The anti-suicide signs on the Golden Gate Bridge

[Spiderman]

@usedtobe

How about:

Interesting Facts About the Bridge
Before the bridge, the only way to connect SF and Marin was by ferry boat.
Since its opening in 1937, there have been 35 people who have jumped in suicide attempts
Only 21 were dead when we fished them out (Don’t ask about how we do that, or what the corpse looks like after we’re done).
Of the 14 who survived, most died within 48 hours. These people were severely injured.
7 of the 35 survived and were discharged from the hospital.
4 were missing arms and/or legs
1 had crippling spinal injuries and will never again walk.
2 had severe trauma to the brain and are little more than vegetables.

Want to Jump?
Do you feel lucky?

Well, do ya, punk?

[JRDelirious]

@Riemann

There are many different things that could potentially have an effect of different people, depending on their state of mind. For some, it might be something harsh, like:

Jumping here is not be some dramatic and unique act that makes you special. It’s unoriginal and pathetic, and may make a nasty mess that people have to clean up. Now get a grip, go home, and figure out how to get revenge on those bastards that screwed you over.

I dunno, contemplating a jump does not mean he’s the sort of loser who will not then be motivated by that exhortation to instead cause 3 dead and 12 injured and $1.5 million in damages after he bombs the Faculty Club.

[drewder]

@Martian Bigfoot

“Permanent and irreversible” is probably also what they’re looking for.

I would emphasize this a heck of a lot more. How about:

“Warning: Suicide success when jumping from this bridge is not guaranteed. A certain failure rate is to be expected. The bridge authorities take no responsibly for any permanent maiming, dismemberment or brain damage resulting from your failed suicide attempt.”

“For better results visit Tom’s Gun shop on …”

I don’t think getting them to come up with a better suicide method is advisable.

[wonky]

@drewder

“For better results visit Tom’s Gun shop on …”

I don’t think getting them to come up with a better suicide method is advisable.

I read that as “Tim Gunn’s shop” and was very confused.

Some people will be very determined about killing themselves. Other people really just need discouragement in that moment. If one method doesn’t work for whatever reason, many people will not search for another method. I remember reading about two bridges in a city, where one always attracted jumpers and the other didn’t. When the city wanted to put up fences, many people said those jumpers would just move to the other bridge, but that isn’t really what happened. (I don’t know which city or what the stats exactly were.) Just that interruption, that lack of instant follow through, can be the difference between a suicide and someone who just goes home.

[SpoilerVirgin]

@Riemann

They could also provide oversized garbage bags, and request that jumpers double-bag themselves for the sake of the people who have to dispose of the mess afterwards.

Compost bags, please, this is San Francisco. You are compostable biological waste material.

[chappachula]

@SpoilerVirgin

Compost bags, please, this is San Francisco.

You win the thread.

[That_Don_Guy]

@usedtobe

We decided that the “Anti-Suicide” net was too expensive.

This sign is much cheaper.

In reality, the version I heard was, the anti-suicide nets were dismissed for two reasons. One, it would detract from the view of the bridge, and two, it would attract extreme sports types that would try to jump into the nets. In fact, this has been done pretty much ever since the bridge was built; at any time, there are nets to catch painters should they fall, and people sneaking onto the bridge at night (the walkways are, or at least used to be, closed at night), searching for the nets, and then jumping into them, are common.

@Hari_Seldon

In 1997 I walked halfway across the bridge and my companion, who had been tasked by his thesis advisor to show me the sights of SF explained that there had been 998 suicides off the bridge and people were waiting from the 999th so they could be #1000. I assume it happened sometime after that.

I was under the impression that they stopped “officially” counting just after 800 or so, in part because they didn’t want anyone to try to jump just because they would be “remembered as being suicide number 1000.”

Meanwhile, there has been a fence and signs on the bridge going back to at least the 1960s; IIRC, they are there to prevent people from throwing things over the side of the bridge and landing on cars or people at Fort Point.

[dougie_monty]

In 1979 I walked on the sidewalk halfway across. I’m sure the CHP was watching me. I went to the middle of the bridge, on the east side, and too a picture of the city from that point; I still have it. I didn’t realize how long a walk it was until I actually did it. It would seem to me that the suicides must really be driven to do such a thing–it’s a tiring walk, not something to undertake casually.

[YogSothoth]

My sign would be:

You might not die
This will hurt LOT

[Don_t_Panic]

@That_Don_Guy

In reality, the version I heard was, the anti-suicide nets were dismissed for two reasons. […]

Aren’t they still doing the net, though? I had a quick google, and my impression is that it’s delayed, but that the plan is to install it. Unless I’m missing something?

@dougie_monty

I didn’t realize how long a walk it was until I actually did it. It would seem to me that the suicides must really be driven to do such a thing–it’s a tiring walk, not something to undertake casually.

Well, there is such a thing as a point of no return. Once you’ve walked half the way there, it’s more of a hassle to turn around and go back home.

[kayaker]

@YogSothoth

My sign would be:

You might not die
This will hurt LOT

A woman I know jumped from a local bridge a few years ago. Right before jumping, she checked in on Facebook (from the bridge). I assumed she was fishing, but there were dozens of replies along the lines of “don’t do it!”

She broke many bones, but survived. After surgeries, rehab, counseling, etc she is back on her feet.

[DesertDog]

Years ago I read an article in the Bay Area about Golden Gate bridge suicides and the writer made a big deal about the fact that virtually all of the jumpers were on the city-facing side of the bridge rather than the Pacific-facing side and how this proved even in their last moments, the suicider preferred facing humanity rather than an empty sea and blah, blah, blah.

Well, maybe but at the time* the city-facing side was the side for pedestrians. The parking lots and bus stops are all on that side and it’s much easier to access. The Pacific-side was for bicycles. If you wanted to make some point about your loneliness by jumping into the Pacific rather than the Bay you would have to make an effort to get on that side in the first place (I’m not even sure where the crossing points were) and if you did, the odds were pretty good you’d get run down by some bicycle messenger wanna-be before you made it to the rail.

*Probably today as well, but it’s been 25 years since I’ve been on the bridge.