This is, according to Wired.com, a screen grab of some of the dialogue that was going on when a teen broadcast himself committing suicide on Justin.tv. Notice the two “LOL”s.
Perhaps some viewers assumed it was a hoax. For that reason, what I find just as unnerving is the reaction in the subsequent few days. Now that people know the suicide was real, a disturbing number show no understanding of how ill, or hurting, someone has to be to commit suicide. Some of the reaction (reprinted below) simply represents the depravity of a few sick, anonymous souls. But I think some of these comments reflect a deeply ambivalent attitude we have toward suicide victims. Remember, some religions still view suicide as a mortal sin, an affront to God. The idea that suicide victims are weak, cowardly or wicked has been part of our culture for a long time.
According to the victim’s father, the teen was being treated for bi-polar disorder. Here are some examples illustrating the lack of sympathy for this teen from one internet message board (warning: harsh language):

Not a hero…a coward. He couldn’t deal with his life, and rather than ask for help, he chose to deprive his friends and family of his presence in their life. I’ve been there before, and I am sure I will be there again, but I will not put myself above all others and be selfish enough to take my own life, much less on the internet. I will ask for help, and I believe that I will receive that help, as I have in the past. Death is only the end, not a solution.
Posted by: Mike C | Nov 20, 2008 8:02:21 PM
Should’ve blown his brains out. Would’ve made for better viewing.
Posted by: Triuvmerate | Nov 20, 2008 8:05:33 PM

wow what a dick why would he stream his own death? if he wants to kill himself…fine, but those people watching who probably assumed he wouldnt do it could be traumatized. Its his life, he can do what he wants with it but dont mind fuck other people who still have the balls to go on living
Posted by: randal graves | Nov 20, 2008 8:48:27 PM
Too bad the rest of bb.com doesn’t follow suit. Next to the pick up artists community, bb.com has to be the largest gathering point for insecure beta males to live out their alpha fantasies while posting half naked pictures of themselves to share with other guys.

Have fun at the next circle jerk, homos.
Posted by: jimmy | Nov 20, 2008 8:56:52 PM
hahaha .. faggot
Posted by: d sack | Nov 20, 2008 9:20:14 PM
f—ker got what was coming to him.
Posted by: Dan Pherson | Nov 21, 2008 6:12:29 AM
People always blame things like the internet, music, crazy preaching, “mental illness”, “whatever syndrome” to avoid the fact that more people are just nasty. The 80/20 rule applies to humanity in my experience. Its terrible that the kid felt a need to off himself. It’s terrible that he didn’t have friends or family to set him straight and help him out. Its terrible that he didn’t have the capability to pull himself out of whatever was burdening him.
It’s all terrible, but I’ll save my pity for kids who die of hunger, lack of basic sanitation, constant civil wars, and probably only have a short life of suffering to look forward to.
Posted by: MichaelM | Nov 21, 2008 6:30:35 AM
I have mo sympathy for suicide pussies. Like someone said above, it’s a f—ing cowards tactic, like using a weapon in a fight.

Go take the pussy bitch way out and off yourself, it’s doing the world a favor by thinning out the number of sissies that cant take the real world for wat it is.

Posted by: mike | Nov 21, 2008 10:24:04 PM
and yet, there are MILLIONS OF OTHER CHILDREN IN THE WORLD THAT HAVE TO PUT UP WITH 1000x WORSE LIVES THEN THEY DO. I’M GLAD THIS PERSON IS DEAD BECAUSE IT THEY WERE SELFISH. WHY SHOULD I CARE?
There are people on this earth that live their lives on less then $1.00 a day. There are people who have to worry about if they’ll live or die because they can’t find any clean water.
This 19 year old punk is a selfish brat who has (or HAD i guess) no respect for himself or those around him. If you can’t sit on the internet reading other peoples mindless dribble and understand that people are just sadistic assholes who need outlets for their bloodlust…then you are effectively EPIC FAIL.
I could seriously give a crap is this person died because it affects me in no way shape or form.
YOU PEOPLE AND YOUR FAKE F—-ING SYMPATHY ARE THE REASON PEOPLE DO S–T JUST LIKE THIS.
Posted by: TurboPotato | Nov 22, 2008 11:44:14 AM

UPDATE: Several news accounts have said that people on the board were egging him on. I can only pray that they thought it was a joke. Is it really possible that people would encourage someone else to commit suicide?