Since the beginning of the year, there have been 27 suicide deaths by gas, five in the last week. Does the news media bear some responsibility for this latest, disturbing trend?
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written by LongCountdown 98 days ago
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Yes, absolutely. A couple of years ago there was a spate of suicides in junior high and high schools, and the MSM were relentless in their coverage (perhaps more so than the gyoza nonsense earlier this year). By covering such suicides, they (in my opinion) gave other depressed kids ideas about doing the same thing.
These days the news criticizes websites that encourage suicide, but if you ask me, most people wouldn't know such sites existed if the media didn't point us to them!
written by OmoshiroiEigo 98 days ago
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The media.... what is it good for?
written by ShaneS 98 days ago
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I couldn't agree more about the website issue and the media. I'm not sure the internet is the first source that suicidal people would go to...
I wonder about the existence of a social "safety net" in Japan. Are there employees assistance programs like in the states? What about the schools? And what about all the women who stay home to care for aging parents and children - where do they go if they need help?
If such "safety nets" exist maybe the media should spend the same amount of time promoting them as they do reporting on the suicides themselves!
written by OmoshiroiEigo 98 days ago
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Good point Shane!
written by billywest 97 days ago
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Citizens of most societies are manipulated by the media in their countries, but the level on which it happens here is unbelievable sometimes. The tainted gyoza bit was a perfect example.
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Yes, absolutely. A couple of years ago there was a spate of suicides in junior high and high schools, and the MSM were relentless in their coverage (perhaps more so than the gyoza nonsense earlier this year). By covering such suicides, they (in my opinion) gave other depressed kids ideas about doing the same thing.
These days the news criticizes websites that encourage suicide, but if you ask me, most people wouldn't know such sites existed if the media didn't point us to them!
The media.... what is it good for?
I couldn't agree more about the website issue and the media. I'm not sure the internet is the first source that suicidal people would go to...
I wonder about the existence of a social "safety net" in Japan. Are there employees assistance programs like in the states? What about the schools? And what about all the women who stay home to care for aging parents and children - where do they go if they need help?
If such "safety nets" exist maybe the media should spend the same amount of time promoting them as they do reporting on the suicides themselves!
Good point Shane!
Citizens of most societies are manipulated by the media in their countries, but the level on which it happens here is unbelievable sometimes. The tainted gyoza bit was a perfect example.