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| 04.06.12, Michael G., Gross-Umstadt, Germany, I'm a bridge
enthusiast and composer from Germany. Sunshine Skyway Bridge's history is quite
intriguing! I would like to get permission to record (sound) on the bridge. Do
you have a number/contact? I haven't had any luck so far. I would eventually
like to compose a musical work based on the bridge. Thanks
(the
florida department of transportation
is the bridge master. they are in charge of booking the bridge for movies,
personal appearances, and birthday parties. we are looking forward to
"skyway bridge, the musical". good luck.) 03.31.12, Kimberly D., Brisbane, Australia, Dear Skyway: I just heard the radio program of 'the bridge' on Friday the 30th, 2012, as I was going to work. While I wanted to change the channel, as it seemed a rather depressing way to start an evening shift, I felt compelled to listen. How very moving and powerful. As an American transplant to Oz, I feel and see the effects of depression of both countries, as well as my own struggles, which I think every human contemplates at one time or another. Please keep up your work. While the approach is unconventional, perhaps it works for SOMEONE, someone who needs to hear this message in THIS format and in that case, it is all worth it and laudatory. We need all of the ammunition we can get to help people who feel that they are so disenfranchised that suicide is the only option. How dare people deny or rebuke this right of expression, this desire to help prevent others from doing self harm, in an unconventional format???!!! What are THESE critics doing to help? You should be applauded for your dedication, particularly in light of the 'outside the box' approach you take to attempt to counteract this, the deepest and most intensely horrific despair a human can experience. Please accept my thanks for your efforts. Very few can internalize, let alone work within, such a dark place of the human psyche for as long as you have without putting self-protective measures in place, which may be why others see you as 'off kilter', to put it in the terms of other blogs. I put you in the category of other responsible, cognizant, compassionate, mental health professionals that are trying to make the world a better place through their efforts. The only difference is that you are following the instincts of your heart, rather than that which 'formal training' would dictate to achieve your goals of reducing the tragedies associated with suicide with the Skyway bridge, but also other suicides contemplated every day by thousands of people worldwide. Thanks again. I wish you strength. KD (thank you so much for your thoughts on how we approach this site on this subject. many share your insight, while others of course, decry it.) 03.24.12, Kevin G., Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, (My girlfriend, March 8 2011), I just heard your radio documentary here in Australia. My g/f committed suicide by jumping off the Tasman Bridge in Hobart last year. The bridge is the same height as the Skyway Bridge. I didn't think you could survive impact from that height. I was hoping she died instantly instead of hurting and drowning. I must admit crying while listening to your doco. But I think the media silence needs to stop. It is obviously not working. What better model can be set up I am not sure, but just pretending it doesn't happen has been a failure. I lost a beautiful girl and I don't want anyone else to go through the pain. Keep pushing changes. (we are indeed sorry for your loss. it's been a battle since the beginning of this site. we want to display what jumping off the bridge does to those that do it and how it effects those that have it done to them. then there's the other side that wants everyone to STFU about it like it never happened and will never happen again if we continue to STFU about it forever more. we are sure that there have been some that have perused this site only because they were thinking about jumping off of the skyway, but have changed their mind once they read about the physics of such a stunt. did it stop their suicidal thinking? maybe, maybe not. we would hope that you will heal from your horrible ordeal, but we are realists and know that will never happen. this will follow you to the grave. the hurt will diminish, but it will never go away. this is a big part of why we do this. thank you for your story. we hope you cope.) kevin replies:
