices. That’s the way I view it. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/56 "2012-08-24T00:55:21Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > There are lots of pictures and videos on the Internet of people who died horrible, gruesome deaths that you can find if you go looking for them. What makes this any different? I have a dvd of dozens of Golden Gate Bridge jumpers taken over two years. Here’s the IMDb link to _The Bridge_ ``` http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0799954/plotsummary ``` ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/57 "2012-08-24T05:44:52Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > No, because "moral duty " is a meaningless concept. It’s like you are asking “is there a cjdkdjfjdkd to try and stop a jumper?” There’s just no there there. There’s nothing to think about or discuss. The question lacks content. So would you try to stop a jumper? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/58 "2012-08-24T06:26:39Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I see no problem with it. Something newsworthy happened in public. If I had that video, I’d have no moral qualms trying to sell it to TMZ or whatever. Yeah. News is news. Don’t mean to be jaded, but I can’t get worked up about this. You kill yourself in public, well, tough shit if it’s made public. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/59 "2012-08-24T10:56:06Z")
> [@Rand Rover](#): > > Yes, I disagree with Rand. Big whoop. Considered a name change to Noxious Nozick or Norquist Numpty? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204/60 "2012-08-24T14:26:30Z")
> [@Quint](#): > > So would you try to stop a jumper? Generally yes. There are circumstances under which I wouldn’t (eg, the jumper has a weapon and I’m with my kids), but barring those circumstances I would try. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-fucking-idiot-videotaped-tony-scotts-suicide-jump-and-is-showing-it/632204.md?page=4)