Canadian University Student Attempts Online Suicide, Is Egged On By 4chan Users

[Initech]

A young man has attempted to burn himself to death on a live stream watched by 200 encouraging people on the internet.

The incident took place on Saturday evening and involved a young man who identified himself only as “Stephen”.

The University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada confirmed that a fire was deliberately started in its Dundas Hall student residence by a 20-year-old student who was later taken to hospital with severe but non-life threatening burns.

Stephen is said to have logged-on to the controversial anonymous imageboard website 4chan on Saturday evening, stating his intention to take his own life. He posted that, as he’d been a long-time user of the website, he was willing to broadcast his suicide as a bizarre form of entertainment for fellow 4channers.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/4chan-suicide-attempt-200-people-watch-live-stream-of-young-man-trying-to-set-himself-on-fire-encouraging-stephen-to-take-his-own-life-8977319.html

WTF is wrong with some people? One of the most disturbing things I've ever read.

[Blue_Tires]

1. Just a mentally ill cry for help...

And he almost certainly believes 4chan are the only "friends" he has in this world...


FWIW, if I ever decide to off myself, it WILL be in front of a DU audience

[Journeyman]

2. Some guy threatened to kill himself by jumping off a freeway overpass a few years ago. . .

Traffic in that section of L.A. screeched to a halt. The police tried to talk him down, he refused to budge and traffic at 5 pm sat motionless.

People began to scream at him to jump, just jump, so he could be scooped up off the pavement and they could continue on home.

In their defense, a jump from that height with no traffic moving below, unless he did a header into the concrete he was probably only going to break his leg. But still, it was a disturbing image: pissed-off commuters more concerned with getting home than they were with the welfare of a distraught individual bent on ending it all.

We are indeed a sometimes pathetic race, especially when the face we show is that of the rat race.

[Initech]

7. I live in LA and I think I remember this. Where was it exactly?

[Journeyman]

8. This particular incident happened . . .

down South, around Oceanside, maybe 20 years ago. I used L.A. as a generic, so those outside the Southland would have an idea where I was writing about. A buddy of mine was stuck in the traffic, right beneath the overpass.

There was a similar incident closer to the City just a few years back. I can't remember exactly where, but I believe it was near the Coliseum.

[politichew]

3. 4chan is a community that is worthy of the NSA vacuum.

And one website I wouldn't be sorry to see shuttered by the feds.

A lot of content on there is illegal and goes beyond the parameters of the 1st Amendment.

[Initech]

5. It's the international waters of the internet.

Anything goes there and they can get away with anything it seems like.

[1000words]

4. The "anonymity" of the internet sure does bring out the ugly inside folks

I see this behavior all the time. Not surprised it would go this far.

[cherokeeprogressive]

6. I'd bet he was SEEKING encouragement.

Hard to believe otherwise, knowing what that place is all about.

[redqueen]

9. In his emotionally fragile state, he may have been.

He may have been experiencing suicidal ideation for a long time and considered that he could get a final push using this tactic.

It's sad how cruel so many people can be.

[cherokeeprogressive]

10. That's probably the ugliest site on the Web.

His being a regular there leads me to believe he knew what the reaction would be.

Sad all the way around.