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Suicide at the Peak Tower

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  1. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by Swannie:
    The police job is certainly not to save some lunatic that wants to end their life... Quoting a movie as a supporting point. Wow, that's rich. Ensure public safety and maintain order, that's their job. Locking up the lunatic in a mental hospital if they survive or picking up the pieces. Bring in a specialist that may talk the person down but you certainly don't risk any innocent lives for someone trying to kill themselves. I wouldn't expect a policeman to try to stop thieves either if there was undue risk to their lives, that's pure idiocy from watching a few too many movies. A job is a job, you don't go risking your life unless it's absolutely necessary and even then, it should remain a choice not an obligation.
    I hope you are not in public service with an attitude like that!
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  2. #22

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    Jumper : "Aren't you gonna try to grab me?"
    Harry : "A friend of mine was up about 20 floors with a jumper a few years ago, and the jumper grabbed him, they went off, 20 floors down, just mashed 'em all over the pavement. Couldn't tell which legs were with which, which arms were with which, and it was a terrible mess. I'll tell ya I almost threw up myself. I'd just like your name and address that's all."
    Jumper : "Why?"
    Harry : "Well like I said, it's such a mess down there afterwards and it makes identification impossible. Even if they find your drivers license, all that blood and everything..."
    Can't see the harm in putting a big air bag in place if they've got the time, though...

  3. #23

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    Quote Originally Posted by Fiona in HKG:
    I agree but then I remember things like the guy in China who ended up pushing a guy threatening to jump....and reports from the West of people encouraging threatening jumpers to jump! I guess there is certainly some value to the boys in blue keeping people away.
    Huh, all sorts of completely weird news makes it out of China. I hadn't heard that one.

    It would certainly not be an ideal situation where every man and his dog tried to get involved in a publicly dangerous situation, but in this case 'helping' could have been something as simple as confirming with the police that they were correctly performing their duty or asking if there was anything they could do to help (unlikely as the latter would be).

    What I find slightly morally distasteful is the idea of assuming that it's someone else's responsibility, then walking off because it'd be too upsetting to witness (i.e. Gavelina's response). Then again, I wasn't there so I have no idea what the situation was.

    Not that this falls anywhere in the same league, but I saw someone collapse on the MTR last week. It was reassuring to see that someone pressed the emergency stop button, but then just about everyone stood around watching the guy lying on the floor. Only one person had the presence of mind to loosen the victim's tie before I got to him. I was the only person who thought to check that he was breathing, concious, and responsive and to get everyone else away from standing around gawking if they were not being helpful. There were literally people standing less than foot away, just watching the guy lie there.

    The other person who actively helped was a young, westernised Indian guy. And obviously, I'm not from around these parts either. After that incident, I wonder if feeling like an outsider makes one slightly more likely to intervene and help strangers, rather than following the muppetish social norm to stand around and gawk whilst waiting for someone else to take responsibility.
    Last edited by jgl; 31-05-2012 at 03:27 PM.
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  4. #24

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    Quote Originally Posted by MovingIn07:
    I hope you are not in public service with an attitude like that!
    Easy to have a big yap yap when you're sitting on the sidelines gawking or typing at your little computer and expecting others to do the dirty job because you think that's what they signed up for...
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  5. #25

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    Although suicide itself is not a crime in Hong Kong (unlike in US), Police have an obligation to the community to prevent unnatural death whenever possible. In majority of these cases the perpetrator is guilty of at least trespassing on private property and public disturbance and as such should be forcibly "removed". Clearing off the area and waiting for them to jump is simply lazy and sloppy police work....and a very shitty approach to value of individual life. Efforts must be made to talk down a potential jumper, and if possible (without significant exposure to undue harm) forcibly bring the suspect down (in a controlled manner if possible).


    Psynet Suicide Bulleting from HK Police

    "We should accept that suicide prevention is the responsibility of every Force member."


  6. #26

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    Hey, at least they don't use clear plastic body bags for the cleanup so that bystanders get a nice view of the mess, and then send a massive cleanup bill to the family, as they do in Tokyo.


  7. #27

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    Quote Originally Posted by jgl:
    Hey, at least they don't use clear plastic body bags for the cleanup so that bystanders get a nice view of the mess, and then send a massive cleanup bill to the family, as they do in Tokyo.
    Urban myth, doesn't happen.

  8. #28

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    What, the fines or the clear body bags? I've only read about the former, but can attest to the latter.


  9. #29

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    Was told by several Japanese acquaintances (who didn't know each other) that this was a rumour publicised to deter would-be rail suicides? There seems no definitive answer if you search online.


  10. #30

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    Clear plastic body bags?

    Jgl you say you can attest to it... how?