Zhang 3 Feng’s World | It is precisely the philosophy of the protective net that has exacerbated suicide

In Taiyuan, Nanning and other places, there have been incidents of citizens jumping off bridges to commit suicide. The specific number of people and the reasons are still subject to official announcement.

All regions are taking measures. Videos show that patrols have been strengthened on the bridges in Taiyuan. Other videos show that some places are rushing to install protective nets on the bridges.

Some measures seem absurd. For example, “Jumping off the bridge is strictly prohibited, violators will be fined 1,000 yuan.” I am more inclined to believe it is a spoof, which suicide person would care about the fine.

Also, as shown in the picture above, installing sharp knives on the protective net, it will be very painful if you jump into the river. And it guarantees death, because no one dares to go down to save you.

The logic of these measures is “monitoring” (patrol) and “punishment”, which will not solve the problem. Because the suicide person may choose local landmark buildings or other places.

I even feel that the logic of “monitoring” and “punishment” may be the reason for the surge in bridge jumpers. Or, an intolerant society will aggravate the despair in society.

Suicide is a global phenomenon. Whether in the United States or Japan, there are people who commit suicide. But this does not mean that the reasons for suicide in various places are the same.

In a highly modernized society, some people will be anxious, depressed, and even commit suicide, and this is also beginning to appear in China. However, our society also has some “new” things.

The psychological impact of the epidemic on people remains to be studied. Even in the United States, where the time is very short and the lockdown is limited, online classes and reduced interpersonal communication have led to the aggravation of psychological crises in some people, so what about China?

The psychological crisis caused by the lockdown has not yet been resolved, and many people have fallen into economic difficulties. Difficulties are not terrible, what is terrible is the loss of hope. And the friends I have contacted, many of them do not feel hope.

How to intervene in suicide is a science. It is said that someone scribbled a sentence on the “suicide resort”, “What is the capital of Madagascar?” This may have some effect.

Because this gives him a perplexing question, which momentarily takes away his attention, he begins to think about some other questions, and life begins to have meaning.

Don’t fine, and don’t show sharp knives. People and departments with power can actually try to be a little kinder to “specific people”.

The New York subway is notoriously bad worldwide. But I feel that it will not increase the suicide rate of New Yorkers, because it is a free place, there is no security check, and you can not buy a ticket if you don’t want to.

Yesterday, I saw a warm scene on the subway. A white woman next to me saw me taking pictures with my phone, and she followed suit. The owner of this dog has infected many people.

There were three dogs in the carriage at that time. This one was very quiet because its owner was in happiness. The second one was in a stroller, and the third one was on the ground, and it barked.

Most people in the carriage laughed. For them, this was a healing moment. Line 1 of the subway, which has a history of more than 100 years, has contributed many such moments.

The city of New York is also like this. It is a hundred times dirtier and messier than Tokyo, and a hundred times noisier than Los Angeles.

But this city may have more freedom: even at dawn, the car audio can turn up the volume to the maximum and swagger through the city; and on the streets of Amsterdam, the smell of marijuana is pungent enough.

For Chinese people who are accustomed to being taken care of and managed, this is somewhat terrifying. But such extremes also remind me that the sharp knives on the guardrails are more terrifying.