02.19.12, DeeDee, Bradenton, FL., (Virginia Sheley 11/00), I came here to find out a little more about my neighbor, Ms.Sheley. I grew up across the street from her. I admit that I am a bit of a "sickie", maybe a little too attracted to the details of carnage. I just wanted to say that you guys rock :) This is now one of my new favorite bookmarks. Thank you :) 01.27.12, F.L.G., Providence, Rhode Island, yourstreetcollege.org, Our street college (Moreu College) has a suicide prevention projest called, 'Friends of Doc' (in honor of a friend who took his own life). We post our standard-logopmessage signs on many ramps servicing 4 bridges. We use these words below (painted by hand) and also put in either 911 or the Lifeline national number: 800-273-8255, DARE TO LIVE -- WE CARE -- CALL US 800-273-8255,We believe this strategy is helping -- the turnpike authority continually takes the small signs down but we keep putting them up. The police have unofficially thanked me. This strategy may help on any bridge. Please let me know if you got this message, perhaps we can talk some more on this topic and our outreach. (while your project has sound reason, we're not sure how the authorities would feel about stopping at the top of the skyway to post any type of flyer. non-emergency stopping is not allowed and the only place to post a flyer would be on the hotline phones or pasted to the concrete wall, neither of which would likely be appreciated.) 01.28.12, F.L.G., Providence, Rhode Island, yourstreetcollege.org, Thank you for your attention on this matter -- we do not put our signs on the bridge itself but on ramps leading to it (usually stapled to wood tel. poles, or taped to metal ones). For that reason authorities are often confused as to whose jurisdiction it is (to remove them). That has worked in our favor. Through trial-and-error we discovered the boundary between turnpike/state police vs. local police. Our signs now have some longevity, and people have taken notice of them, so even when there are lapses of time (between postings) the idea that someone cares enough (to continually post them) helps. Unofficially we have seen a reduction on Jumpers on the 4 bridges we service. Local police told us that they will 'not take action' if posted quickly and in safe areas. State Police on the Braga (in Fall River) even thanked me and assisted me on a posting event. The process might help -- I can send you some samples -- these are cheap plastic panels normally used for political adds, placed on the grass or stapled (with hammer stapler) on telephone poles. Stickers strategically placed on stop signs near ramps can also help. Let's keep the conversation going Phil. In retrospect we discovered that small (rough) hand painted signs give the impression of a grassroots movement of people who care enough to do this. It does involve some risk by police, but it is minimal. We discovered too that police are fed up with the constant carnage, and are willing to bend the rules a bit. Being entirely honest about this activity has kept me out of court after 4 police stops. Look at it as civil disobedience -- we are saving lives. And we are now a known entity around the bridge ramp areas (the head of turnpike authority, James Swanberg [RI Bridge & Turnpike Authority]) actually met with me, and took no further action, I suspected he just wanted to look me in the eye). It took a year and a half of nervous work but it's paying off. Send me an address and I'll send you a few small signs. Keep up the good work, and please keep in touch! (movements such as yours do have a positive effect in many cases. oft times, common sense gets in the way of law and law enforcement must turn a blind eye to obvious solutions that really don't harm anyone, but may be against some written law. if you wish to send pictures of your signs, we will construct a separate page detailing your effort in the hopes others may see this as a worthy project that may be attempted with the skyway. some families of jumpers do express a willingness to do something to prevent such a tragedy from happening to others. sorry, but we do not have a mailing address.) 01.11.12, Blair, Happy 2012! I looked at the image of the new Skyway Bridge stamp on your web site, looks impressive. Next time I am at USPS I will try to get one. I attached a screen snapshot of the skywaybridge.com home page because I was amused by the sponsor... the "WestJet Everywhere We Fly Sale"... as in fly off the bridge!?! Ha Ha. I think the Skyway is much cheaper, just 1$, but it's only a one-way flight - down!  (thanks for the image. not sure yet if we will keep the ads. days go by and we rake in maybe 15’ a day. not worth it. then we get almost $7 in one day. worth it. it's not like donations are pouring in, so we try google ads in the hopes of covering the site costs. we're still in test mode. not sure how google processes targeted ads to a site like this, but maybe they think people visiting this site might enjoy a trip to florida beaches to jump in the water and not off the bridge.) 01.05.12, Allie, St. Petersburg, Fl., I just wanted to say... this site isnt bad for letting people know records of people jumping off the Skyway.. but why do they have to make sick comments back to people about their relatives? You all should just let people grieve, remember their family members and put their input without adding your two cents.. You know.? It would be a much better, less hated website... Just sayin'.. The comments from the site ruins it! Some people just don't have a conscious I guess.. This is just my opinion -Alliebobally (people respond to this site in many ways. some like it, some don't. often they have something to say about jumpers or suicide in general, while others simply want to strike out at us. with that said, if we feel like responding to any and all comments, we will. mind you, our responses are most always compassionate. we will spend