http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/04/13/suicide-barriers-to-go-up-at-golden-gate-bridge-after-1-5k-deaths/ suicide is terrible. please get help if you feel suicidal. this post is about spending$200M to solve the problem of catching bridge jumpers in a net. couldn't we construct something equivalent for 1/10th the cost?
or climb to the edge of the net. brilliant.
That's what I am wondering. Just jump to the net then crawl and jump off the edge. I guess this helps folks who change their mind during the fall
From when these nets were installed at my alma mater, they're designed such that steel nets catch you and will injure you such that you cannot struggle and jump off additionally. Plus most people don't have the guts to try multiple times and would be shaken by the first attempt. Agreed though that there are multiple ways to suicide and prevention is better if focused on core problems
And it's $200M. I'd like to get this contract and finish it with < half money
We all have faith you can do it 😒
Imagine if that money was spent on public health or therapy instead. They'd probably save more lives.
Probably not. Have you been involved in public health?
deterrence is effective. the underlying wisdom here isn't awful given how the ggb is a Mecca for jumpers. the question is why $200M?
Because real engineering is hard and you have to figure out how adding a static load affects the lifespan of the bridge. You can't just throw the bridge out and start again. Also, you have to maintain liability insurance forever and ever. These contracts are also paid out when the work is done, so you're effectively loaning the government money (who will also take a while to pay it out). Also, people in construction tend to make a living wage.
liability insurance? So if the jumper ends up dying by falling in the net, they're liable? America is so fucked up. First kill all the lawyers #WilliamShakespeare
concur on real engineering. what is the desired effect and is this the most effective solution? should the goal be visual deterrence or physically catching a jumper? the costs are an order of magnitude different for a marginal outcome. is the goal to stop 100% of jumpers? 90%? 80%? why 20 feet vs. 15 or 10? the materials used and upkeep can be much cheaper depending on the goal. etc. it appears to me that officials in charge came in with a desired solution vs. a desired outcome, and the price tag reflects appropriately.
Sounds ridiculous to me unless there is a security issue for the people under the bridge... Otherwise there is so much other issues to address in the city already.
The "there are other problems" argument is the most specious bullshit argument around. We have to suddenly solve all the problems you care about until we can solve the ones you don't. I guess that's what? Fewer potholes for your Tesla to hit? Better private schools in Palo Alto?
it's not a bad argument. is this the best use of $200 million? does it save the most lives? probably not.
Hire a Chinese contractor company they can do it with 20m in 15 days.
Can confirm this 👍🏻
Since the bridges construction, 1,700 people have jumped. At 200 million cost, this will come down to 120 k per previous suicide. It sounds like a big misuse of resources to me. How many suicides will the net really prevent? It seems that this money could be used for suicide prevention in other areas, but San Franciscans don't care about reality, they only care about what feels good.
120k isn't worth it–until it's someone you know
That's sentimentalism talking. I had a close friend who committed suicide by slicing his wrists and jugular in the bathroom. At the end of the day, those who are desperate enough to commit suicide will find a way of doing so, and if we want to help them, maybe 120 k could be invested in another form, like free counseling clinics?
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Not trying to be a jerk here, but doesn't this mean they will just go to a different cliff/bridge?
maybe. but that argument, taken to its logical conclusion is an argument against any kind of preventative action. indeed it's an argument against laws in general.
Hop on for the ride, let's go there.... because it sounds like you can see the logic...