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This is not about govt or authoritarianism. This is about a human hurting who even took the time to look at the beach - most likely to see if anyone gave a durn enough about him to help. In that situation, no wonder he drowned himself as no one did care enough to help.
"Oh well".... The world is what it is, and that is partly why some people do kill themselves. And if he evaluated the situation and realized that many people really don't care enough to take the time, then perhaps his initial intuition was right all along. If he decided to go ahead with it, as he did, based on that evaluation and observation.... then that was the right decision for him.
"Oh well".... The world is what it is, and that is partly why some people do kill themselves. And if he evaluated the situation and realized that many people really don't care enough to take the time, then perhaps his initial intuition was right all along. If he decided to go ahead with it, as he did, based on that evaluation and observation.... then that was the right decision for him.
Right decision for him? Gee, what was he going to do? Walk out of the water and be completely humiliated knowing no one gave a damn to even help? If you ask me, he was almost forced to do the deed.
No it isn't because if this were an accident they wouldn't have been able to save the victim.
So long as you're willing to leave suicidal people to their own devices then I don't have a problem with that evaluation (putting aside one minor additional nuance that I'll neglect for now).
This didn't happen in San Francisco - it was in Alameda, CA, which is an island.
My stomach churns as I read a story like this - a disturbed man WALKS into the surf (takes him about an hour to get out to neck deep) while he keeps looking back to shore - they call 911 for help.
Police, Fire Department, Coast Guard, ambulance crews ALL just stand around and discuss how "they can't do anything" (NOT my job), watching this man drown while his feet are still planted on a sandy bottom. A crowd of about 75 people stood and watched this man drown - in an island community. I can't even wrap my head around something like that.
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Responds to emergency calls and performs duties necessary to prevent or limit loss of life and property in emergency situations dealing with fire, disasters, medical emergencies, water rescue, technical rescue, and hazardous materials.
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Ability
Ability to effectively perform fire suppression, safety and prevention work, emergency medical and paramedic assistant, water rescue, technical rescue, and hazardous materials duties; prevent or limit loss of life or property in emergency situations dealing with fire, disasters, medical emergencies, water rescues, technical rescues, and hazardous materials; operate a variety of specialized fire department equipment; drive defensively; comprehend technical material; comprehend maps and mapped information (i.e. schematics, building diagrams, and prep-plans).
Ability to maintain physical and mental condition appropriate to perform assigned duties and responsibilities.
In 2009 - Budget constraints caused the City of Alameda to do some cut-backs in funding ...... the salary/pension benefits of Union employees (80% of the city budget) were just too much to handle ..... the Fire Department has 'trained' water rescue, has boats ...... but they now don't use them (what do you want to bet that it went in the Union Contract that they would not go into the water). Boats are still tied up at the City docks and one has to supposed that all the 'trained' water rescue folks have forgotten how to swim/rescue in the last 18 months AND that there are NO Union Fire/Police personnel that have any idea how to either swim or walk across the sand to rescue a citizen who was standing on a sandy bottom with his head barely above water.
75 people (mostly citizens) stood waiting for either the Police, Fire Department or Coast Guard (who also has nobody who can swim) watched this man drown. A citizen finally waded out and brought in the dead body when it was clear that no official was willing to do anything at all.
I can't help but wonder how all of them are able to sleep now ....... but not to worry ...... according to the OP of this thread - it's the fault of some strange group called The Tea Party.
Well done California - this country may be way beyond any repair when we read a story like this. It looks like there is no such thing as 'public service' from those we have all counted on - they are for themselves and it's worth noting that the rest of us should pay attention to that.
On the up-side - the Alameda Fire Department Union is in negotiations for another contract with wage/benefits increases in spite of a City that is on the verge of bankruptcy (while they are bringing suits against the City of Alameda to fight paying any of their benefits).
Is this a great country or what? Time to wake up folks, could have been a kid in trouble - wouldn't have made a bit of difference. These clowns would stand a watch - "not my job".
This is not about govt or authoritarianism. This is about a human hurting who even took the time to look at the beach - most likely to see if anyone gave a durn enough about him to help. In that situation, no wonder he drowned himself as no one did care enough to help.
Well then he was dumb to do that in such a liberal city and state. If anything the liberals believe in assisted suicide and he's lucky they didn't come running out to drown him before he could change his mind.
The guy was deliberately intent upon killing himself. He was successful. No one else was hurt.
I don't see the problem.
Yes - where is that Right to Die crowd? It's silly they're trying to pretend there's anything conservative about this region of the country and that this has any thing to with conservatives.
Most likely when this kind of thing happens in liberal California, they are instructed not to interfere with suicides because that would interfere with his right to decide to die.
Right decision for him? Gee, what was he going to do? Walk out of the water and be completely humiliated knowing no one gave a damn to even help? If you ask me, he was almost forced to do the deed.
I don't see that nuance as being overly substantive. Same situation a lot of suicidal people get into when they choose means that might not kill them immediately. Maybe somebody slits their wrist, but then for a brief time during the act, contemplates it for a bit, asking themselves if they really want to go through with it. I'm sure they would likewise be somewhat humiliated having to explain to various people why their wrists are slashed up and they are bleeding all over the place. Perhaps they also feel like they have to complete the deed, as well. Maybe the embarrassment of having to go to the hospital and then possibly explain that to all the relatives, is the little bit of extra motivation they need to finish the task. That little problem just seems to be part of the package that goes along with most suicide attempts.
I mean, if you want to go talk somebody down from doing it..... by all means. I certainly wouldn't tell you you couldn't. But if they tell you they have reflected upon it sufficiently and that they still want to do it, at some point during the conversation you need to take no for an answer and then not interfere with them. Keep talking to them till the very end, if you must, maybe something will 'click' in their mind and they will reconsider. But interfering, I think that is a no-no.
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