whatever time it takes to talk to anyone about this issue in a serious manner, either publicly like this or privately. we try to help as best we can. however, all that quickly fades when we are attacked for whatever reason. this isn't just a running record of skyway jumpers. we are on a mission to point out the lunacy in jumping off the bridge. with that comes back and forth dialog. with dialog comes controversy. with controversy comes commenteering that may or may not be appropriate or approved by all. you just can't please everyone. while we find censorship a vile conditional practice, we are willing to remove distasteful dialog when the offending attackers change their tune or make some sort of attitude adjustment, but they rarely do. you should read the crap we don't post or respond to.) allie replies: 01.05.12, Allie, St. Petersburg, Fl., Hey Phil... LMAO! You are a funny guy! ( in a kinda sick way ). I just came across this site tryin' to figure out if they ever found that motorcyclist that jumped 11-28-2011.. and I was amazed to see how many people have actually jumped over the years.. I ended going all the way back to 2003 Where I found my best friend's Uncle...( Timothy Chance, 39 06.21.03: jumper, male, no hotline phones, hit rocks, died, body found 06.25.03 ) He's the only person I'v ever really heard of Jumping, other than the more recent motorcyclist.. which is why I was amazed to see how many there actually were. I mean I knew there was probably more... Just not that many more.. Any ways.. I didn't really Know him personally but I noticed my friends dad left a comment ( 12.01.03, william c. ) he wasnt saying anything towards you.. Just a comment about his brother.. And you like commented back in a .. how would you say.. A smartass way. That's the kind of stuff I'm talkin' about.. That's all.. If people are comin' at you have at um! But why? when it's not necessary? Just Sayin'. Just my opinion once again... But anyhow.. Good day Phil :) (i had a look at the comment and sure, even though he wasn't railing against us, he was still a bit smarmy with his words. i went ahead and toned down our response. mind you, at the time of these comments, we were still jumperpool.com and was running the site as a skyway bridge jumper guessing pool. i'm sure that plays an important part in many of the negative commenting you may find on the pre-2011 comments you stumble upon. we have since removed all the jumper 'winners' and their often harsh comments.) 11.18.11, Blair, Trout Creek, Canada, You have a very interesting web site. I have found the contents to be fascinating. I have never been on the new bridge, but crossed the old bridge(s) many times, including 1980 - 1983 after the west span was destroyed, and the east span had two-way traffic again. Never realized that both the old and new Skyway bridges have been popular suicide venues until visiting skywaybridge.com. No idea why folks would send hate mail to someone who has put so much effort to research and compile these tragic events. (thanks for the kind words. we have not had good hate mail in ages and kinda miss it.) blair replies after a bit of email corespondence: 12.11.11, Blair, The haters aside, I believe lots of people have come to appreciate the 'service' that you provide with your web site, so don't get sad and give up. You have insight on a dubious topic many would rather be hushed, even family members of jumpers begging you to remove listings. I believe the way jumper listings are posted is very professional and unbiased, and allowing for follow-up comments is excellent. It wasn't until I spent some time reading so many of the postings from friends and family members of jumpers that the seriousness of the situation is realized - these people are gone, and in many cases the effects on others are profound. Even years later, as the recent updates for the listings for Arcadia Moyer and Jennifer Francis show, they can become a memorial. Likely a different outcome than was expected than with the original satire of the jumperpool site. (I did not see that site, and only recently came across this one). This has to be one of the most emotionally extreme web sites there is. I just cannot imagine how the friends and family of Jennifer Francis feel, with her body never being found after several years. And everyone seemed to find her to be the most cheerful, loving person... the strange, disturbing mystery of why she would jump will live on forever for everyone that knew and loved her. Ignoring the misdirected attacks on you, another very important aspect of the jumper listings and follow-up comments is that they are available for those who are extremely depressed/suicidal to read over and over, one jumper after another how it affected the family and friends left to deal with it. A friend's son is extremely depressed and possibly suicidal. Even though the Skyway Bridge is 1500 miles from here, there are lessons to be learned from the frank, open discussion on your web site, I will recommend he checks it out. Keep up the great work. As time permits for me to find and upload files, I have some more items you may be interested in for your web site; maybe within the month. Best