tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post8083617349658639107..comments2024-03-28T11:28:51.868-05:00Comments on Every goddamn day: 03/28/24: Don't do it.Neil Steinberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-41068975434182305392016-10-11T12:12:17.159-05:002016-10-11T12:12:17.159-05:00Worse than the sign with only the phone number is...Worse than the sign with only the phone number is the fact that oftentimes no one ever answers the phone when the number is calledAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06615716146864047040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-87603587667956998422016-10-10T13:57:36.164-05:002016-10-10T13:57:36.164-05:00See my reply to Bill above for an explanation of &...See my reply to Bill above for an explanation of "Masonic." Neil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-89822273513430922122016-10-10T13:57:11.760-05:002016-10-10T13:57:11.760-05:00Exactly, I meant it to be descriptive. I've se...Exactly, I meant it to be descriptive. I've seen 19th century labor union banners that use the handshaking image. It just seemed something of that ilk, redolent of lodges and fezzes and pyramids and such. I wasn't implying that Masons are uncaring. Harry Truman was a Mason; I have nothing against them. <br />Neil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-64391901800610330932016-10-10T13:51:45.905-05:002016-10-10T13:51:45.905-05:00I'm a Mason, and I think the handshake on the ...I'm a Mason, and I think the handshake on the poster is supposed to represent "extending and providing a helping hand." Which fits in well with Masonic teaching! I think Mr. Steinberg was trying to by amusing and wasn't really intending to imply Masons are actually shadow-y, wrong and oblivious. We sometimes can be those things, of course, in some ways, but the point is that we try not to be those things and work to be good, kind, caring, supportive. <br />Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03634642987617262810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-45683708377785640462016-10-09T13:42:05.333-05:002016-10-09T13:42:05.333-05:00A preachy text probably wouldn't be any kind o...A preachy text probably wouldn't be any kind of a deterrent, but this sign is, in advertising terminology, a "call to action." Offering an 800 number to call provides a simple, concrete alternative to annihilation.<br /><br />Like others, I don't quite get "oblivious and Masonic."<br /><br />Tom EvansTomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09641357239788323783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-78041560675785124232016-10-09T11:07:30.835-05:002016-10-09T11:07:30.835-05:00I suspect that the signs and probably the hotline ...I suspect that the signs and probably the hotline itself are at best ineffectual in deterring suicides, like the anti-smoking ads on TV -- I used to light up a cigarette every time I saw one. What's needed is not a big NO, but an emphatic YES, not a "don't do this awful thing" but a "you have a wonderful life yet to live." But such a YES would have to be everywhere in order to save just a few lives. Not cost effective you might say.<br /><br />Johntatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10088632798195131329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-48237592983048373672016-10-09T10:53:00.533-05:002016-10-09T10:53:00.533-05:00thank you neil, this is very thoughtful (and thoug... thank you neil, this is very thoughtful (and thought-provoking) column...dunno what the story is with that handshake, but youre right, seems approrpriate for maybe small businesses or a community building efforts (maybe thats behind it, lets watch out for each other? no, its only an image--doesnt convey that.)though occurs to me--hand reaching down to someone on the tracks (ill bet they werent thinking that though). also your previous column was very thoughtful. i was thinking: what else can be done? possibly something like posting this "everything is awful and im not okay: questions to ask before giving up"--yes its detailed, but the headline is a grabber, and just the act of reading it slows time. might work for more impulsive suicides. but perhaps not for those who have planned. i dont know. post or have these sheets avail to take?(though people can take pics w/phones i guess). .https://drive.google.com/.../0B6A2F5ky9SELU0Zfd05YME.../viewsarah e. lauzenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14707833245792626307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-17402836678708789732016-10-09T09:49:12.746-05:002016-10-09T09:49:12.746-05:00They do have secret handshakes, but that image isn...They do have secret handshakes, but that image isn't one of their symbols. The majority of my male relatives are Shriners and Masons, so I'm wondering why lump Masonic with wrong and lacking. They're very much the opposite. NikkiDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15226032148784322997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-3998226834942777572016-10-09T09:28:27.152-05:002016-10-09T09:28:27.152-05:00Masons are said to have one or more secret handsha...Masons are said to have one or more secret handshakes. Coeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06130250489695215525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-1702223799723364132016-10-09T09:07:27.788-05:002016-10-09T09:07:27.788-05:00"Put up a sign so families can't sue us,&..."Put up a sign so families can't sue us," - someone at Metra probably. I'm going along with your description of the sign as something wrong, oblivious, and lacking; but why describe it as Masonic? NikkiDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15226032148784322997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-77242837973772881482016-10-09T09:00:28.238-05:002016-10-09T09:00:28.238-05:00I've actually seen a Metracide [someone coined...I've actually seen a Metracide [someone coined that word last year] & yes, it's traumatic.<br />Weeks of nightmares followed & now, I always expect people standing close to the edge of the platform to do it.Clark St.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09634234069783123180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-22570500400523816642016-10-09T08:38:20.253-05:002016-10-09T08:38:20.253-05:00This seems similar to phone numbers posted after c...This seems similar to phone numbers posted after casino ads offering help for gambling addiction. A discreet response to a very serious problem, more like a disclaimer, to me.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04541828632284556589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-84872770725454442622016-10-09T07:42:45.845-05:002016-10-09T07:42:45.845-05:00I agree. I think any prevention effort should be t...I agree. I think any prevention effort should be tried. At least the sign is something that might make them stop and think that there is another alternative besides suicide. Ideally, maybe the sign should mention that things will get better, so don't act in the moment. The trauma of seeing the body bag or worse on the tracks is very traumatic. I've seen it a couple of times and really can't get over the sadness whenever it crosses my mind.<br /><br />Linda BLBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07023427375867309963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-56486415948173378812016-10-09T00:52:20.165-05:002016-10-09T00:52:20.165-05:00A couple of my friends have committed suicide. As ...A couple of my friends have committed suicide. As far as I'm concerned, any prevention effort is a good effort.<br /><br />Bitter ScribeUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12857840826894504436noreply@blogger.com