# Roast in hell, Swell Season suicide jumper! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 20, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924 "2010-08-20T23:04:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/1 "2010-08-20T23:04:28Z")
Ok, first, I don’t believe in hell, but if there is one, I hope he’s a low-level accounts clerk processing the same paperwork over and over again for eternity. Second, I understand all about depression, and have been in deep dark places where suicide seemed like the best option and it’s really amazing that I lived through those times, so believe me, I do understand how depression can make you irrational, but DAMN, what made him think this was the way to go? [Man jumps to death onto stage at Calif concert](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100820/ap_en_ot/us_concert_suicide) > [@](#): > > SARATOGA, Calif. – A 32-year-old man jumped at least 20 feet to his death onto the stage of a Northern California concert in front of hundreds of horrified music fans, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said Friday. > > The Swell Season was playing an outdoor show at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga in front of a crowd of about 1,900 when Michael Edward Pickels of San Jose jumped Thursday night. > > Authorities are treating Pickels’ death as a suicide, sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Rick Sung said. > > Sung said the man left a friend in the audience around 10 p.m. and soon appeared on a roof that covers the stage. Witnesses say he jumped off the roof and landed on stage near the band’s lead singer, Glen Hansard. > > Witnesses said Hansard removed his guitar and walked over to the man’s body. > > The jumper was pronounced dead by a doctor in attendance who spent an hour trying to revive him. > > … You’re dead. Check. You traumatized a lot of people who saw you jump and die. Check. You traumatized a [sweet, gentle band](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoSL_qayMCc) whose only purpose was to make sweet, gentle music to make people feel good. Fucking check. Geez, was he really THAT pissed off that the song won the Oscar? (Edit to add that I’m sorry for his family and friends, but also that the truly wonderful Marketa Irglova had to witness that.) ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/2 "2010-08-20T23:14:09Z")
If it was only 20 feet, are they sure he didn’t think he could make it? ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/3 "2010-08-20T23:16:53Z")
Supermoshing? I feel bad and sad for all involved, but I had to smile at [this news story](http://www.newkerala.com/news2/fullnews-24793.html) about the incident. It has to be read in its entirety, preferably out loud. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/4 "2010-08-20T23:22:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Rivers has articulated that he deemed that the male was a component of the gig. WTF?! ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/5 "2010-08-20T23:36:35Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Rivers has articulated that he deemed that the male was a component of the gig. > > WTF?! The next sentence is better: > [@](#): > > Nevertheless, Rivers has uttered that the man began to run and leapt, executed some flips and touched down at the stage. It was nice of the man to at least put some artistry into it. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/6 "2010-08-20T23:38:12Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Supermoshing? > > I feel bad and sad for all involved, but I had to smile at [this news story](http://www.newkerala.com/news2/fullnews-24793.html) about the incident. It has to be read in its entirety, preferably out loud. I was wondering about the writing style for a sec, then I checked the banner and found that it was a news site from India. Does anyone know if this is a typical style, or if it’s being written up as entertainment news? Here’s an [article](http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b196445_swell_season_shocked_saddened_by.html?sid=aolpop_news) with less news about the jumper, but more about the band. ---
**Author:** ![George\_Kaplin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@George\_Kaplin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/George_Kaplin)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/7 "2010-08-20T23:48:14Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > I feel bad and sad for all involved, but I had to smile at [this news story](http://www.newkerala.com/news2/fullnews-24793.html) about the incident. It has to be read in its entirety, preferably out loud. All news stories should be written like this. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/8 "2010-08-20T23:54:45Z")
It doesn’t read like any form of Indian English to me. I suspect there’s some type of translation software in the mix. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/9 "2010-08-20T23:56:38Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > I do understand how depression can make you irrational, but DAMN, what made him think this was the way to go? I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that alcohol was involved. ---
**Author:** ![BorgHunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@BorgHunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BorgHunter)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/10 "2010-08-20T23:57:36Z")
Players of _The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion_ know [who wrote that article](http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Lord_Rugdumph_gro-Shurgak). Er, I mean… Forsooth, those that take great exultation in the computerator game _The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion_ have knowledge of the chap who penned that composition. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/11 "2010-08-20T23:58:29Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Supermoshing? > > I feel bad and sad for all involved, but I had to smile at [this news story](http://www.newkerala.com/news2/fullnews-24793.html) about the incident. It has to be read in its entirety, preferably out loud. With a Hindi accent. OMG. I feel similarly angry at suicides who step in front of trains. I was on a commuter train that was delayed 4 hours, amongst many traumatized people who witnessed many pieces and parts being searched for and retrieved by emergency crews. Mental illness, whatever, do it at home. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/12 "2010-08-21T00:00:13Z")