regards, Blair (thanks for the continued comment. jumperpool.com was started as a joke, as people could guess when the next person would sail off the bridge. we posted winners and their commentary, some of which were somewhat harsh. people still contribute harsh commentary and we do post it, as we feel everyone has an opinion, whether anyone else or we like it or not. at the end of 2010, the site morphed into what you see here now. while we do feel bad that people reach such a low that they feel the need to end it, we do have more compassion for those left behind. we feel there are other options, other than tossing oneself from this bridge in some very public display, when one truly wants to self die. though we can never prove it, no doubt someone will change their mind about jumping after reading this site. they may still self extinguish, just not off the skyway.) 11.04.11, Leo Da Star, St.Petersburg, May god bless the families of all these jumpers, its very sad that they took their own life, life is very precious so we need to enjoy it while we can. Some of you people posted some mean and heartful things on here that really wasn't called for please let these people rest in peace they don't deserve this nonsense that some of you guys are saying be nice and respectful. God bless them all.03.08.11, teddy, seattle, I hate that you don't show video of the jumpers, and photos of the mutilated bodies. I feel it would be an added suicide deterrent, and it would attract more depraved people like myself. "the only joy greater than watching others suffer is making others suffer." Nietsczche (we would post any jumper video or after images if we had them and would do so without naming the victim. we have had one set of images sent to us, but they were blurry and showed no detail. we completely agree with your assessment that it would make a great deterrent, however, less something you might enjoy.) 02.12.11, Bob, Pennsylvania, I have been a lurker here for years. I am really, really crossing my fingers before saying this, but I think maybe---just maybe---your site is slowing down the numbers of suicides from this bridge and that is simply wonderful. Some of the discussion here, especially over the 7th grade teacher--was very thoughtful and I think beneficial in that readers get a sense of just how horrible it is to those who are left behind. Perhaps, and you may never know, people in the grip of whatever temporary madness seems to be in control at he moment may remember reading some of this content and decided against the grand exit. I hope this type of public format catches on for those who consider alternative exit strategies. ,A close friend of mine decided in 1981--a few days shy of her 18th B-day--to hang herself. I still visit her grave and the sadness never really goes away. But time has given me some perspective. The what might have beens, the what if I had said something, what if I told a teacher--these were compounded in guilt for years because I knew something was wrong, and chose to do nothing. Or simply was ignorant. Which was a greater error. ,If anything good came out of it, I learned the signs and since became very, very proactive. In 2003 a niece showed all the similar behaviors, and there was no way in hell this was going to happen to me again. I personally got her in treatment, against her wishes (because I told) and she hated me for a several years after. I smile today though, because she is still here, and the anger has waned as it always will. And the crisis is over. ,If I could go back to 1981, a few years of being the bad guy would have been worth every second. Every single second., So thank you for the public service you provide at no benefit to yourself. I am happy you decided against the jumper guessing polls. It was a touch tacky. But certainly not a make or break issue. Keep up the good work. (thanks for the kind words. we are sure we have stopped some jumpers. can't imagine a potential jumper reading some of the site content and not coming away with a changed mind or at least, a changed method. it could be any number of reasons the site has an effect. it could be how those left behind react and are devastated, but we tend to think the vivid description of what happens to so many jumpers, may be a better deterrent, such as this and that. this is the longest stretch of jumperless skyway since we started this stupid site. who really knows why? maybe there is an iron fist crackdown on skyway reporting. could be, but any more, skyway patrons are our on the scene jumpernews team. how could they be stopped from reporting? sorry about your friend. your post reaction is typical of many left behind. the feeling that something could have been done, but wasn't. you can continue to beat yourself up about it or accept the fact she was in total control in how her life ended and when. in the end, you learned some very valuable insight and was able to vindicate your friend's demise by saving your niece. that is a well earned reward indeed. thanks again for the kind words.) 01.10.11, Ed, St.Pete, Why the change? Want a warmer and fuzzer site? (maybe by a few degrees, yes, fuzz, no.) |
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