Alt.suicide.holiday
Encyclopedia
alt.suicide.holiday is a Usenet
newsgroup
. Its original purpose was to discuss the relationship between suicide
rates and holiday
seasons. However, it has since evolved into a broad discussion forum where suicidal and depressed people can openly share their thoughts. Some participants are not suicidal, but post to provide psychological support and other input to suicidal or depressed posters. The newsgroup is unmoderated and subject to a high level of trolling and a harsh and sometimes hostile atmosphere. According to its FAQ
, its purpose is neither to encourage nor discourage suicide.
The community has developed its own unique terminology. "Catch the bus" refers to the act of suicide, and the group is described as:
Newcomers are traditionally greeted with:
The newsgroup is unmoderated and subject to a high level of trolling. This has caused some members to leave the newsgroup, for instance to moderated, troll-free mailing lists or forums.
A.s.h is infamous for its association with the a.s.h methods file, a list of possible methods for suicide, ranging from the serious (e.g., lists of poison
s and their effects) to the absurd (e.g., starting World War 3). However, since legally available books like Final Exit
and The Peaceful Pill Handbook
provide more detailed information on suicide methods now, the a.s.h methods file has lost its importance and is not maintained any more. Several related Internet Relay Chat
channels also exist.
newsgroup, it is technically impossible to ban any person from posting to a.s.h. A ban by one provider like Google Groups
would be insufficient, because the person could easily switch to any other Usenet provider carrying a.s.h. Because of this, a.s.h cannot be classified as being pro-choice or pro-life: posters in the newsgroup represent wide range of positions from strict anti-suicide to right-to-die.
newsgroup from the alt.* hierarchy and not a website. This makes a significant legal difference, and allows a.s.h to exist despite attempts to close suicide websites. Unlike websites, Usenet
newsgroups are not regulated by any central authority, and there is no organization or individual responsible for a particular newsgroup. Websites like Google groups
solely provide access to newsgroups like a.s.h, and are not affiliated with it in any way.
UK Byron Review for 2008, analyzing effects of websites on children, says that "research looking at pro-suicide sites has had mixed results. Some studies report high degrees of emotional and social support by these sites, particularly on sites where the methods of suicide were not discussed. More studies like this are needed to begin to understand the impact of such sites on those who spontaneously choose to access them."
A point of view often expressed on a.s.h itself is that the existence of a.s.h actually prevented many deaths by allowing people considering suicide to connect with others who have the same feelings and giving them a place where they don't have to hide their true feelings.
Supporters of open discussion state that methods information is widely and legally available; that information might prevent number of permanent injuries resulting from lack of knowledge about methods, like paracetamol overdoses. Finally, there is no indication that making such information available changed suicide rates. For example, in 1991 Final Exit was published; it was the first book giving howto on certain suicide methods. The book was for 18 weeks the number one bestselling nonfiction book in America and has sold over a million copies. At the same time, there was no remarkable increase in suicide rates.
In 2003, a.s.h was the topic of a series of Wired articles under the pretext of examining the group's role in the deaths of several depressed individuals. The accuracy and integrity of the articles was widely disputed by ashers and internet media critics, e.g., Ken Hagler's Radio Weblog: No One Asked Why He Wanted to Die.
A.s.h played some role in the death of Suzy Gonzales, who killed herself in 2003 after sharing her thoughts on a.s.h. In the US, the death of Suzy Gonzales lead to attempt to introduce a controversial H.R. 940: Suzanne Gonzales Suicide Prevention Act of 2007, which was not passed. This law was criticized for taking predominately negative (restrictive) approach, like banning websites, instead of creation of online support resources for suicidal people.
Usenet
Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It developed from the general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name.Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979 and it was established in 1980...
newsgroup
Newsgroup
A usenet newsgroup is a repository usually within the Usenet system, for messages posted from many users in different locations. The term may be confusing to some, because it is usually a discussion group. Newsgroups are technically distinct from, but functionally similar to, discussion forums on...
