A well-intentioned Twitter post?

[Disco Biscuit]

Apparently, the world is better with us in it. And if you don't agree, you can call a suicide hotline.

The replies are pretty mixed. A lot of people aren't buying what this guy is selling but some are thanking him and saying that this is exactly what they needed today.

Do posts like this really help genuinely suicidal people?

 

[HenryHobkins]

I dont see how this helps or makes anyone feel better, i guess my gut tells me its just virtue-signaling

 

[hellodarkness]

I think it helps people whose despair is the result of short term, acute suffering. Those people might actually turn their viewpoint around once they realize it's a situation causing their misery, not something unchangeable and immovable in their life.

I personally choose to see appeals like this as people trying to help those who aren't genuinely suicidal to access psych resources. I can't hate on that.

 

[Ghost2211]

If the world is better with me in it is he going to help me solve my problems, or is he just going to hold up a sign and feel he did a good deed?

 

[Amumu]

This guy is definitely well-intentioned, even though he doesn't understand.

 

[Kyanite]

It's 100% virtue signaling.
It's not meant to help anyone just make this guy feel better about himself. The sad thing is posts like this usually get a ton of likes and retweets because it's easy . It's not so easy to have an actual discussion about why some people might want to CTB or the less than helpful way most people respond to mental health issues.
That being said it doesn't exactly make my blood boil .
I just try to ignore things like this

 

[StringPuppet]

Objectively speaking I've only caused problems for the people around me

 

[FluffyDove]

If the world wanted me in it, it would have been kinder to me.

 

[Sprite_Geist]

"The world is better with you (me) in it!"

 

[This_sux ✓]

I'm always ignoring such posts. They are literally shining with fake positivity.

 

[WornOutLife]

This is just ridiculous!
I feel more suicidal than ever now lol

 

[140 bpm]

You in it/You out...
The World don't give a shit, really.

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

The world is definitely not better with me, or even people like me, in it. In fact I would go so far as to say that if every single person who is as lazy, selfish, and evil as me were to be wiped out from the earth the world would be a much better place. People like that should at least be given the dignity to end themselves because it's the only chance they have of affecting the world for the better.

Also even if that wasn't true a hotline only helps people who already can be talked out of it. I always hate how presumptuous it is for people to think everybody can. You can't even convince people to change their opinions on politics how the hell are so many people this deluded to expect that so many people can change their opinions on their own desire to die?

 

[EmptyManForever]

The world will move on , with or without us

 

[symphonyofthenight]

I get what he's trying to do - and while I think the intentions are good if not incredibly naive, to me it just seems like virtue signalling. Why would I want to call a suicide hotline? it won't take away my suffering, it's a band-aid on a problem. I think that's my main issue. It makes the person holding the sign like oh yes look, I'm doing good in the world. But again its just a band-aid and if I were to reach out to anyone saying "oh yeah i want to ctb" then I will be treated like an animal. Calling a suicide hotline doesn't fix my problems but it sure can make someone else feel like they're doing good in the world...

 

[NegativeSymptoms]

I don't care what the world thinks or feels. I am disabled and my suffering is permanent.

 

[Kat!]

the vibe I caught from that

 

[sweater]

I think people who make posts or do things like this have good intentions. They must mean well to even try.
But ultimately it does nothing for me.
People like this don't know me or my life, they don't know my suffering and they can't judge my impact on the world.
If the world is better with me/us in it, why isn't the world kinder from the start? Why do people wait until we are literally knocking on death's door to make a feeble attempt at saving us?

 

[Acopia]

My personal favourite is people who post something like:
"If you're struggling, reach out.."

With the obvious unwritten caveat of:
"..as long as it ain't to me."

-A.

 

[TAW122]

I see it as a virtue signal since most people who do this want to be known for being helpful while doing little to nothing to help the underlying causes of suicidality. While it is true that there are some people who are genuine (far and few), they of course fail to understand most of the pro-choicer's reasoning or standpoint for wanting to CTB.

 

[140 bpm]

Ok, it's helpful now

 

[death becomes her]

Thanks for sharing, I read the thread and found it interesting that there were a lot of replies of people feeling suicidal.

Maybe it's a sign of the times or people can now be more honest on twitter via burner accounts.

Someone replied about ordering cyanide pills ... hmmm

 

[ZardozOmega]

it really, really isn't.

 

[Latios]

Yeah, well-intentioned but doesn't understand our suffering....

Ok, it's helpful now

Lmao

 

[262653]

When I was a kid, I put a picture of a candle on my avatar, on some national tragedy day of some victims. I still don't understand why I did it, but I remember looking at the profiles of my schoolmates and seeing the same pictures. Monkey see, monkey do.

Also, even if I believe (I don't) people are acting with good intentions, I still can't wholeheartedly trust their judgement. The guy with the hotline pic doesn't strike me as a perceptive person when it comes to the topic of suicide.

One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite games that I think fits the topic very well: "Be careful with kindness and charity, lest you do more harm with an open palm than with a clenched fist."

 

[Nymph]

sure buddy, this is what i needed today. ive been cured....hooray

 

[Donk]

I think he did it out of goodwill but comes off as ignorant at the same time

 

[_Kaira_]

I called a hotline last night, but no one picked up because HOLIDAYS. Well I guess people don't ctb on major holidays .
In any case, nah, I'm not calling just to get my a** put into the ward again. It's a d*mn trap, not there to make you feel better.

It's purely just virtue signaling. Put yourself in the wards cause YOUR LIFE MATTERS. Lmfao.

 

[livefreeorpeace]

I just find this type of stuff to be insincere. I'd be willing to bet dude knows someone IRL that needs a conversation real bad right now, but as opposed to do that he'll just make this shitty Twitter post instead, it's easier. This dude cares about the kudos, and the associated endorphin rush that comes along with it. Obvious attention seeking, is obvious.

 

[Apathy79]

I just find this type of stuff to be insincere. I'd be willing to bet dude knows someone IRL that needs a conversation real bad right now, but as opposed to do that he'll just make this shitty Twitter post instead, it's easier. This dude cares about the kudos, and the associated endorphin rush that comes along with it. Obvious attention seeking, is obvious.

This gave me an idea. Maybe you're right about this and he does know someone IRL that needs a conversation real bad right now. I can think of one in my life straight away. I'm 99% sure she's deeply depressed and likely suicidal. But outside asking how she's doing and if she's OK, what's on her mind, etc., I have no idea how to even broach the subject and despite numerous attempts it always goes nowhere.

Now how can I send a message to her that I think might mean something coming from me, that I can't send privately without making a potentially false assumption that she's suicidal? Maybe I can just send it generically to everyone - there's a million virtue signalling posts of the same ilk going around so most people won't even blink but maybe she sees it and it means something to her. If not the suicide hotline, maybe she opens up to me and who knows if we can help? And if not, what's the downside?

I mean it's probably not that, in fact it's a long shot, but your comment made me think there could be more to it than delusional virtue signalling so I'd best not judge too harshly like I was tempted to. I think as a generic post to everyone it's likely meaningless but there could be more to it. Even if not designed for a very specific target audience, it could just be a conversation starter where people feel comfortable talking about it semi-anonymously. Who knows.