The bridge documentary (2006)

[6ftunder]

Anyone else ever seen The Bridge documentary (2006)?
It's a documentary about unliving and the golden gate bridge.

If you've seen it, what are your thoughts?

 

[Forever Sleep]

Saw it a while ago. The guy all in black has always stuck in my mind. May have the details wrong now- it was a while ago I saw it but I believe he had struggled for a while but he was surviving for his Mum. Think he might have told another relative- his Aunt or Gran maybe and she asked whether he would call to say goodbye if he ever chose to end it- and he did.

I just found it so beautiful and touching that he stayed strong for as long as he could for his Mum. (I've always known I couldn't ctb while my Dad was still alive.)

Also that his Aunt/Gran didn't try to stop him- she recognised his pain but wanted to say goodbye. Going to sound really weird but he's a sort of hero for me. He was so brave too- he felbackwards with no hesitation.

On the other hand, I sort of found it typical- the general response that- he had a job interview or filled out an application (or something similar) either that morning or a few days before. People seemed confused because he seemed to be 'living his life.' Kind of annoyed me- I guess suicidal thoughts can be debilitating but many people live with them for years and get on as best they can... until they can't anymore.

Couldn't find his name but I hope he's at peace now along with all the others.

 

[6ftunder]

Saw it a while ago. The guy all in black has always stuck in my mind. May have the details wrong now- it was a while ago I saw it but I believe he had struggled for a while but he was surviving for his Mum. Think he might have told another relative- his Aunt or Gran maybe and she asked whether he would call to say goodbye if he ever chose to end it- and he did.

I just found it so beautiful and touching that he stayed strong for as long as he could for his Mum. (I've always known I couldn't ctb while my Dad was still alive.)

Also that his Aunt/Gran didn't try to stop him- she recognised his pain but wanted to say goodbye. Going to sound really weird but he's a sort of hero for me. He was so brave too- he felbackwards with no hesitation.

On the other hand, I sort of found it typical- the general response that- he had a job interview or filled out an application (or something similar) either that morning or a few days before. People seemed confused because he seemed to be 'living his life.' Kind of annoyed me- I guess suicidal thoughts can be debilitating but many people live with them for years and get on as best they can... until they can't anymore.

Couldn't find his name but I hope he's at peace now along with all the others.

Yes, you're thinking of Gene Sprague.
He jumped in 2004. Unbelievable to think that's almost 20 years ago now!
The movie/documentary indicates that he was 'disturbed' for a very long time and often spoke about suicide. I don't know whether he was diagnosed with anything, or whether he had a condition that went undiagnosed (highly likely imo).

 

[Forever Sleep]

Yes, you're thinking of Gene Sprague.
He jumped in 2004. Unbelievable to think that's almost 20 years ago now!
The movie/documentary indicates that he was 'disturbed' for a very long time and often spoke about suicide. I don't know whether he was diagnosed with anything, or whether he had a condition that went undiagnosed (highly likely imo).

Thank you. Poor guy. I can't believe no one tried to stop him. People seemed to look at him- they must have wondered if he was going to do it when he got up on the railings.

I don't actually understand this about myself- because I do genuinely believe we have the right to end our own lives and a lot of the pro-life crap really irritates me.

Still- I think if I saw someone who looked like they were about to do it, I think I would actually try to talk to them. Not necessarily to talk them out of it. I don't even know. Just to make them feel less alone I guess. Think I'd feel kind of guilty if they jumped without even trying to connect with them.

That probably doesn't make much sense though because it's in effect the opposite of what I really believe deep down- that we ought to have autonomy over our own lives... and deaths.

 

[6ftunder]

Thank you. Poor guy. I can't believe no one tried to stop him. People seemed to look at him- they must have wondered if he was going to do it when he got up on the railings.

I don't actually understand this about myself- because I do genuinely believe we have the right to end our own lives and a lot of the pro-life crap really irritates me.

Still- I think if I saw someone who looked like they were about to do it, I think I would actually try to talk to them. Not necessarily to talk them out of it. I don't even know. Just to make them feel less alone I guess. Think I'd feel kind of guilty if they jumped without even trying to connect with them.

That probably doesn't make much sense though because it's in effect the opposite of what I really believe deep down- that we ought to have autonomy over our own lives... and deaths.

Yes I get what you mean.

Being pro-choice isn't the same as not caring. What you're feeling is natural.
If somebody told you that they wanted to end their lives and you said "well, what are you waiting for?", that would be wrong in so many ways and you imply that you didn't care.
The way you're thinking indicates that you care about people :)

 

[Forever Sleep]

Yes I get what you mean.

Being pro-choice isn't the same as not caring. What you're feeling is natural.
If somebody told you that they wanted to end their lives and you said "well, what are you waiting for?", that would be wrong in so many ways and you imply that you didn't care.
The way you're thinking indicates that you care about people :)

 

[Hercules]

Thank you. Poor guy. I can't believe no one tried to stop him. People seemed to look at him- they must have wondered if he was going to do it when he got up on the railings.

I don't actually understand this about myself- because I do genuinely believe we have the right to end our own lives and a lot of the pro-life crap really irritates me.

Still- I think if I saw someone who looked like they were about to do it, I think I would actually try to talk to them. Not necessarily to talk them out of it. I don't even know. Just to make them feel less alone I guess. Think I'd feel kind of guilty if they jumped without even trying to connect with them.

That probably doesn't make much sense though because it's in effect the opposite of what I really believe deep down- that we ought to have autonomy over our own lives... and deaths.

I saw the documentary years ago. I don't remember all of it, but I remember Gene. His suicide made me sad. I was shocked that no one asked asked him if he was ok or tried to stop him. The poor man was agitated and paced back and forth on the bridge for 90 minutes, before finally deciding to jump. Every 2 or 3 minutes he paused and stared down at the water before, he started pacing again. It was obvious that he was very upset and was going to jump. The bridge was crowded. I don't understand why no one took the time to talk to him and ask him if he was ok, or if he needed help. He was clearly conflicted, before he finally decided to jump. I guess we will never know, but maybe he wanted someone to talk to him and tell him that he didn't have to jump. He didn't seem too certain initially that it was something that he wanted to do. There was a man standing by the railing. He watches Gene pace back and forth. When Gene climbs the railing right next to him, he is actually smiling and almost appears to be laughing at him as he jumps. I don't understand how someone can be that cruel and do something like that. It didn't seem to bother him that someone just killed themselves right in front of him.

It reminds me of Kevin Hines who survived jumping the GGB. He said that he didn't really want to jump, but he heard voices telling him to jump, and he felt compelled to do it. He said that he cried loudly on the long bus ride to the bridge and while on the bridge and wanted someone to ask him if he was ok, so he wouldn't have to jump. No one showed any concern for him, so he jumped.

 

[BluesRunTheGame]

Everyone remembers Gene! Yes he had a shit life and there was an awful lot of hesitation before a pretty badass jump as I recall.