That must be one crappy band. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/13 "2010-08-21T00:08:03Z")
Was that a joke or do you really not know who they are? Did you see the movie [Once](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0907657/)? The song “Falling Slowly” won the [Academy Award](http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/2008) for Best Original Song (ok, technically, Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song) over 3 songs from Enchanted and a song from the movie August Rush. ---
**Author:** ![supergoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@supergoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supergoose)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/14 "2010-08-21T00:09:14Z")
Hm. I came in here all fire and brimstone about selfish assholes who commit suicide in ways that needlessly traumatize other people, but now I’m wondering if he really meant to die. Is it possible to be so drugged/drunk/delusional to think you’d survive a 20-foot fall? That article is great, by the way. You guys aren’t quoting the best part, though: > [@](#): > > Bystanders have revealed that, after the male punched the stage, a flabbergasted Hansard placed his guitar down and went to witness the body. Several individuals and the physicians at hand endeavored to breathe life into the chap but failed. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/15 "2010-08-21T00:13:14Z")
Never heard of them. I have heard that “Falling Slowly” song, and find it insufferably precious. It was also grossly overplayed. I can totally understand why it would make somebody jump off a roof. I really doubt anybody (besides the jumper’s loved ones) was all that traumatized, by the way. It just gives them a story to tell. It’s not like he shot anybody. ---
**Author:** ![supergoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@supergoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supergoose)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/16 "2010-08-21T00:17:11Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Was that a joke or do you really not know who they are? Did you see the movie [Once](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0907657/)? The song “Falling Slowly” won the [Academy Award](http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000003/2008) for Best Original Song (ok, technically, Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song) over 3 songs from Enchanted and a song from the movie August Rush. Why can’t it be both? (I thought it was funny, by the way.) I had no idea who they were, either, and I’ve seen that movie. You can be a little self-righteous about this sort of thing, **Equipoise**. That information would have been quite welcome minus the condescension. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/17 "2010-08-21T00:22:48Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Never heard of them. I have heard that “Falling Slowly” song, and find it insufferably precious. It was also grossly overplayed. I can totally understand why it would make somebody jump off a roof. > > I really doubt anybody (besides the jumper’s loved ones) was all that traumatized, by the way. It just gives them a story to tell. It’s not like he shot anybody. You don’t think that watching a person fall to his death would be traumatizing??? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/18 "2010-08-21T00:37:04Z")
> [@George\_Kaplin](#): > > > [@Equipoise](#): > > > > I feel bad and sad for all involved, but I had to smile at [this news story](http://www.newkerala.com/news2/fullnews-24793.html) about the incident. It has to be read in its entirety, preferably out loud. > > All news stories should be written like this. The news already has too much liberal arts bias!!!1!!!1! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/19 "2010-08-21T00:43:11Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > > Never heard of them. I have heard that “Falling Slowly” song, and find it insufferably precious. It was also grossly overplayed. I can totally understand why it would make somebody jump off a roof. > > > > I really doubt anybody (besides the jumper’s loved ones) was all that traumatized, by the way. It just gives them a story to tell. It’s not like he shot anybody. > > You don’t think that watching a person fall to his death would be traumatizing??? Not to a crowd of strangers, no, and not when it’s a suicide. I think they’re all probably doing ok with it. I doubt any of them have PTSD or anything. Shit happens in the world. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924/20 "2010-08-21T00:51:32Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > [@needscoffee](#): > > > > You don’t think that watching a person fall to his death would be traumatizing??? > > Not to a crowd of strangers, no, and not when it’s a suicide. I think they’re all probably doing ok with it. I doubt any of them have PTSD or anything. Shit happens in the world. I know this will turn into a thing where you say it’s impossible for anyone to be traumatized by seeing someone die because you wouldn’t be traumatized, but trust me, I would be exceedingly traumatized if I saw someone, even a total stranger, die a violent death right in front of me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roast-in-hell-swell-season-suicide-jumper/550924.md?page=2)