chasm

What blows my mind about this whole affair is that she found these people on a newsgroup. A Frikkin NEWSGROUP. I haven't heard of USENET newsgroups since the OS/2 vs Windows 95 flamewars were still raging.

Of course, the mass media keep referring to it as a website, which just pisses me off.

I dont think I really get what you mean by, "take care of itself". What part of the story are you referring to?

Let's see ... this girl sopposedly contributed approximately 100 messages concerning her arrangements to kill herself. Now she's dead. She will no longer be a contributing member of the newsgroup.

A group that helps kill its own members can't possibly stick around forever, right?

Well now. One guy did point out that they helped to save him. So, maybe not. I figure they'll just keep getting new members. Especially because they are getting attention now. Many more people will check it out. With any luck, they'll be saved too :)

Hmmmm. Uh, you can't really shut down the newsgroup because people have the right in this country to talk about anything. Its a sad occurrence, but quite frankly if the family doesnt recognize that something is wrong there, what else can you really do? There's too many people out there who have terrible illnesses and WANT to live. Thats something the public can help cure. People with this form of mental illness need their close family members and friends to get them professional help and more than likely medication.