Posted on 07/21/2008 7:50:20 AM PDT by SmithL
SAN FRANCISCO – Olivia Crowther left her London flat last month to become a statistic in San Francisco.
The 23-year-old college graduate surfed suicide Web sites, bought a plane ticket for California and, at 9:24 a.m. on June 25, leapt to her death off the Golden Gate Bridge, at light pole No. 105.
Her body was retrieved from the water nine minutes later – one of the latest among at least 1,300 suicides at the majestic span since it opened in 1937.
The debate over what to do about the deaths goes back nearly as far, though the pace is quickening this week with public meetings over proposals to prevent such tragedies.
Will Bay Area residents favor costly suicide barriers on one of the world's most famous bridges? Will they want to raise the existing 4-foot rail? Hang nets? Or do nothing?
It is an emotional debate that raises questions about aesthetics vs. public safety, costs vs. benefits, preservation vs. change. For many, it's also about the value of iconic symbols vs. the value of human life – and whether engineering can save suicidal people.
"We can't leave a 4-foot rail on a 220-foot drop available to vulnerable people who are in pain and having a bad day or a bad week or a bad month," said David Hull, a San Francisco librarian whose daughter, Kathy, committed suicide off the bridge in 2003.
Hull said his 26-year-old daughter was emerging from a long depression. He rejected the idea that people thinking of killing themselves will find a way, no matter what. He believes research supports the view that many suicides are impulsive and, thus, preventable – especially at a site with the mystique and allure of the towering suspension span.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
This is easy. Electrify it. Then suicidal folks can just add one more thing to their unending list of failures & inadequacies, jump back in their car, and go see a counselor in the morning.
Losing a child does not qualify him to make major structural changes to a public landmark and thoroughfare.
His personal pain gives him no right to make demands for the taxpayers to render the world a 100% safe environment for “people who are having a bad day”.
Several people have survived jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. One person failed once, and succeeded on her second attempt, IIRC. It is a not likely, but some have survived.
That is true. But that isn't what you posted. You were just being a putz.
I know what yer saying but she flew in from London to kill herself. I think they are brits versus SFer’s !
Regardless of where ones stands on this issue, I would like to remind folks here that these people are Human Beings, and deserve respect. It is depressing to see such callous disrespect being displayed by some here for the dead.
I’ve traversed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa many times but never paid attention to what measures,if any,the bridge contains to prevent suicides.
Some find it depressing that many people who have lost family members feel that this gives them increased moral authority that permits them to dictate to the rest of society. Some even react in a hostile manner to this.
Politeness always the best policy, but I can understand why people object when somebody says that their loss gives them special standing in such a decision.
His wimpy attitude and world view is of course the fundamental, underlying problem, which leads to the ridiculous demands. For most, I didn’t have to spell it out.
You are nothing but a condescending clown
Maybe, if San Francisco had more empathy for murdered babies who didn’t have a choice.
I never said someone’s loss gives them moral authority, I said those that show callous disrespect for their loss are little more than scum. Disagreement can be done without being disrespectful, especially to the dead.
I’d be more concerned about preventing suicide bombers from exploding a truck bomb at a critical points on the bridge and bringing it down.
Ah, so you wish to defend it by 2 wrongs making a right... pretty much proving my initial point about lack of decency.
Keep those barriers off.
If people want to end it all, let them.
I agree with you, there. One should not be disrespecful, particularly in these circumstances. At times, however, this desire to be respectful results in poor decision making, as people give over too much to those who have suffered a loss.
It should be possible to advocate keeping this rail as it is without having to oppose a “super” class of people who feel they should be permitted to dictate the solution because of their special circumstances.
the coronado bridge in san diego has signs with suicide hotline information. when i drove across both the golden gate and the bay bridge a few days ago, i was surprised to see no signs.
seems to me that the golden gate bridge is attractive to potential jumpers because it is so iconic. make it impossible to jump, and i bet 80% of the poor potential jumpers make no other suicide attempts.
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