# Suicidal man finds creative new way to keep me from work. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 15, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738 "2008-02-15T14:51:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/1 "2008-02-15T14:51:36Z")
I have always been a bit nonplussed by the people who periodically throw themselves in front of Skytrain (light rapid transit) cars. You sorta wish that (outside of getting needed help) people might find a way to get the job done that doesn’t disrupt the commute of thousands of other people. I think if I made that decision I would look for an accessible high place. It would hurt less, and it wouldn’t inconvenience anyone apart from the poor blighters that had to clean up. “But of course people that are that desperate aren’t thinking rationally or beyond their immediate situation, and the train platform is an easily accessible option that’s right there in front of them” comes the natural rationalization. That was shaken up for me a bit yesterday, though. As I waited for the bus that takes us down to the Skytrain station - I saw nothing but diesel buses running. (Vancouver uses [electric trolley buses](http://ktransit.com/transit/Canada/Vancouver/vancouver-etb.htm), and the one we were waiting for was one of these.) The diesel buses that were running along our route weren’t stopping - they were all flying “Not in Service” standards or were totally different routes that shouldn’t be on our street at all. Blazing past. Total anarchy. Are usually empty stop had eight people waiting at it. After standing there open-mouthed for fifteen minutes or so, we gave up and started walking the twenty blocks to the train station. As we did, we found that the bus stops all had crowds of people gormlessly waiting for pick-up. It wasn’t until later in the afternoon that we discovered what had crippled the bus service: [This guy.](http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5ilZpWo1jTH-SRLVhxuolu3WT5sMw) He somehow managed to climb a traffic light pole, scurrey out over the intersection, and was threatening to kill himself by jumping onto the trolley bus wires. Of course they had to cut power to the trolley grid until they could talk him down. I can barely comprehend how much extra trouble this fellow had to go to cripple transit service for so many people. It’s not like standing on a train platform as the train approaches and thinking, “I just have to take _one_ step forward…” No, “All I have to do is shimmey up this frictionless metal pole, monkey across horizontally, and then throw myself onto the transit lines…” Not even just in front of a damned _bus._ That would only slow down ~30 people or so. Eeesh. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/2 "2008-02-15T14:56:12Z")
He should have been grounded. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/3 "2008-02-15T15:02:32Z")
[QUOTE=NurseCarmen] He should have been grounded. [/QUOTE] No, he should have been charged. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/4 "2008-02-15T15:48:32Z")
Oh, nooooo! It’s **Attack of the Bad Electricity Jokes!** Run for cover! Run! ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/5 "2008-02-15T16:08:50Z")
I love threads about current events. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/34f0e0/32.png) [@The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Lovely_Margo_Lane)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/6 "2008-02-15T16:10:18Z")
It really burns me up to see such an enlightened group sink so low 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/7 "2008-02-15T16:14:18Z")
He didn’t actually go through with it? What a shocker. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/8 "2008-02-15T16:37:10Z")
I was hoping this story would arc though a few more posts. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/9 "2008-02-15T16:42:40Z")
I have to say, I’m _very_ disappointed at how you all are making light of this high-tension situation. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/10 "2008-02-15T16:44:50Z")
How can we resist? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/11 "2008-02-15T16:49:51Z")
Om-f-g! Watt is wrong with you people? I’m revolted. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/12 "2008-02-15T16:52:05Z")
Since this is an electron year, I volt we put an end to this kind of thing! Watt say you? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/13 "2008-02-15T17:02:59Z")
Everybody, everybody, just calm down, they’re only jokes. Let’s try meditation. Ohm… ---
**Author:** ![Jeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/14 "2008-02-15T17:31:58Z")
Ah Skytrain suicides, I remember thee. Watt a headache. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/15 "2008-02-15T17:47:45Z")
You all make me want to cry. And if anyone finds an electricity joke in that, screw you. Just to be clear, these puns are awful. I’m not saying they’re in poor taste. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/16 "2008-02-15T17:49:13Z")
[QUOTE=Tengu] Everybody, everybody, just calm down, they’re only jokes. Let’s try meditation. Ohm… [/QUOTE] I need that. I’m always amped. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/17 "2008-02-15T18:01:43Z")
[QUOTE=Flander] I need that. I’m always amped. [/QUOTE] Wired, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/18 "2008-02-15T18:33:12Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Carrot] You all make me want to cry. And if anyone finds an electricity joke in that, screw you. [/QUOTE] Hey now, don’t blow a fuse on us. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/19 "2008-02-15T18:52:41Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Carrot] You all make me want to cry. And if anyone finds an electricity joke in that, screw you. [/QUOTE] We’ll try to find a way to keep you insulated. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738/20 "2008-02-15T19:05:14Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Carrot] And if anyone finds an electricity joke in that, screw you. [/QUOTE] Just a little joule of denial, Captain? Sailboat [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-man-finds-creative-new-way-to-keep-me-from-work/437738.md?page=2)