Suicide theme park?

[Bob The Mercenary]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117...name=otherside

Discussion topic: Would this be a good idea, keeping in mind the meaning of the spot for the family of the dead, respect to the dead, and possible tourist interest?

[Lucas]

Would this be a good idea, keeping in mind the meaning of the spot for the family of the dead, respect to the dead, and possible tourist interest?

Keeping that in mind? Maybe, it depends if its done in a classy way. If its downright blatantly rude, then obviously not.

Keeping in mind that having a large amount of people there deters people from killing themselves, just as suicide guards on bridges do? Yes, it is a good idea; It reduces the impulsive suicide rate.

Keeping in mind that death is a huge taboo and is hardly talked about? Yes, it is a good idea, since a public attraction based on a death theme allows for accepable dialogue on the subject, and thus a better understanding about something which we're all going to do anyways.

[Lockeownzj00]

Reminds me of Tim Rogers beating Dragon Warrior I on a train in Japan that was stopped because of a train-suicide...an old man inched up next to him and watched him play. When he won, well...read the article

In places where this stuff is common it's actually not as big of an issue--like hearing guns in a run-down district, it's an everyday thing. The Golden Gate Bridge has running bets on this sort of thing, doesn't it?

[Mirai Gen]

Originally Posted by Lucas

Keeping in mind that death is a huge taboo and is hardly talked about? Yes, it is a good idea, since a public attraction based on a death theme allows for accepable dialogue on the subject, and thus a better understanding about something which we're all going to do anyways.

I don't think so, Tim.

This sounds very peculiar, I daresay offensive from the start. I don't know how the family of the deceased in these events will react, but somehow I don't think it's going to be done in a tasteful or emotionally sensitive way.

"Death Land! Come and DARE to stay in the haunted house, where twenty men have commited suicide...mwah hahahahaha!!"

Worries me for whoever builds it, really. Though if it de-sensitizes all these deaths for the people in the area, sounds like a decent idea.

[Lucas]

I don't think so, Tim

Because having a community which can accept death as a natural part of life as opposed with a totally abberation is a bad thing? I'm sorry, but i just don't see how understanding something which is inevitable makes it offensive.

[adamark]

Originally Posted by Lucas

Because having a community which can accept death as a natural part of life as opposed with a totally abberation is a bad thing? I'm sorry, but i just don't see how understanding something which is inevitable makes it offensive.

Death is one thing. Suicide is quite another. That's why people have negative opinions about it.

There have been death museums before with carcasses of men, women, and even babies. There are shrines with thousands of bones and skulls of people who died. But people usually think badly of suicide. But that's also an ethnocentric viewpoint. Other cultures aren't as abhorred by it. This theme park was in another culture. I don't know what their social ideas are about it but if they accept it, good for them.

Now, if they wanted to build one here, I might object, might.

[Mirai Gen]

Originally Posted by Lucas

Because having a community which can accept death as a natural part of life as opposed with a totally abberation is a bad thing? I'm sorry, but i just don't see how understanding something which is inevitable makes it offensive.

You have a way of stretching my words... I refer to Adamark for the rebuttal.

Originally Posted by adamark

Death is one thing. Suicide is quite another. That's why people have negative opinions about it.

Which is also why I don't think this is such a good idea. I did say "de-sensitizes all of those deaths," which meant those suicides specifically. That would be a good thing, at least for the community's reputation, but not neccesarily a great idea due to the backlash they might get.

I mean, I wouldn't care if they paved over a complete city of retiring elderly who all died in their beds to make a theme park about those dead souls wandering. It would be pretty creepy and a rather amusing idea for a horror theme park. But suicides are different; it's got a much more self-loathing, maybe even mental health problem basis, and I don't think turning it into a tourist attraction is going to make things better.

[Krylo]

The way I read this, they just plan on charging people to stay the night in the place where all these suicides took place? Seems to me that they already have places like that over here. I believe you can stay the night at Lizzie Borden's home, if memory serves, for instance.

It's not really all that new of an idea.

[adamark]

Maybe, Krylo, we have read into "theme park" too much. Maybe, like so many odd things that exist, it will just be a "tourist attraction" with no added hoopla.

[Staizer]

I don't know, a Death-Coaster might be kinda fun.

And Suicide Falls, the water slide.

The place would be perfect for Halloween.