Comments on: How to handle suicide threats http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/handling-sources/how-to-handle-suicide-threats/ Journalism ethics cases online Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:35:18 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Arlan Hoskins http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/handling-sources/how-to-handle-suicide-threats/comment-page-1/#comment-48136 Arlan Hoskins Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:31:05 +0000 http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/handling-sources/how-to-handle-suicide-threats/#comment-48136 I am guidnace counselor and have students in Jr. High and Sr. High who frequently state, "I'll just go kill myself." when things don't go to their liking. It seems to be a popular statement as many of the kids say it... What is an appropriate response to this kind of behavior? I am guidnace counselor and have students in Jr. High and Sr. High who frequently state, “I’ll just go kill myself.” when things don’t go to their liking. It seems to be a popular statement as many of the kids say it… What is an appropriate response to this kind of behavior?

]]> By: Crooked.Lamb http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/handling-sources/how-to-handle-suicide-threats/comment-page-1/#comment-48012 Crooked.Lamb Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:38:09 +0000 http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/handling-sources/how-to-handle-suicide-threats/#comment-48012 It wasn't the reporters fault at all, the guy was unstable and wanted attention. Maybe they could have taken precautions to make sure he didn't kill himself. But I don't see why the media should take responsibility for another guys problems, if you don't want people to know it, don't do it. It wasn’t the reporters fault at all, the guy was unstable and wanted attention. Maybe they could have taken precautions to make sure he didn’t kill himself. But I don’t see why the media should take responsibility for another guys problems, if you don’t want people to know it, don’t do it.

]]> By: Justin http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/handling-sources/how-to-handle-suicide-threats/comment-page-1/#comment-38739 Justin Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:40:05 +0000 http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/handling-sources/how-to-handle-suicide-threats/#comment-38739 Tanner, if that statement were even relevant to the article, it would still be pretty much the worst thing you could tell someone with suicidal ideations. Someone expressing suicidal thoughts would appreciate empathy, not these generic, misdirected, and condescending words. Even to Christians, which the person in question may not be, these particular words on God are self-righteous and unnecessary in this context. Summarizing the potential culmination of someone's life in a poorly-conceived single paragraph doesn't seem helpful. Tanner, if that statement were even relevant to the article, it would still be pretty much the worst thing you could tell someone with suicidal ideations.

Someone expressing suicidal thoughts would appreciate empathy, not these generic, misdirected, and condescending words. Even to Christians, which the person in question may not be, these particular words on God are self-righteous and unnecessary in this context.

Summarizing the potential culmination of someone’s life in a poorly-conceived single paragraph doesn’t seem helpful.

]]> By: Tanner http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/handling-sources/how-to-handle-suicide-threats/comment-page-1/#comment-34040 Tanner Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:28:56 +0000 http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/handling-sources/how-to-handle-suicide-threats/#comment-34040 Suicide is bad. dont do it. you may think your worth nothing, but to others, you mean everything. (: God put you on this earth of a reason. your here to make a differnece. show people whats right and wrong. show people that you have to strength and courage to fight through anything and everything. Suicide is bad.
dont do it.
you may think your worth nothing, but to others, you mean everything. (:

God put you on this earth of a reason. your here to make a differnece. show people whats right and wrong. show people that you have to strength and courage to fight through anything and everything.

]]> By: Emily http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/handling-sources/how-to-handle-suicide-threats/comment-page-1/#comment-33555 Emily Wed, 05 Nov 2008 23:36:50 +0000 http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/handling-sources/how-to-handle-suicide-threats/#comment-33555 In the case of Rees, I believe that Aynesworth had the right idea because he gave Rees time to move and tell his wife. However, I dont think that Aynesworth showed compassion for the person that was going to be affected if he ran the report. In the case of Wilson and Little I think that Wilson had no choice because he didn't know how Little felt because he never said he would kill himself if that report was ran. In the case of Rees, I believe that Aynesworth had the right idea because he gave Rees time to move and tell his wife. However, I dont think that Aynesworth showed compassion for the person that was going to be affected if he ran the report. In the case of Wilson and Little I think that Wilson had no choice because he didn’t know how Little felt because he never said he would kill himself if that report was ran.

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