. Its original purpose was to discuss the relationship between suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
rates and holiday
Holiday
A Holiday is a day designated as having special significance for which individuals, a government, or a religious group have deemed that observance is warranted. It is generally an official or unofficial observance of religious, national, or cultural significance, often accompanied by celebrations...
seasons. However, it has since evolved into a broad discussion forum where suicidal and depressed people can openly share their thoughts. Some participants are not suicidal, but post to provide psychological support and other input to suicidal or depressed posters. The newsgroup is unmoderated and subject to a high level of trolling and a harsh and sometimes hostile atmosphere. According to its FAQ
FAQ
Frequently asked questions are listed questions and answers, all supposed to be commonly asked in some context, and pertaining to a particular topic. "FAQ" is usually pronounced as an initialism rather than an acronym, but an acronym form does exist. Since the acronym FAQ originated in textual...
, its purpose is neither to encourage nor discourage suicide.
Culture
Participants who share the core values that have developed around the group are "ashers", and "ashspace" is a broader term for online communities historically associated with, but distinct from the newsgroup, including the alt.suicide.methods newsgroup, other discussion and chat groups, and web pages.The community has developed its own unique terminology. "Catch the bus" refers to the act of suicide, and the group is described as:
- A bus stop where several people have decided to stop and chat before deciding on whether or not to get on the bus.
Newcomers are traditionally greeted with:
- Welcome to a.s.h, sorry you're here.
The newsgroup is unmoderated and subject to a high level of trolling. This has caused some members to leave the newsgroup, for instance to moderated, troll-free mailing lists or forums.
A.s.h is infamous for its association with the a.s.h methods file, a list of possible methods for suicide, ranging from the serious (e.g., lists of poison
Poison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
s and their effects) to the absurd (e.g., starting World War 3). However, since legally available books like Final Exit
Final Exit
Final Exit: The Practicalities of Self-Deliverance and Assisted Suicide for the Dying is a controversial 1992 book by Derek Humphry, founder of the Hemlock Society in California and past president of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies....
and The Peaceful Pill Handbook
The Peaceful Pill Handbook
The Peaceful Pill Handbook is a controversial book giving instructions on how to perform euthanasia. It was originally published in the U.S. in 2007 and was written by the Australian doctors Philip Nitschke and Fiona Stewart....
provide more detailed information on suicide methods now, the a.s.h methods file has lost its importance and is not maintained any more. Several related Internet Relay Chat
Internet Relay Chat
Internet Relay Chat is a protocol for real-time Internet text messaging or synchronous conferencing. It is mainly designed for group communication in discussion forums, called channels, but also allows one-to-one communication via private message as well as chat and data transfer, including file...
channels also exist.
Discussion
Because a.s.h is a non-moderated UsenetUsenet
Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It developed from the general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name.Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979 and it was established in 1980...
newsgroup, it is technically impossible to ban any person from posting to a.s.h. A ban by one provider like Google Groups
Google Groups
Google Groups is a service from Google Inc. that supports discussion groups, including many Usenet newsgroups, based on common interests. The service was started in 1995 as Deja News, and was transitioned to Google Groups after a February 2001 buyout....
would be insufficient, because the person could easily switch to any other Usenet provider carrying a.s.h. Because of this, a.s.h cannot be classified as being pro-choice or pro-life: posters in the newsgroup represent wide range of positions from strict anti-suicide to right-to-die.
Misconceptions
A.s.h is often mistakenly called a website; in fact it is a UsenetUsenet
Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It developed from the general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name.Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979 and it was established in 1980...
newsgroup from the alt.* hierarchy and not a website. This makes a significant legal difference, and allows a.s.h to exist despite attempts to close suicide websites. Unlike websites, Usenet
Usenet
Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It developed from the general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name.Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979 and it was established in 1980...
newsgroups are not regulated by any central authority, and there is no organization or individual responsible for a particular newsgroup. Websites like Google groups
Google Groups
Google Groups is a service from Google Inc. that supports discussion groups, including many Usenet newsgroups, based on common interests. The service was started in 1995 as Deja News, and was transitioned to Google Groups after a February 2001 buyout....
solely provide access to newsgroups like a.s.h, and are not affiliated with it in any way.
