Discussion Standing together with SaSu

[deadbidaylight]

With everything going on in the media and the huge hurdle our community creators are facing, I've been brainstorming how we as a community could rally together to help support our sanctuary and try and set the record straight on what this site is really about. It's been demonized in the media to the point where it doesn't even sound like they're speaking about the same platform. I feel like we owe it to the creators to help them in any way we can. I've spoken to a few other members and thought I'd put it out there and see if anyone had any ideas that could be useful in helping out our community.

I am not ashamed to be a member of SaSu. I came here with the intent of committing suicide. What I found was an amazing group of individuals who even in their most tormented states, band together and help lift each other up. And for those that can't be lifted up, they at least feel a bit of community, love and support in their final moments, and that's a beautiful thing. This forum has truly saved my life. Because of SaSu, I no longer want to commit suicide, but rather help and uplift and support others on here who need it most. And I know there are many others on here that do the same.

What I'm trying to say, is I'm not afraid to be the face of the community support if this is feasible. I'm proud to say this site saved me. And I want the world to know that this is what happens here. Please let me know if there are any ideas floating around on how we can help.

My original thought was to compile a portfolio of experiences from users on here (anonymously of course) and how SaSu has benefitted them and why this community is so important to us. The world needs to see why we're here. I was also thinking of maybe reaching out to some pro choice organizations to see if they would be interested in helping our cause.

Let me know if you're interested in starting a user movement and how you might like to contribute, or add any ideas that could help. I'd like to see the forum persevere, and I think they need our help. We need to stand together

 

[deus_ex_machina]

a portfoilo of recovery experiences would be awesome. and, a reasoning to those of why we do what we do - to support those who are in there darkest times, either to the end of the tunnel or to out of it. it is a wonderful comunnity and i am very happy to rediscover this site.

 

[WhiteRabbit]

Everyone assumes we're very mentally ill (not entirely untrue). Anything positive you say about this place will be an example of how sick you are.

 

[Avril]

Ironically enough, this suicide forum has improved my mental health more than any pill, drink, or any therapist can. A few months into SaSu, I also stopped cutting. General chat helped a lot to distract from the pain.
I'm here if Rain, Marquis, or the community needs me. Love you Rain. I owe you my life, no pun intended.

 

[Dongle]

It probably isn't an impossible task but its certainly an uphill battle when these people are made to believe this website is responsible for killing them as if every member on this forum didn't CTB for a reason that had nothing to do with the community.

But that would mean they've actually got to talk about the real issue, and that's a lot harder than having a website to demonize and blame.

 

[deadbidaylight]

Ironically enough, this suicide forum has improved my mental health more than any pill, drink, or any therapist can. A few months into SaSu, I also stopped cutting. General chat helped a lot to distract from the pain.
I'm here if Rain, Marquis, or the community needs me. Love you Rain. I owe you my life, no pun intended.

This is exactly my experience as well, which is why I feel like we should back up the site and let the public see what we're really like, rather than just blindly believing these ridiculous media posts.

I'd be in a much worse mental position than I currently am if I didn't find this site. And that's gotta count for something?

It probably isn't an impossible task but its certainly an uphill battle when these people are made to believe this website is responsible for killing them as if every member on this forum didn't CTB for a reason that had nothing to do with the community.

But that would mean they've actually got to talk about the real issue, and that's a lot harder than having a website to demonize and blame.

You are definitely correct there. And my end goal wouldn't be to overrule anyone or anything, but to just bring some insider information about the site from an active users perspective (and hopefully a community perspective too) that we're not all complete doom and gloom. There are success stories here too, and community and connection. These things should be seen by the public, not just the hate that these "journalists" like to spew. I want the public to see our side too.

 

[Forever Sleep]

It's a really lovely idea and I loved the way you phrased it:

'What I found was an amazing group of individuals who even in their most tormented states, band together and help lift each other up. And for those that can't be lifted up, they at least feel a bit of community, love and support in their final moments, and that's a beautiful thing.'

I just wish some brave journalist would take notice of it but I (sadly) don't think they will. It doesn't fit their sensationalist reporting that this place is a death cult.

