Revolver Zen claimed to attempt suicide

Revolver Zen sent me a PM about his decision to quit AU. I'd complained about his blowing every tiny detai out of poroprtion. The end of the PM said "f you excuse me I have a date with a sleeping pill overdose." Did he really do that? I couldn't have been the only cause. I'm temporarily locked AU and am hoping to God that Zen was just joking or that if he did try someone found hims and saved him. Am I culpable for what happende? What should I do? Why couldn't I help him?

edited 19th Jul '11 11:24:38 AM by RhymeBeat

Is this the part of the forum you go to for stuff like this?

It is not your responsibility or anyone else's what he does with his life. You cannot assume infinite responsibility lest it lead to infinite guilt. If he threatened suicide and you knew some information that could serve to allow you to identify him in Real Life, you could report it to the appropriate authorities. But you are not obligated even as far as that.

I have no idea where else to put this thread.....

I have his feacbook account and email adress but a fat lot of good that does me.

edited 19th Jul '11 11:37:38 AM by RhymeBeat

Well you could post on his facebook to see if anyone IRL knows if he is dead or not.

I am assuming face book works like myspace.

edited 19th Jul '11 11:39:37 AM by TheDeadMansLife

I did that.

^^ Not really. Unless Rhyme's already "friends" (on Facebook) with him, she can't post on his Wall.

If he/she is, then she should do so.

-edit-
Ninja'd. You can't do much besides wait.

edited 19th Jul '11 11:40:53 AM by AllanAssiduity

You can use the Facebook reporting feature if needed. They might have personally identifiable information for him. If he's your Facebok friend, then presumably you can see his wall where he might have an address, phone, real name, and/or other contact info.

However, any obligations you take on in this regard are of your own free will. It is not a matter to which you need to feel compelled unless you choose to do so. I cannot stress this enough: it is his responsibility, not yours. If he is not of responsible age or is otherwise incapable of being responsible for himself (diagnosed mental illness, disability, or the like), it is the responsibility of his parents/guardians/caregivers.

Further, it is incredibly selfish to tell someone that you're going to kill yourself if that person is not in a position to immediately assist you. It lays an unforgiveable burden of guilt on them, whether you carry through with it or not.

edited 19th Jul '11 11:44:43 AM by Fighteer

@The Dead Man's Life, someone might have committed suicide and your first goddamn response is to question whether this thread belongs in the proper section? Talk about skewed priorities.

@OP, I'm not one to speak since I don't know this guy, but from your reaction I take it he seems to be at risk. Usually when I say something like that it'd be a joke but that's not necessarily the case here. Is he a suicide risk?

edited 19th Jul '11 11:42:49 AM by Gault

Try to contact his facebook friends. If that doesn't work, write something on his wall, they may see it. Anyway, it's not your fault and you are not guilty because somebody is too weak to continue with his life. You may help, I would too, if I was in your place, but you are not obligated to help.

I wan't even online when he sent me that message. I couldn't even respond and tell him to seek help.

Just in case you missed my edit above...

Any obligations you take on in this regard are of your own free will. It is not a matter to which you need to feel compelled unless you choose to do so. I cannot stress this enough: it is his responsibility, not yours. If he is not of responsible age or is otherwise incapable of being responsible for himself (diagnosed mental illness, disability, or the like), it is the responsibility of his parents/guardians/caregivers.

Further, it is incredibly selfish to tell someone that you're going to kill yourself if that person is not in a position to immediately assist you. It lays an unforgiveable burden of guilt on them, whether you carry through with it or not.

He's a senior in high school if his profile's to be beileved. Does anyone know Zen IRL?

Then it's his parents' job to be responsible for his well-being, Rhyme. Not yours. You are to be commended for seeking to help him but you should not take on any burden of guilt in this regard.

edited 19th Jul '11 11:48:29 AM by Fighteer

@Galt Yeah... pretty messed up priorities are my specialty. That and other stuff. Sometimes. If you squint.

@OP. Well there is nothing you can do now except sit on your thumbs. He choice his path. You in no way are responsible. Unless you are. But even then it's only a moral thing and not actually a legal worry. Don't beat yourself up about it.

^^^ I doubt it. I don't know his real name, though, so...

But, seriously. This is not your fault.

edited 19th Jul '11 11:48:47 AM by AllanAssiduity

His first name is unusual at least.

edited 19th Jul '11 11:55:50 AM by RhymeBeat

Nine times out of ten a claim of this nature is an attention-seeking ploy and not meant seriously. Those times when it is meant seriously, well... the point is that you cannot take blame for this. Also I caution against revealing someone's RL identity here without permission even in the noble cause of preventing suicide.

The contact information on his Facebook page should be sufficient for you to identify him to local authorities.

edited 19th Jul '11 11:55:51 AM by Fighteer

A quick search of that name combined with "wales" and "suicide" doesn't come up with anything interesting. Unless you know his specific location...

edited 19th Jul '11 11:56:23 AM by Shichibukai

Why would it?

I removed it. If there's nothing more to this story this is the stuff the New Media Are Evil crowd thrives on.

edited 19th Jul '11 11:57:13 AM by RhymeBeat

News sites would mention the name at some time, surely.

So I don't think you should worry for now.

edited 19th Jul '11 11:58:27 AM by Shichibukai

Well considering the amount of suicide happening daily it seems unlikely. I am also working under the assumption this just happened.

If it was recent — as in, today — it would be a matter of hours at a minimum and more likely days before any report made it into the news. There's also the strong likelihood that nothing happened at all, or if it did happen, it was detected in time.

Aside from continually stressing that this is not and cannot be your fault, most of the time a would-be suicide doesn't really want to die; they just want affirmation of their worth.

Oh, fair enough.

Some parts of Wales have a higher suicide rate than average.

edited 19th Jul '11 11:59:45 AM by Shichibukai