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| CANADA'S SOURCE FOR SUICIDE HUMOUR, PARODY, AND SATIRE
SAN FRANCISCO-- Zane Williamson saw the sign--and it saved his life.
The once-suicidal man would have made the leap into the Pacific Ocean, but for a city engineer's sign that made jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge a no-no. "I was at the end of my rope," said a cheerful Williamson. "I would have jumped off the bridge, but at the last moment I saw a sign from above." That sign, was indeed one of the several "No Jumping From Bridge" signs posted outside the railings of the historic span. The new signs are the latest deterrent against suicide jumpers, and many feel, the most effective. The Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District (GGBHTD) had been toying with the idea of suicide barriers, but had rejected them based on their cost, and that they would "ruin the view" of the bridge. Plus, it was felt that these barriers would just "piss off" suicidal people, making them even more determined to jump. Adolphus Reinstadt, a senior engineer for the GGBHTD suggested the "no jumping" signs, figuring that they would be cost-effective and wouldn't affect the esthetics of the bridge. Said Reinstadt: "People obey signs right?" Peter Wordstrom, professor of health education in the School of Public Health at UC Berkley agrees. "People with suicidal tendencies are very susceptible to suggestion. The signs tell them not to jump, and that gives them a moment to reconsider. Chances are they won't jump after that. And that $500 fine will sure make them think twice." There have been over 1,200 documented suicides from the Golden Gate Bridge since its opening over 60 years ago. (Many believe that the toll could be at least twice that, but the guy who was keeping statistics accidentally spilled coffee on the numbers). In 1995, there were 45 people known to have jumped off the bridge. "We'll never really know how many jumpers our signs will deter," said Reinstadt. "It's enough knowing that someone like Zane Williamson took the time to read it." "My
life sucks a little less," added Williamson. "And I did save
myself that hefty fine."
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