Any updates on the MBTA accident in Porter Sq?

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

I've been looking for updates (such as what the hell happened and how could a person be trapped there?) but I cannot even find the name of the person. I thought more information was supposed to be released on Friday afternoon. Has anyone heard anything?

Comments

[maru-mari.livejournal.com]

http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/news/x1518882779/MBTA-state-officials-probe-identity-of-man-in-Porter-Square-train-death


that's all i could find?

What is the use of local Somerville newspapers...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

If they don't even try to find out and report on somebody dying under a train in Porter Sq? I suppose only rapes sell...

Re: What is the use of local Somerville newspapers...

[toilandtrouble.livejournal.com]

It's better than Boston.com, which only listed it as a "medical emergency."

Re: What is the use of local Somerville newspapers...

[ron_newman]

If it was a 'suicide by train', which is likely, there seems to be sort of an unwritten agreement between the media and the MBTA to limit reporting -- probably to discourage copycats.

Re: What is the use of local Somerville newspapers...

[m-b-w.livejournal.com]

As these incidents are usually kept fairly quiet (despite this recent one at Porter getting so much early media attention), people might not realize how common they are. This March 2009 article reported "Since 2006, at least 20 people have used commuter or T trains to kill themselves, according to the MBTA."
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/07/unseen_victims_get_help/

Re: What is the use of local Somerville newspapers...

[beatniktea.livejournal.com]

I work at the Revere Beach stop on the blue line and someone recently commit suicide by jumping in front of the train. There wasn't very much media attention in this case either and I agree that encouraging copycats isn't such a bright idea, as much as others might think it a ridiculous notion.

Re: What is the use of local Somerville newspapers...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Are you seriously saying that talking about suicide by T would encourage others to jump in front of the T? I think this is a ridiculous notion, since there is plenty of talk of killings and suicides involving guns. For some reason, these are not considered likely to encourage copycats.
Probably, the real reason is that these kinds of events make everybody realize something is seriously wrong with the way our society is organized. Better to suppress it from awareness and go on with things.

Re: What is the use of local Somerville newspapers...

[maclou.livejournal.com]

Killing yourself by jumping in front of a train is something people would do for attention... maybe that sounds a bit dumb but people would do it because they want to be remembered. And the people who see it will remember them. Covering it on the news would be giving it even more attention and that would feed the idea that if you kill yourself that way more people will remember you. So that would cause more copycats. Suicides are never given much press (no, not even gun ones) unless the person takes others with them.

Re: What is the use of local Somerville newspapers...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Seriously, do you know any good book with thoughts by people who tried to commit suicide and survived?

Re: What is the use of local Somerville newspapers...

[maclou.livejournal.com]

Hmmm actually I haven't just a bunch of psych books with proof that there are copy cat suicides but you can believe what you want.

Re: What is the use of local Somerville newspapers...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

No, I believe that there are some copycat suicides (sorry if I thought you were basing your judgment on actual data, how silly of me), but I also believe that not talking about it makes things worse. There are also copycat teen pregnancies, for example. To try reduce them you talk about them and try to make sure people know as much as they can about the problem.

Re: What is the use of local Somerville newspapers...

[purpless77.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, however, the media is stupid for giving teen pregnancy any time as there are definitely more pregnant teen copycats then suicide copycats. Teens know how to prevent pregnancy, they choose not to. But people in a suicidal state just aren't thinking ahead. I think you hit the nail on the head in your reply above with the way society is organized. In my opinion the society as a whole is corrupt. One less negative news story that doesn't directly effect me is fine by me, but thinking of those who may have known this person who would like to know this person is no longer here, I feel it should have been better reported.

Re: What is the use of local Somerville newspapers...

[maclou.livejournal.com]

I see data from psych books aren't actually data oh ok :D

I guess my point is, yes if there were a certain way a suicide were reported on or if every single person at risk at becoming a copycat had been to therapy that maybe it would be OK to report on suicides like that. But there's always a risk, do we really need to risk suicides going up just because we need to hear about every single thing that happens apparently.

Re: What is the use of local Somerville newspapers...

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

No, but there is the documentary The Bridge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bridge_(2006_film)) about Golden Gate suicide jumpers that talks to at least one survivor. It grew out of an article (linked in the Wiki entry) and is really something.

Here's one: Beyond Tears (http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Tears-Survivors-Story-ebook/dp/B001JQLQFC/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242736079&sr=8-11).

Here's an article about copy cat suicides (http://www.yspp.org/media/copycat.html) from a Youth Suicide Preventation site with some data backing it up.

There's a difference between talking about suicide and publicizing it.

Re: What is the use of local Somerville newspapers...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I would like people to talk about it, not having newspapers ads encouraging suicide (obviously) :)

[fefie.livejournal.com]

I thought I read somewhere that the man had no ID on him (I might have read that on Wicked Local Cambridge) which would make identification more difficult.

Suicide!??

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

I don't know why, but now that I know I have this uncontrollable drive to throw myself under the T... Nothing to joke about, but I hate these BS taboos about not talking about death and disease. Why did this guy do it, if it's true? I don't see how the truth can be a problem for anyone who is not in deep denial about the reality of human existence.

Re: Suicide!??

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

if it was a suicide, i have no problem thinking it should be reported as such, and maybe i am misinterpreting your comment. but 'why he did it' would only be a guess and, also, i can see the family not wanting any more detail than that being plastered all over the media.

Re: Suicide!??

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I was responding (snarkily) to a comment above about why the police may not want to talk about it: to avoid copycats...

Re: Suicide!??

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

haha, wow. i must have been really not paying attention, go me!

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

They may still not know who the person was. Or, if they know who the person was, they may not yet have been able to determine who his next of kin are, so are not publishing his name until those folks are notified.

I have been on the other end of that phone, calling the police day after day for the name of an unidentified victim, so don't blame the journalists.

Good point.

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Perhaps the police does not want to talk about it (although the policeman in the video outside Porter Sq said they'd release the info last Friday afternoon).
How would you all feel if this guy was the fake Spare Change guy? TOld you this could happen...