Dark Visions Of A Jumper
Jan 18th, 2010 | 3 responses
In jolly old England, a radio disc jockey is being criticized for playing the Van Halen classic “Jump” as police stopped traffic and tried to prevent a woman from jumping off a bridge.
Here’s the account as reported by a London newspaper.
I’m not the most politically correct person on the planet but this behavior by a smart-ass disc jockey is irresponsible. Fortunately, the woman survived the 30-foot leap.
The efforts people in the business will go to increase ratings oftentimes reaches the bizarre. The good ones with the best drive-time ratings push the envelope to a line of humor and tragedy. Most of the time it is a funny practical joke played by the two Toronto DJs on Sarah Palin when she was a vice presidential candidate and in this linked story where Tony Blair, the UK prime minister, was the butt of a prank.
This story conjured images of a night I regret taking part. I was assigned to cover a jumper from the highway overpass connecting the famous Balboa Park in San Diego. I shared a cab with a reporter on the morning paper.
Upon arrival, the reporter leaped out of the taxi, ran towards the bridge yelling “Jump! I’m on deadline.”
The poor bloke jumped. The 60-foot fall was predictable. It was the last time I spoke a word to that jerk. While his comments made him a legend among the ghoulish newspaper fraternity, it turned out he was more emotionally troubled than the victim we covered that terrible night.
3 Responses to “Dark Visions Of A Jumper”
Very Amen.
Angel, you take the high road, I take the low road. I think people like that ought to be horse whipped.
my sense JS, in part, although I absolutely can see the desire to bring such a heartless behavior straight down into the ground, is that, I can imagine a person saying such in some sort of burn out, and instead of the men concerned addressing that in their ranks, they make it toast of the town instead. It's a typical way for some re dealing with fear, and with being long past time to pack it in. We see it in post-trauma work too, where one team member doesnt even want to be there, but for loss of face fears, stays. Dont know at all what was going on with the reporter Jerry wrote about. Time and legend can also contribute to such stories. Cant imagine the man's soul didnt jump away from him in revulsion when he yelled that. On the other hand, have heard plenty of m.a.s.h. type humor at disaster sites. For many, it's a coping mechanism when faced with death. I think Jer hit it straight on, when he said, … turned out the man was more emotionally troubled than the victim. If he wasn't before, surely his soul was after. I feel sorry for the man. That's a hard thing to come to terms with, even if your buddies think it's hilarious. Especially if your buds think it's hilarious. Just my two cents worth.
and … I dont think wishing someone be taken down is the low road JS; I think it's human to want to bring another person back to a sanity that does not endanger them or others. Underlying much anger, is often much desire for healing. Again, just my .02