# Epidemic of internet suicide pacts? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 10, 2006, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827 "2006-03-10T14:27:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/1 "2006-03-10T14:27:48Z")
It seems that [nine people in Japan asphyxiated themselves in cars](http://apnews.myway.com//article/20060310/D8G8ODQO0.html) after agreeing to do so over the net. Apparently this is a world wide problem. I realize there are all sorts of bent arrows out there, and there was even an episode of \*Law and Order: Criminal Intent \* that used this for a theme. Even so, I’m both amazed and disturbed. And I guess I really haven’t got anything else to say about it, except that the human race is the strangest thing in the known universe. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2006, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/2 "2006-03-10T14:29:58Z")
Yeah but they are only e-dead. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/3 "2006-03-10T15:19:01Z")
Think of it as evolution in action. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/4 "2006-03-10T22:10:31Z")
You go first. No, _you_ go first. Look, it was _my_ idea, so _you_ have to go first. No, it was your idea so _you_ have to go first. OK, we’ll _both_ go first. Count of three? One…two…two-and-a half…two-and-eleven-twelfths…THREE! You cheated! You’re still alive! Well, how would you know that if _you_ didn’t cheat? Cheat! I’m telling Mum! Yeah? I’m telling my big brother, and he knows karate! ---
**Author:** ![Mouse\_Maven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Mouse\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mouse_Maven)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/5 "2006-03-10T23:32:42Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > Apparently this is a world wide problem. Wow. I read about the group found in Japan. The 1990’s had cult group suicides, I guess this is the “thing” for the turn of the century. I’ll start worrying when Craig’s List adds a “Suicide” catagory. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/6 "2006-03-11T11:41:29Z")
The internet is a mixed blessing. I’m a lot less concerned about suicide enthusiasts finding each other on the internet than I am about pedophiles finding each other on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/7 "2006-03-11T17:49:36Z")
I hate to be cynical, but I too see this as Darwin in action. This reminds me of a few years back when some kids from a high school football team got killed by laying down in the middle of the street. They were imitating a movie, and trying to demonstrate coolness under pressure. Naturally, it resulted in death. I remember a comedian at the time saying, “Where’s the problem?” ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/8 "2006-03-11T20:09:44Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > I realize there are all sorts of bent arrows out there, and there was even an episode of \*Law and Order: Criminal Intent \* that used this for a theme. _Law and Order:CI_? Holy shit, son, it must be huge! Don’t gauge all of your social trends by their inclusion in TV shows. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/9 "2006-03-11T21:14:12Z")
> [@bluethree](#): > > The internet is a mixed blessing. I’m a lot less concerned about suicide enthusiasts finding each other on the internet than I am about pedophiles finding each other on the internet. Technically, I’m okay with pedophiles finding _each other_ on the internet. It’s when they do anything about their pedophilia that I start to have problems 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/10 "2006-03-11T23:05:26Z")
_“I told you guys I was hardcore!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/11 "2006-03-12T13:22:04Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > Technically, I’m okay with pedophiles finding _each other_ on the internet. It’s when they do anything about their pedophilia that I start to have problems 😃 Yeah, the thing is that before the internet a pedophile was isolated, never knowing how many other fellow pedophiles were around, never able to take the risk of revealing his pedophilia, etc. Now they can meet up anonymously on the web and convince each other that there’s nothing wrong with what they want to do to children, that children are sexual beings, too, etc. etc. I just think it’s going to lead to a large, pro-pedophilia lobby a few years down the road. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/12 "2006-03-12T14:45:06Z")
> [@bluethree](#): > > I just think it’s going to lead to a large, pro-pedophilia lobby a few years down the road. Large? I kind of doubt it. No matter what they may say about themselves being ‘normal’ all that needs to be said against them is ‘YOU HAVE SEX WITH CHILDREN!’. Do you think any decent parent would let this happen? Even half decent parent? Heck, even the piss-poor ones probably won’t. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/13 "2006-03-13T01:35:56Z")
I’m wondering more why the American press suddenly picked up this case. Group suicides of people who met via the Internet have been going on in Japan for at least a couple of years now. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/14 "2006-03-13T01:54:49Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > It seems that [nine people in Japan asphyxiated themselves in cars](http://apnews.myway.com//article/20060310/D8G8ODQO0.html) after agreeing to do so over the net. > Apparently this is a world wide problem. > I realize there are all sorts of bent arrows out there, and there was even an episode of \*Law and Order: Criminal Intent \* that used this for a theme. > Even so, I’m both amazed and disturbed. And I guess I really haven’t got anything else to say about it, except that the human race is the strangest thing in the known > universe. Lets play Maniac Roulette. My six shooter has cartridges in all six chambers. You go first! ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/15 "2006-03-13T17:22:18Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > This reminds me of a few years back when some kids from a high school football team got killed by laying down in the middle of the street. They were imitating a movie, and trying to demonstrate coolness under pressure. Do you remember which movie? This happened when I was in high school, but I’ve never figured out which movie it was. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/16 "2006-03-13T17:31:21Z")
> [@Sierra Indigo](#): > > _“I told you guys I was hardcore!”_ Your sensitivity knows no bounds. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/17 "2006-03-13T17:34:26Z")
> [@malkavia](#): > > Your sensitivity knows no bounds. > > 😕 Upon reflection, **Sierra Indigo** wasn’t on the boards when Brandon OD’d. Sorry for the knee jerk, **Sierra** , Brandon was one of my dearest friends. ---
**Author:** ![milquetoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@milquetoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milquetoast)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/18 "2006-03-13T17:46:13Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Do you remember which movie? This happened when I was in high school, but I’ve never figured out which movie it was. I believe it was [The Program](http://imdb.com/title/tt0107889/). ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/19 "2006-03-13T23:17:33Z")
> [@malkavia](#): > > Upon reflection, **Sierra Indigo** wasn’t on the boards when Brandon OD’d. > > Sorry for the knee jerk, **Sierra** , Brandon was one of my dearest friends. Apologies for touching a sore topic, **malkavia**. You’re quite right I wasn’t around, and I wouldn’t have posted that sort of thing if I had’ve known. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2006, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827/20 "2006-03-16T08:40:05Z")
Another four found yesterday. [http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060316p2a00m0na020000c.html](http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060316p2a00m0na020000c.html) > [@](#): > > Ninety-one people died in 34 Internet-linked suicide cases last year, up from 55 people in 19 cases in 2004, the National Police Agency reported last month. > > The number of Internet suicide pacts has almost tripled since 2003, when the agency started keeping such records. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epidemic-of-internet-suicide-pacts/347827.md?page=2)