It's weird that a whole industry (journalism) that really ought to be about presenting truth seems to go about doing the exact opposite! Maybe they think their readers are too stupid to look at varying perspectives. That they just need to put across one (untrue) message that this forum encourages and enables suicide.

I suspect all they would actually do is say that this is an example of other members 'grooming' newcomers before coercing them into pro-mortalism and killing themselves. (All rubbish.)

 

[Pluto]

 

[timechained]

The difficulty is that "death" is still sort of taboo and losing someone one, especially with no explanation, is torturous.

There are 'death cafes' and such but generally everyone focuses more on the 'dying process' as 'the comfortable line'.

Sanctioned suicide is a place where people can that take the conversation further than just dying and talk about death itself, as well as living, healing, etc., in this way it is more holistic, but how many will be able to see it that way who knows.

 

[Whale_bones]

This is a great idea, there are many members here who have a way with words, and it'd be lovely to have a collection of many experiences all compiled in one place. Some users have a talent for speaking poetically, others for putting things in straightforward terms, many are able to express emotions vividly in a way that's hard to deny (even for those members of the public who put their fingers in their ears and try not to hear it).

I do think plenty of journalists would do just that, try to deny that anything said by a member here is worthwhile, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. It's a huge uphill battle, and likely impossible with any large/well-known news source, but there's probably someone out there with some kind of audience- even if it's something like a blog- who would be willing to publish a collection of our words. Do people read blogs anymore? Maybe not a blog, but something that more than a handful of people see, atleast.

I don't know how to practically go about finding someone like that, but I'll atleast put my support behind anyone here who tries!

 

[areyousafe??]

Great idea!

 

[OptingOutSmiling]

I think the user movement is a great idea and contacting pro-choice organisations. The portfolio too is a great idea, I'm just wondering if the world is ready to hear about our experiences. I doubt if anyone could understand, if they've never been suicidal. Will publicity be good or bad for the site?

Not being negative, in my case as an example, I went from actively to passively suicidal, and I'm very much still planning on moving forward with acquiring SN, etc. SaSu has helped me both ways, to find the means to end my life, and providing a platform for support in my darkest days. Realistically I'm afraid we'd be shut down if they hear about my experience, even if it's positive to me. However, I'm willing to defend, support or fight for the site.

Could we consider some kind of a petition? I don't know anything about legal matters, and I'm sure the founders are seeking legal advice and doing everything they can. I'd be happy to sign a petition if that could help and contribute to a portfolio if it won't be damaging.

We are a minority, and I hope we won't be seen as just "mentally damaged people" since we are basically fighting for our rights to talk about ending our lives openly. I will be following this thread, thanks for the initiative OP.

 

[Roadrunner]

Count me in to help in anyway.

 

[GlassMoon]

Thanks for the suggestion, @deadbidaylight !

I've repeatedly seen members trying to talk others out of suicide, especially when it was out of impulse. I think that was mostly in the chat. Since the chat is almost ephemeral, it's not so easily trackable. So if we could somehow gather these incidents (anonymously, opt-in, etc.), we could really work against the pro-suicide claims. I don't know how many of those cases where someone was supposedly convinced to kms by a rogue member here exist, but they surely get all the media attention.

An important point here is that we don't force others to surrender their options (like an MH professional might have to ask you to hand over your SN). That's important because while some don't want to actually CTB, retaining access to their method provides them with a feeling of safety. Here, they can ask for support to delay it while keeping that option. I've witnessed it but of course won't name anyone.

The same is true for SH in a way, one could also gather those cases.

Another idea: Collect catchy headlines of what made us think of CTB in the first place: Bureaucracy, incapable MH professionals, unsupportive HR, ...

 

[SchizoGymnast]

I'd be willing to share my story as well as some legal arguments. I even have some background in mental health and harm reduction.

 

[Ashu]

Everyone assumes we're very mentally ill (not entirely untrue). Anything positive you say about this place will be an example of how sick you are.

Yes, they are by nature simply not capable of understanding, just like I guess we cannot imagine what it must be like to be a shallowhearted normtard.