alt.suicide.holiday
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 discussion forum for people contemplating suicide. According to its FAQ, its purpose is neither to encourage nor discourage suicide.
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[edit] ASH culture
Participants who share the core values that have developed around the group are "ashers", and "ashspace" is a broader term for online communities historically associated with but distinct from the newsgroup, including the alt.suicide.methods newsgroup, other discussion and chat groups, and web pages.
The community has developed its own unique terminology. "Catch the bus" refers to the act of suicide, and the group is described as:
- a bus stop where several people have decided to stop and chat before deciding on whether or not to get on the bus. [1]
Newcomers are traditionally greeted with:
- Welcome to ASH, sorry you're here.[2]
The newsgroup is unmoderated and subject to a high level of trolling. This has caused some members to leave the newsgroup, for instance to moderated, troll-free mailing lists or forums.
ASH is infamous for its association with the ASH Methods File, a list of possible methods for suicide, ranging from the serious (e.g., lists of poisons and their effects) to the absurd (e.g., starting World War 3). However, since legally available books like Final Exit by Derek Humphry and Peaceful Pill by Philip Nitschke provide more detailed information on suicide methods now, the ASH Methods File has lost its importance and is not maintained any more.
In addition, related Internet Relay Chat channels exist on several networks.
[edit] Coexistence of pro-choice and pro-life points of view
Because ASH is a non-moderated Usenet newsgroup, it is technically impossible to ban any person from posting to ASH. A ban by one provider like Google Groups would be inefficient because the person could easily switching to any other Usenet provider carrying ASH.
Because of this, ASH cannot be classified as being pro-choice or pro-life: posters in the newsgroup represent wide range of positions from strict anti-suicide to right-to-die.
[edit] ASH is not a website
ASH is often mistakenly named a website; in fact it is a Usenet newsgroup from Alt.* hierarchy and not a website. This makes a significant legal difference and allows ASH to exist despite attempts to close suicide websites. Unlike websites, Usenet newsgroups are not regulated by any central authority and there is no organization or individual responsible for a particular newsgroup.
Websites like Google groups solely provide access to ASH and are not affiliated with it in any way.
[edit] Effects of suicide newsgroups like ASH
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.
According to many ashers the existence of ashspace 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. 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 ASH, allowing people to openly talk about their feelings without fear of consequences.
In 2003, ASH 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 [3] [4] [5] [6] and internet media critics, e.g. Ken Hagler's Radio Weblog: No One Asked Why He Wanted to Die
[edit] References
- ^ Gilat, I. & Shahar, G. (2007, Spring). Emotional first aid for a suicide crisis: Comparison between telephonic hotline and Internet. Psychiatry, 70 (1), 12-18. Retrieved April 2, 2008.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- CNN.com: "Parents: Online newsgroup helped daughter commit suicide"
- alt.suicideholiday.net - a film about suicide newsgroups
- Cybersuicide Note - Analysis of what has variously been characterised as cybersuicide, suicide surfing, exit chat rooms and e-suicide
