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Letters
Thursday, April 24, 2008 12:00 AM

In Japan, the Web prompts suicides by hydrogen sulfide gas

Online forums are advocating an "easier" suicide method.

The letters thread is now closed.

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Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:13 AM

This is kind of awesome - Wikicide

This kind of free propagation of useful information is exactly what the web should be about.

Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:33 AM

Censoring suicide sites will not help

Take it from someone who once attempted suicide a long time ago: if you wish to kill yourself, a lack of detailed information or advice is not going to stop you from making an attempt.

The only truly effective suicide deterrences the Japanese government can seek?

Determine and address the root causes, build support networks and try to effect social change.

Yes, yes - these efforts are a thousand times more difficult than mere 'pro-suicide' Web censorship...but, unlike the latter action, they may actually work.

Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:49 AM

yuck

Hydrogen sulfide really stinks. It must be awful waiting for a lethal concentration to build up.

Maybe locking yourself in the john with a bag of dry ice is more pleasant.

Thursday, April 24, 2008 01:29 PM

The problem is not that information about how to commit suicide is available.

Pretty much everybody knows how to commit suicide. The problem is that there are people who want to do so. Manjoo is dancing around the issue, but there is an implication here that somehow the Internet is to blame. It isn't.

Thursday, April 24, 2008 04:46 PM

Is there something we should know about...

...bathroom products?

Holy moly, who knew -- hydrogen sulfide. While I have exactly zero intention of offing myself, I would like to know exactly what kinds of bathroom products should NEVER COME INTO CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER!

Wow.

Thursday, April 24, 2008 05:58 PM

@Whispers, re blame

Where's that implication?

Friday, April 25, 2008 03:16 AM

"The Web Prompts Suicides"

Sounds like blame to me.

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