alt.suicide.holiday

alt.suicide.holiday (a.s.h, ASH or ash) is a Usenet newsgroup. Its original purpose was to discuss the relationship between suicide rates and holiday seasons. However, it has since evolved into a broad discussion forum where suicidal people can openly share their thoughts. Some participants are not suicidal, but post to provide psychological support and other input to suicidal or depressed posters. The newsgroup is unmoderated and subject to a high level of trolling and a harsh and sometimes hostile atmosphere. According to its FAQ, its purpose is neither to encourage nor discourage suicide, maintaining the stance of pro-choice rather than pro-suicide. "Living as a suicidal, in defense of ASH" explains the ideologies and debate of ASH's 'voluntary life' concept. Since 2019, the website is no longer publicly accessible.

Effects

Recent research[1] shows that suicide websites indeed could be more efficient in providing emotional help for people contemplating suicide than suicide hotlines. Primary reasons are asynchronous nature of discussion in newsgroups giving enough time for thoughtful response and group-based discussion that suicidal people find reassuring. High degree of anonymity is another advantage of newsgroups like a.s.h, allowing people to openly talk about their feelings without fear of consequences.

UK Byron Review for 2008,[2] analyzing effects of websites on children, says that "research looking at pro-suicide sites has had mixed results. Some studies report high degrees of emotional and social support by these sites, particularly on sites where the methods of suicide were not discussed. More studies like this are needed to begin to understand the impact of such sites on those who spontaneously choose to access them."

A point of view often expressed on a.s.h itself is that the existence of a.s.h actually prevented many deaths by allowing people considering suicide to connect with others who have the same feelings and giving them a place where they don't have to hide their true feelings.

Suicide information

A.s.h does not censor information on suicide methods and does not prohibit such discussion. Opponents see discussion of suicide methods as potentially endangering vulnerable people - people who would otherwise live through crisis, might commit suicide given information on lethal methods.

Supporters of open discussion state that methods information is widely and legally available; that information might prevent number of permanent injuries resulting from lack of knowledge about methods, like paracetamol overdoses. Finally, there is no indication that making such information available changed suicide rates. For example, in 1991 Final Exit was published; it was the first book giving how-to advice on certain suicide methods. The book was the number one bestselling nonfiction book in America for 18 weeks, and has sold over a million copies.[3] At the same time, there was no remarkable increase in suicide rates.[4]

Coverage in the news

The newsgroup has been a target of news reports alleging a direct relationship between "avoidable" suicides and the suicide-facilitating nature of the newsgroup and web site.

In 2003, a.s.h was the topic of a series of Wired articles under the pretext of examining the group's role in the deaths of several depressed individuals. The accuracy and integrity of the articles was widely disputed by ashers and internet media critics, e.g., Ken Hagler's Radio Weblog: No One Asked Why He Wanted to Die.

A.s.h played some role in the death of Suzy Gonzales, who killed herself in 2003[5] after sharing her thoughts on a.s.h.[6] In the US, the death of Suzy Gonzales led to an attempt to introduce a controversial H.R. 940: Suzanne Gonzales Suicide Prevention Act of 2007, which did not pass. The current version of the bill is HR 1183: Suzanne Gonzales Suicide Prevention Act of 2011.

The community received further media attention due to the case of William Francis Melchert-Dinkel, who was charged with encouraging the suicides of a person in Britain in 2005 and another person in Canada in 2008 through a.s.h.

Coverage in other media
  • A.s.h World Wide Suicide (2002) (TV), a documentary about a.s.h
  • Norway.today is a theatrical drama inspired by a true story. A young Norwegian man and a young Austrian girl agreed a suicide pact on a.s.h, and jumped to death from Prekestolen (Pulpit Rock). Their tent, some beer, and a stereo were eventually found there.[7] Wired Magazine reported on the original story.[8] Norway.today was the most played performance in Germany in years 2003 and 2004, it was translated in 20 languages and played in over 100 theaters.
  • In 2004, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit aired an episode called "Painless", which revolved around a website with a similar philosophy called "CatchingTheTrain.com".

Terminology
  • Ticket
    • Refers to having all the tools and preparations collected and readied to complete a suicide, i.e., a ticket for the "bus".
  • Catch the bus
    • Commonly shorted to "CTB", is a euphemism for suicide.

See also

References
  1. Gilat, I; Shahar, G (2015-09-28). "Emotional first aid for a suicide crisis: comparison between Telephonic hotline and internet". Psychiatry. 70: 12–8. doi:10.1521/psyc.2007.70.1.12. PMID 17492908.
  2. "UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) - GOV.UK". Dfes.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  3. "Euthanasia • Assisted Suicide • Right-to-Die • Final Exit • Hemlock Society Founder Weblog". Self-deliverance.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  4. Suicide and Attempted Suicide: Methods and Consequences by Geo Stone. Carroll & Graf Pub (February 1999)
  5. Julia Scheeres (2003-06-08). "A VIRTUAL PATH TO SUICIDE / Depressed student killed herself with help from online discussion group". SFGate. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  6. "Google Groups". Groups.google.com. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved September 10, 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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