Effects
Recent research shows that suicide websites indeed could be more efficient in providing emotional help for people contemplating suicide than suicide hotlines. Primary reasons are asynchronous nature of discussion in newsgroups giving enough time for thoughtful response and group-based discussion that suicidal people find reassuring. High degree of anonymity is another advantage of newsgroups like a.s.h, allowing people to openly talk about their feelings without fear of consequences.UK Byron Review for 2008, analyzing effects of websites on children, says that "research looking at pro-suicide sites has had mixed results. Some studies report high degrees of emotional and social support by these sites, particularly on sites where the methods of suicide were not discussed. More studies like this are needed to begin to understand the impact of such sites on those who spontaneously choose to access them."
A point of view often expressed on a.s.h itself is that the existence of a.s.h actually prevented many deaths by allowing people considering suicide to connect with others who have the same feelings and giving them a place where they don't have to hide their true feelings.
Suicide Information
A.s.h does not censor information on suicide methods and does not prohibit such discussion. Opponents see discussion of suicide methods as potentially endangering vulnerable people - people who would otherwise live through crisis, might commit suicide given information on lethal methods.Supporters of open discussion state that methods information is widely and legally available; that information might prevent number of permanent injuries resulting from lack of knowledge about methods, like paracetamol overdoses. Finally, there is no indication that making such information available changed suicide rates. For example, in 1991 Final Exit was published; it was the first book giving howto on certain suicide methods. The book was for 18 weeks the number one bestselling nonfiction book in America and has sold over a million copies. At the same time, there was no remarkable increase in suicide rates.
Coverage in the news
The newsgroup has been a target of news reports alleging a direct relationship between "avoidable" suicides and the suicide-facilitating nature of the newsgroup and web site.In 2003, a.s.h was the topic of a series of Wired articles under the pretext of examining the group's role in the deaths of several depressed individuals. The accuracy and integrity of the articles was widely disputed by ashers and internet media critics, e.g., Ken Hagler's Radio Weblog: No One Asked Why He Wanted to Die.
A.s.h played some role in the death of Suzy Gonzales, who killed herself in 2003 after sharing her thoughts on a.s.h. In the US, the death of Suzy Gonzales lead to attempt to introduce a controversial H.R. 940: Suzanne Gonzales Suicide Prevention Act of 2007, which was not passed. This law was criticized for taking predominately negative (restrictive) approach, like banning websites, instead of creation of online support resources for suicidal people.
Coverage in other media
- alt.suicideholiday.net, a film about suicide newsgroups inspired by a.s.h
- A.s.h World Wide Suicide (2002) (TV), a documentary about a.s.h
- Norway.today is a theatrical drama inspired by a true story. A young Norwegian man and a young Austrian girl agreed a suicide pact on a.s.h, and jumped to death from Prekestolen (Pulpit Rock). Their tent, some beer, and a stereo were eventually found there. Wired Magazine reported on the original story. Norway.today was the most played performance in Germany in years 2003 and 2004, it was translated in 20 languages and played in over 100 theaters.
Terminology
- Ticket
- Refers to having all the tools and preparations collected and readied to complete a suicide. I.e., a ticket for the "bus".
- Catch the bus
- Commonly shorted to "CTB", is a euphemism for suicide.
External links
- ashspace.org - archive of original Alt.suicide.holiday discussion group
- ash.notearthday.org - another archive of discussion group, as of 2002
- Alt.suicide.holiday - in its present form on google
- Court judgment in 2008 defamation case between two posters, with substantial cash award