San Fran folks: What does this mean?

Normy · 07:01 PM

I spent a day in San Francisco recently, and the Captain I was flying with took me and the first officer to dinner. He lives out there and has a car, so he took us out to the famous Golden Gate bridge just for the hell of it. While there, I saw the sign below. What does it mean? He had no idea about it either.

N?

kstar · 04-19-2008, 07:12 PM

FYI: http://www.hoppershands.blogspot.com/

Best,

Kurt

Sapporo Guy · 04-19-2008, 08:10 PM

WoW!

Another group of workers that just got lots of respect from me

I tend to respect firefighters a lot. I find it awesome how they are willing to risk their lives to save people for not that much pay.

yeah, police and military are in my mind too, but it's different for me for the firefighters ... hard to explain.

No, never had a chance and hope that I won't need their help.

Thank you all to those who risk their lives to help people.

Normy · 12:39 AM

Good lord-

Listen...if I encountered some ******* who was intent on jumping, I wouldn't calmly talk them down, I would encourage the f*cking idiot!!!

"Come on, jump you f*cking moron! You're wasting my time! And I need to know the time your body hits the water so the Coast Guard can fish your filth out of the water and burn you up."

It might even be better to push the bastard. Saves time after all-

-This is total bull****. If I knew what that sign meant, I would have defaced it! There is NOTHING acceptable about suicide, unless you are some sort of dangling chad cancer victim.

I can understand a "hands" placard that is there for runners to bounce off of, since I run 6 miles per day when I'm home in Fort Lauderdale. But a sign that glorifies suicide? The fact that this sign exists tonight is only because I am stuck in Minneapolis. Otherwise I would pour lighter fluid on it and burn it up tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

N!

widgeon13 · 04-20-2008, 02:56 AM

Interesting story and very interesting response.

Oh Haha · 04-20-2008, 06:02 AM

Interesting opinion, Normy.

Having had a family member commit suicide, I tend to look a little differently at the sign. I don't think it glorifies suicide. Instead it brings some amount of awareness of the tragic consequences and effects on the people left behind.

If I had known my younger sister's husband was going to do this, I would have kicked his arse when I had the chance.

Wait aminute, he never showed any indication that he was violent or ever showed and signs of being depressed.

Just glad that my sister didn't go out to where he wanted her to meet him that day............

He had two shells in the shotgun. We can only guess what his intention was, besides the obvious.

Gogar · 04-20-2008, 06:08 AM

That is a pretty interesting opinion, Normy. I'm not sure how you think that sign glorifies suicide.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Reading that, it's not a sign glorifying suicide, it's a sign honoring those that try to talk people OUT of suicide. How can you be mad at that? It's like being angry with EMTs or firefighters because they try to save lives.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Do a flip!

Moses · 04-20-2008, 06:19 AM

Normy,

There was a recent interview of a young woman who was "talked down" from the bridge 20 years ago when she had three small children. Turns out she was suffering from untreated post partum depression. After being saved from her own suicide, she got treatment and has been well for 20 years. Her children are well adjusted and happy. She now works at the University of California at Davis where two of her kids attend and she volunteers at a suicide prevention hotline.

There are lots of stories like hers out there.

masraum · 04-20-2008, 09:27 AM

Normy, there is one idiot around here....

87coupe · 87coupe's Garage

... who also has no reading comprehension.

K. Roman · K. Roman's Garage

His post was his suicide note!

Zeke · 04-20-2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Reading that, it's not a sign glorifying suicide, it's a sign honoring those that try to talk people OUT of suicide. How can you be mad at that? It's like being angry with EMTs or firefighters because they try to save lives.

He's just another one that can't read and/or posts when he's all juiced up. Stay out of CA next time, OK? We can do just fine w/o you.

Oh Haha · 04-20-2008, 01:09 PM

Jeez, did I walk into something I shouldn't have with Normy?

Sounds like he has tested the patience of fellow Pelicans a time or two?

Bill Douglas · 04-20-2008, 02:58 PM

Anyway, what was the food like and where did you have dinner?

Suicide is a very sad business for anyone and everyone concerned.

Normy · 04-20-2008, 07:33 PM

Listen- what pisses me off is the casual acceptance of suicidal individuals that this website seems to detail. I was just curious what the hands meant; I figured there was a much deeper meaning. Think about it- this is a tiny parking lot, separated by a long road from everything. Nobody just walks by this place, there is little foot or bicycle traffic. Why would this symbol suddenly appear? And the worn paint? That means that people are placing their hands there.

I would understand people placing hands in a Buddhist temple, but these hands are just in a beautiful spot, not a place that Buddhists would typically erect a temple.

So if my interpretation of this landmark is wrong...well then chalk it up to the fact that I have a tendency to talk first and think second. My mouth has gotten me in trouble from the beginning, and it will do it again.

N!