"Depression blogs".

[ReginaGeorge]

For those who don't know, on sites like Tumblr, there is this culture of 'depression blogs', these blogs are generally full of images of self harm, encouraging suicide, pills, and various things that say things about having low self esteem, low self worth, and no happiness.

Some of the people who run these blogs say it's a way of expressing or coping with their feelings, while others think that they are glorifying and romanticizing depression and suicide.

What do you think? As the say on A Can Of Worms, perfectly fine or seriously wrong?

[xmojox]

I've seen pictures from some of those. Very disturbing to say the least. I've gotta line up in the seriously wrong camp on this one. Regardless of someone's fragile mental state, said person should not be allowed to encourage others, who may be in an even more fragile mental state, to harm themselves. I'm dubious as to whether or not it even qualifies as protected speech.

[Stronger]

I've seen pictures from some of those. Very disturbing to say the least. I've gotta line up in the seriously wrong camp on this one. Regardless of someone's fragile mental state, said person should not be allowed to encourage others, who may be in an even more fragile mental state, to harm themselves. I'm dubious as to whether or not it even qualifies as protected speech.

But then they could just not follow that blog, I personally see no problem with it, if it helps then so be it, but I'm not saying they should encourage others either.

[WalkingOnDisaster]

I don't see how they help. I saw one once and bawled and had nightmares. They are horrific.

[xmojox]

What I wonder is whether these blogs that encourage suicide and self-harm fall under the category of fighting words, which are not protected speech under the US Constitution. Fighting words are defined as written or spoken words , generally expressed to incite hatred or violence from their target.

If these blogs use verbage that is intended to lower the self-esteem of others and make them feel badly about themselves, are they not intended to incite hatred? If they urge others to self-harm or to commit suicide, are they not intended to incite violence?

hatred (n.) Intense dislike or ill will.

violence (n.) 1. Behavior involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something. 2. Strength of emotion or an unpleasant or destructive natural force.


Neiher defintion requires that these things are directed externally. In other words, hatred is hatred and violence is violence regardless of whether it is directed towards another or toward oneself.

[TheWhiteWizard]

As a tumblr user- I've seen these blogs. Some people are genuinely seeking help bu may not have anybody to ever let it out to. But being online, they can hope that somebody will understand how they feel. And if people dont like it I think they can just not visit those pages and let them express how they feel.

[workingatperfect]

I'm kind of torn. Blogs that have self harm stuff or that do glorify suicide and everything disturb me a bit, but there are a lot that put that kind of thing in a negative perspective and are just expressing their emotions, which I see no problem with. I've seen a lot of blogs that promote anorexia which does bother me, but I honestly haven't seen any that I can think of that promote self harm or suicide. They might post about it, but they don't go around saying you should do it. If anything, they advise against it.

[xmojox]

As a tumblr user- I've seen these blogs. Some people are genuinely seeking help bu may not have anybody to ever let it out to. But being online, they can hope that somebody will understand how they feel. And if people dont like it I think they can just not visit those pages and let them express how they feel.

I'm kind of torn. Blogs that have self harm stuff or that do glorify suicide and everything disturb me a bit, but there are a lot that put that kind of thing in a negative perspective and are just expressing their emotions, which I see no problem with. I've seen a lot of blogs that promote anorexia which does bother me, but I honestly haven't seen any that I can think of that promote self harm or suicide. They might post about it, but they don't go around saying you should do it. If anything, they advise against it.

So long as they're seeking help or attempting to help others, I have no problem with it. I was speaking only to blogs that encourage others to self-harm or suicide.

[Human]

I don't agree with them.
I think it kind of makes self harm seem good, I don't like it when people symbolize it in a way.

[TheWhiteWizard]

So long as they're seeking help or attempting to help others, I have no problem with it. I was speaking only to blogs that encourage others to self-harm or suicide.

Well then they should be reported and deleted if they encourage others! Its one thing to talk about it, but if you have the nerve to encourage others to do those terrible things rather than if anything, help them seek a different method of greif expression- then you should not be on the internet at all. :mad: