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Man jumps off platform; breaks through train driver's cabin window

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He owes that driver a massive apology and compensation. Pretty selfish to do that to another human.

6 ( +14 / -8 )

Dude is seriously lucky to be alive. I hope he wakes up and looks at this as a reason to LIVE.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Hope he recovers and goes on to do great things with his second chance.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Why do people here commit suicide in such a selfish way? It's almost as if they're giving a middle finger to society.

5 ( +13 / -8 )

Sue him to hell incl private compensation to driver

0 ( +4 / -4 )

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This poor train operator will be scarred for life because of someone's half thought selfishness. I'm not sure if there's an outlet for therapy. Either way his job will never be the same. For the guy who tried to commit suicide i'm sure he's going to wish he were dead with all the fines and compensation be will have to pay both to the driver and to the train company. He will most certainly go to jail for this actions.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I'm not sure if he can survive the shame and humiliation yet alone the massive debt he has now got! I just hope he gets specialist help and I monitored. Sad story

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Well, I sure hope this incredibly selfish man wasn't trying to commit suicide to escape financial burden, because unfortunately for him the irony of failing and having to pay for the rest of his life won't kill him.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Been given another chance, now dont waste it!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Y can people do it in private without giving big trouble to others,, Japan has so many mountains and nature,,those people make trouble when alive and even the final they have to

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Why would he have to pay compensation. I am sure the train company must have accident and liability insurance.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

A person must be very desperate to kill them selfs, I've never been there and hopefully i never get that bad that ill consider terminating my life. but if I do it will be quick and quit i.e. with a load of pills or a injection. doing what he did and like many others, cause so much disruption, cost, trauma, etc. its a bit thoughtless.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I always love the 'selfish' comments that fly around stories like this.

I see it as the height of ignorance, and a complete lack of empathy for someone in such a severe state of despair, that throwing themselves in front of an express train seems the best possible solution. Shame on you all.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

For a person who is in the emotional headspace that they think the solution to their life is to suicide, the last thing they would think of would be the disruption caused to others. Their thought process is as far from reality as you could ever get. To make statements regarding the person paying compensation, shows lack of understanding of mental health, and a total lack of empathy for fellow humans. It is what it is. Maybe a better idea would be to help prevent people from getting to this point. But then again, until Japan, and Japanese, fully accept that mental health is important, nothing will change.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I agree with Tamarama and Stewie. It's selfish to reasonable minds. But clearly these people's thoughts aren't in a reasonable state, otherwise they wouldn't be trying to kill themselves.

Anyway, I hope this guy gets better physically and mentally, because it's a miracle he survived. He should take it as a sign.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Just glad nobody was seriously hurt.

Hope things turn out for the better. Somehow.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I'll second the second chance at a life worth living and embracing life not throwing it into a train. Health and mental health need to be addressed not scorned so I'll just forgive him instead

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The question is asked above, Why do people commit suicide in such a selfish way? I knew a gorgeous gal who always smiled and brought light. Recently married with a little girl. Marriage got rocky, and she jumped off the golden gate bridge. Depression creates tunnel vision. Watch out for it, in yourself and others.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Pills and drinking are a safer way to go. You just go to sleep and it is over. Same with charcoal in a car. Never feel a thing.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Tamarama: "I see it as the height of ignorance, and a complete lack of empathy for someone in such a severe state of despair, that throwing themselves in front of an express train seems the best possible solution. Shame on you all."

No, shame on the people with so little disregard for others that they will do this kind of thing to run away from problems that your every day Joe must struggle to get through, ESPECIALLY when they choose to swan dive in front of a drain and hurt other people. We've had some recent examples of people being injured by others jumping in front of trains and their corpses hitting said people. Shame on us for saying it's selfish for those people to have jumped?? Shame on us that these people in some cases leave their families and/or others in lurches (and yes, some do get sued as a result of the person's actions), not to mention leaving a bloody mess and images for people to try and clean up and get over?

You've got your finger pointing in the wrong place, Tamarama. Nowhere do I advocate suicide. EVERYWHERE do I say it is a sad state of affairs when someone reaches such a low point that they feel the only way out is to do what this man tried to do. But I draw the line when they try and take others with them, or take others with them indirectly, or just hurt and scar others, who may later fall into despair as a result.

No pity for this man. Get him healed, then lock him up if possible. If he's mentally unfit to avoid damaging himself and/or others, lock him up where he can't.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

@Tamarama and Stewie and others who show compassion and understand that mental illness are not as easy as just being selfish. - Amen to every word. I feel great sympathy for the train driver as well. Sad that the only thing people can think of is suing. SMH.

But it really does not have to be that easy for people to throw themselves in front of trains or wander onto the train tracks if greedy train companies would put safety over profit. It is really is quite simple.

Hopefully the man gets so much needed counseling and live a much better life in the future and the driver can fully recover and forgive the man for not being in his right mind.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I had a close family member try to take her own life. Lucky we found the bottle off empty pills just in time. After weeks in the hospital she came home and what i learned is that people who want to end it are not thinking of others or really even themselves its more a need to end the pain. It seems like a selfish act to some, those who have had a easy ride so far i guess. The opposite of anger is not calmness, its empathy.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Smith

No, shame on the people with so little disregard for others that they will do this kind of thing to run away from problems that your every day Joe must struggle to get through

You have perfectly illustrated my point, for this is the ignorance of which I speak. Mental illness isn't a 'problem that your every day Joe must struggle to get through'. It's not just the ordinary stuff we all have to endure - it's a debilitating illness that robs people of their hope, reason, rational thought, and will to live through it. Mental Illness isn't an illusion, as you are implying, it's a debilitating clinical condition/disorder that a person can't just choose to ignore.

ESPECIALLY when they choose to swan dive in front of a drain and hurt other people.

It's absurd to think this guy intentionally tried to hurt someone here. Absurd. I imagine he is probably mortified and incredibly sorry it played out like this.

You've got your finger pointing in the wrong place, Tamarama.

I disagree. Your lack of empathy, understanding and haughty and judgemental attitude means my finger is squarely where it should be. Maybe you'll understand one day, though I hope for your sake you don't. But if/when you do, I promise I won't condemn you to this:

No pity for this man. Get him healed, then lock him up if possible. If he's mentally unfit to avoid damaging himself and/or others, lock him up where he can't.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Best regards to train staff. Imagine your day after this happens.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Thumbs up to Tamarama, Stewie and Mrbum and Sandiegoluv.

Thumbs down to Smithinjapan.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@Tamarama! BRAVO!!!!! Nailed every single thing perfectly!

@that person - Thank you. It is called empathy and understanding.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

At least the people who throw themselves in front of trains don't attempt to take others with them. Could be a lot worse.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This obnoxious and nauseating virtue signaling insistence on viewing mental illness as some kind of get out of jail free card, and the callously insensitive eagerness to absolve the jumper of any moral culpability for his heinous, calculated action is truly offensive and an affront to the idea that all of us, jumpers included, are endowed with free will and aren't automatons. Indeed, why limit yourself to focusing only on the "greedy train companies" as the true villains of the piece. Surely, society itself is to blame!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Yes, they can control but that comes at a cost/price which gets passed onto the commuter/customer via increased ticket prices, etc.

How much are we willing to pay for it?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Sotestu did it and they didn't greatly increase their prices. They actually raised their train line completely off the street, relieving traffic congestion and accidents. The Shinkansen is pretty much inaccessible. Stations in Tokyo are doing it little by little and I really have not heard of many price increases.

Sorry I forgot to mention the blind man who fell onto the tracks.

I also remember a story about a South Korean exchange student who tried to save the life of a drunk who had fallen on to the tracks. Three are hundreds and hundreds of cases just like these than could have been avoided. These things can be avoided. They are making more than enough money to not have to raise the prices considerably.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Mental illness is not an excuse for injuring others, be they train drivers just doing their job or innocent children who are standing on a train platform & see a human being explode against a train right before them. Yes mental illness is a problem in society but I have little sympathy for someone who forces others to watch as they take their own life, especially those who injury others or do it in front of kids.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I don't think anyone has ever said, "Give them a free pass." Something that a lot of people seem to be missing.

train drivers just doing their job or innocent children who are standing on a train platform & see a human being explode against a train right before them

Nobody thinks that any of that should happen. So, how about fixing that avenue of choice for jumpers? Take away access and nobody has to suffer who shouldn't. Leave it as is, and see the problem continue on.

Yes mental illness is a problem in society but I have little sympathy for someone who forces others to watch as they take their own life, especially those who injury others or do it in front of kids.

Try to understand the insane for a bit. It is really not their choice about what they are going to do. They are mentally ill, unstable, unable to judge right from wrong. Let me put it this way. They are broke. Something in their head is broken. A piece is missing. That is the whole point. Try to get out of the normal thought process that you and most people possess and understand that those people are not able to think as far as you and I about what they should and shouldn't do, that is why these things happen.

To be mentally unstable is not really a choice like picking out what to wear, or where to go on that day. Much like your sexuality, you do not choose to be gay or straight. It goes the same with these people. It is not a choice, so we have to do more to protect the public than we are presently doing.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@sandigoluv It is wider than the train issue. If you protect the platforms better people will still find a way..maybe from the end of a platform or on a busy level crossing. Those who have been in Japan a while will remember cases (such as from Keio Dept store in Shinjuku) of building jumpers landing on innocent people. You can't bubble wrap society & you'll never be able to help everyone.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

You're right, nobody ever says in those exact words, "Give them a free pass!" Metaphorically, that would be the intellectual equivalent of the suicide jumper leaping to oblivion. While it's a given that their fractured mind act of desperation is beyond "normal thought processes" and therefore beyond rationalization, the virtue signaller's refusal to condemn them and to consider the agency of free will is incredibly short sighted and simply an evasion. The instinctual antipathy many of the commentators in this thread are showing towards this line of thinking is healthy and worth nurturing.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Mldonow - Well, I am one who of a few who is calling for these train companies to make jumping off the edge of the platform an impossibility and the busy level crossing to be raised so that those people do not take utilize those as ways of committing suicide. Like I have said before, probably on another thread, it is happening throughout the country, very slowly though.

And yes, I remember the jumper in Shinjuku and the one on Yokohama. If I remember right, one or two of them were sued for leaving the doors open, as it should be. Yes, they will find a way. But we don't have to make it easier for them. Also, people do fall onto the tracks by accident quite often. This is a danger that needs to be and is slowly being addressed. As for bubble wrapping society, that got a bit of a chuckle out of me. Not that I was laughing at you. I am not trying to bubble wrap society. But when something is dangerous to society, we usually do something about it. That's not bubble wrapping. Unfortunately we are used to the situation, so we really don't think anything about it. It is called complacency as far as I'm concerned.

@Oyatoi - When it comes to serious mental issues, like suicide and how one goes about it, antipathy in any form can not be considered healthy. Instinctual, yes? But not all instincts are worthy of nurturing, and this is just one of them. Those of us who disagree are neither short sighted nor guilty of evasion. There are more than enough people joining the lynch mob for that. I think the dubious distinction of short-sightedness and evasion falls on those shoulders quite fittingly. Lack of understanding is not worth nurturing nor is it an ounce healthy, especially for society as a whole. It is quite easy to saddle up with a Lynch mob, and quite frankly, instinctually as well. Blame needs to be spread around and one of which is a constant are the owners and operators of the preferred tool that is being used to commit suicide or that kills the innocent because of a slip in momentary judgment and the one who can rectify the situation. The train companies. It is short sighted for us not to ask these operators to utilize their product in a safer manner so that innocent people are not affected. We can condemn the mentally insane all we want to, but that will never play a role in elimating or even decreasing the number of suicides and accidents, which means more stories like these will just continue.

Thank you both for your respectful and well thought out input.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@sandigoluv By the way, you have my agreement on installing platform doors at all stations. I've seen a drunk guy fall off actually, and although he was luckily able to get back up safely such deaths can certainly be prevented & more should have been done about this a long time ago.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

sandiegoluv: "But it really does not have to be that easy for people to throw themselves in front of trains or wander onto the train tracks if greedy train companies would put safety over profit. It is really is quite simple."

Not ONLY that, but life insurance companies have to add clauses where a family will not receive benefits in the event of suicide. Barriers are definitely a step up, especially when talking about accidents and people falling off platforms, but for the really tenacious and committed, a barrier will only do so much unless it is from floor to ceiling.

"You have perfectly illustrated my point, for this is the ignorance of which I speak."

Again, speak for yourself. You're willing to generalize EVERY point that doesn't automatically pity the guy and sympathize with his plight, forgetting all about the driver and the man's other victims.

"Mental illness isn't a 'problem that your every day Joe must struggle to get through'."

And here you were talking about me and others illustrating ignorance!!! haha. WHERE does it say the man was mentally ill? You just assume it, same as you guys always do when a person throws themselves in front of a train or kills their children or what have you. Some people just can't hack it and want to escape, and death seems easy. That is NOT automatically mental illness! A lot of these people are plain old stressed out, which is precisely the same thing that a lot of us face without taking the "easy" option these people choose.

"It's not just the ordinary stuff we all have to endure - it's a debilitating illness that robs people of their hope, reason, rational thought, and will to live through it. Mental Illness isn't an illusion, as you are implying, it's a debilitating clinical condition/disorder that a person can't just choose to ignore."

Show us where he was mentally ill, Tamarama. Because I can certainly show you were you are jumping the gun and displaying the ignorance you so quickly label others as doing when you cannot.

"It's absurd to think this guy intentionally tried to hurt someone here. Absurd."

So, you reckon the guy just thought, "Ah, well... the driver won't care one bit. Won't hurt him", and if you want to choose to ignore the fact that he didn't care about that at all, you're still willing to forgive the guy completely for not taking into account the possibility that it could have happened. THAT is ignorance, and THAT is selfish.

"I imagine he is probably mortified and incredibly sorry it played out like this."

Awww... poor him! Perhaps maybe if he put a little thought into it?

"I disagree. Your lack of empathy, understanding and haughty and judgemental attitude means my finger is squarely where it should be."

Wrong. Point it at society for not offering more help, and I will point there, too, to an extent. But the bottom line is that this guy CHOSE to do what he did, and has caused harm not only to himself, but to the driver of the train, and probably to others who witnessed it, not to mention the delays this would have caused. HE chose not to seek the help that others who do not take things this far get, and took the coward's route that he KNOWS has hurt others in the past (but wouldn't hurt him anymore if he had succeeded). So, GOOD that he's going to mortified about it -- no one should get off that easy.

"Maybe you'll understand one day, though I hope for your sake you don't. But if/when you do, I promise I won't condemn you to this"

Wrong. In fact, I'm quite sure if you were the victim of such an event (and no, the man is not the victim here), and you or your family had body parts or what have you hit you, or suffered trauma as a result, you would not instantly jump in and pity the person who caused it.

If a person got drunk knowing they were about to kill themselves because they had reached a new low, hopped in a car, and then on the way to do it killed others, would you still pity him and not blame him? Let's say he did not at all intend to hurt anyone -- the cliff he was going to drive off was right there! -- and add in that he had a mental illness. Should the family of those killed not point fingers at the man?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@smithinjapan - Yes, barriers are a step up. And yes, some will find a way anyway, however there is no excuse for not trying to prevent accidents at least. However. . .

Not ONLY that, but life insurance companies have to add clauses where a family will not receive benefits in the event of suicide.

You are thinking like a sane person. When someone wants to commit suicide a lot of times they are not really thinking about their families. I suppose it might help in some cases though, but you are still not understanding the way people who have lost it, think.

You seem to be talking to me in the first paragraph and then continue on when you are actually talking to Tamarama, so I am out of here.

Hope everyone has a great night.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Smith,

Having read your last post, which is really just a lot of hot air and bluster, I stand very firmly by what I have written. Happy to call you out on it every time, too.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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