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ITASOR said:
I think the majority of people would have protected themselves/others rather than run blindly over to a stranger that could easily have a gun/knife/weapon and attack you. It's nice to help people, but putting yourself in such a risky situation doesn't seem very smart either...

Would it really be so difficult to stop your current phone conversation and call 911? Yeah, that's really risky. You might miss out on who did what last night whilst helping someone.
 
ITASOR said:
I think the majority of people would have protected themselves/others rather than run blindly over to a stranger that could easily have a gun/knife/weapon and attack you. It's nice to help people, but putting yourself in such a risky situation doesn't seem very smart either...


I like to think most of the people I know would have helped. We don't have the gun problems you guys have, but that's for a different thread... Not attacking you buddy, just thought I'd mention it. :)
 
did the cops or anyone ever tell you who he was? Like if he was a neighbor or something? Maybe he got your house confused with his ex-boss's or ex-girlfriends...

But wow, I know this is an old thread, but that is traumatizing, and I'm glad you guys are happy.
 
In my opinion the argument of helping the guy is a moot point; the guy was dead. The OP said he honked his horn and flashed his lights on the guy without any response, and when the police arrived the response was like "ya, of course he's dead" (like he had been for hours).
 
You cant blame yourself, or anyone else. You should put this behind you and move on with your life. The owl is kinda freak but if thats the only thing that happend i am sure you would have forgotten about it in a few hours.
 
EricNau said:
In my opinion the argument of helping the guy is a moot point; the guy was dead.

You're right I think. To be honest, it never even crossed my mind to go check on him. In the neighborhood I live in... if someone is doing something that looks crazy... it's because they are crazy. There's no in between in Dayton, the city has been inviting the homeless/indigent/mental cases for years - because they're getting federal funding to house and "help" these people. It's to the point that hard-working young people don't want to live here anymore, the town has high taxes (because the taxable population is shrinking) and its the 9th poorest city in the US (data released yesterday). Crime is huge here.. it's a rough and dirty town and going near anyone who is trespassing on your property "to see if they're okay" just doesn't even make sense to me.

The other interesting note was when this happened. It was midnight and it was the night that Katrina made it up to Ohio. It was a very erie, rainy but calm night (but gusty, it'd be all quiet and then this wicked wind would kick up). Very odd weather, very dark and wet and... spooky.

All in all, I think it was (hands down) one of the coolest things I've ever seen. It's unfortunate that he felt the need to hurt himself... but if it had to happen, I consider myself lucky to have experienced it. It was unusual and freaky... but a year later, I'd also include "awesome" in the list of adjectives that describe that night.
It was just an amazing set of events that we went through and I'm happy to say we have gotten past them... it was horrible at the time, but now I always tell the story to people just to see their eyes get big when I repeat the cop's words "yeh... he's dead."
 
Lacero said:
From Wikipedia: "In Japanese culture, the bird is a symbol of death and seeing one is considered a bad omen. The same is true in Italian and Romanian culture, where the mournful call of an owl predicts the death of somebody living in the neighbourhood."


Wikipedia on Owls

I was actually going to mention that...good that you posted that article.

As for the original post...sorry for the situation, that is terrible
 
mpw said:
Gee, I wonder how many people considering suicide attempts as cries of help just slapped their foreheads and put the pills/rope/bottle down having read your post and said "Of course I just need to ask for help..."


I have no respect for anyone who kills themselves.... whether they're emotionally unstable or not!

Imagine this - a father for two, 4 year old twin daughters commits suicide in his basement by hanging himself in his workshop. He's found the next day by one of his daughters, who is subsequently scarred for life. An imaginary story? I think not - this happened to a friend of mine last year. She lost her husband, and had to try and explain to her two daugthers why daddy was hanging from a rope and now he's gone to heaven...

Anyone who commits suicide is self centered. Nobody goes from being emotionally healthy to being suicidal. There's always a gradual transition in their mentality. I read a post earlier that said that poeple who survive suiside attempts claim to never even have thought about others when they did it (family, friends and the people who find them). I don't believe for one second that suicidal people are oblivoius to others... they just don't care.

They leave their family and friends to mourne, to wonder if there was anything they could have done.

And another thing - how many people die everyday of afflictions that they cannot control? Cancer patients? Heart Disease? It's like a slap in the face to those people when other, physically healthy, people throw it all away and kill themselves.

Suicide is crap. I'm sorry if you feel I'm being a little harsh, but that's my opinion.
 
wimic said:
They leave their family and friends to mourne, to wonder if there was anything they could have done.

And another thing - how many people die everyday of afflictions that they cannot control? Cancer patients? Heart Disease? It's like a slap in the face to those people when other, physically healthy, people throw it all away and kill themselves.
One, the familys might have been able to do something(not always but they might have been able to)
2nd, people who kill themselves, have a problem, will its not cancer or heart disease, it can kill also. Its a different type of problem.

I do feel killingyourself CAN a bit selfish(and if you are supporting a family its even more selfing) but if you consider killing yourself, i think its safe to say the person is not thinking clearly, and needed help, and it not really to blame, because the just need some help.
 
highres said:
--I wasn't "criticisizing" the post, merely voicing my opinion which I stated truthfully. When someone posts something on an internet blog or forum it seems quite natural that not everyone might believe the post and would possibly have questions or be skeptical. Many untruthful statements are posted on the internet and MR's all the time.

I agree. It's how urban legends are formed and people are quick to believe them. As I was reading the OP, I was thinking that the story had an "urban legend" feeling to it. No way to prove or disprove it without knowing more details. I guess I'm a sceptic too and usually don't believe everything I read unless I know the source.
 
cr2sh said:
You're right I think. To be honest, it never even crossed my mind to go check on him. In the neighborhood I live in... if someone is doing something that looks crazy... it's because they are crazy. There's no in between in Dayton, the city has been inviting the homeless/indigent/mental cases for years - because they're getting federal funding to house and "help" these people. It's to the point that hard-working young people don't want to live here anymore, the town has high taxes (because the taxable population is shrinking) and its the 9th poorest city in the US (data released yesterday). Crime is huge here.. it's a rough and dirty town and going near anyone who is trespassing on your property "to see if they're okay" just doesn't even make sense to me.
...
It was just an amazing set of events that we went through and I'm happy to say we have gotten past them... it was horrible at the time, but now I always tell the story to people just to see their eyes get big when I repeat the cop's words "yeh... he's dead."

I'm glad you made it.

9th poorest city in the country? That's amazing. I'm surprised that it wasn't Cleveland, but Ohio in general just doesn't seem to make sense anymore.

I haven't told you but I'd been through some very freaky experiences in Preble County. When I was in the area at Christmas, I was really surprised at the mentality but supposedly, nothing had changed.
 
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