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Show HN: CheckUp – Social network suicide prevention in Go

checkupapp.org

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Re: Show HN: CheckUp – Social network suicide prevention in Go

#11

Post by phfez »

4lgorythm wrote: post #10
phfez wrote: post #8

I can understand why you think this might be a good idea. But it completely doesn't take the depressed person into account at all. It thinks it can solve suicide by checking up on the individual? Do you think the individual wants to be checked up on? Maybe the people checking up on the person are the actual problem in that person's life, which could create an even more serious dilemma for that person. If there is any…

If a "depressed" person is posting things that flag a SUICIDE watch app, then I'd say they are obviously posting those things to draw attention to their issues. Therefore someone noticing would probably be just what they want.

Exactly, which would make this app unnecessary.

Re: Show HN: CheckUp – Social network suicide prevention in Go

#12

Post by smclaughlin »

phfez wrote: post #8

I can understand why you think this might be a good idea. But it completely doesn't take the depressed person into account at all. It thinks it can solve suicide by checking up on the individual? Do you think the individual wants to be checked up on? Maybe the people checking up on the person are the actual problem in that person's life, which could create an even more serious dilemma for that person. If there is any…

That's an interesting perspective. I disagree. I think if someone is tweeting about suicidal intentions then it follows that they are not concerned about the privacy of those intentions.

Re: Show HN: CheckUp – Social network suicide prevention in Go

#13

Post by phfez »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #9
phfez wrote: post #8

I can understand why you think this might be a good idea. But it completely doesn't take the depressed person into account at all. It thinks it can solve suicide by checking up on the individual? Do you think the individual wants to be checked up on? Maybe the people checking up on the person are the actual problem in that person's life, which could create an even more serious dilemma for that person. If there is any…

Cynical. Depression is often the cause of suicide. Its not 'caused' by people trying to socialize. Makes perfect sense to me to monitor my mental state externally, just like I check my blood pressure and weight.

Do you think an external program can understand all of the complexities of the human drama within the context of a single person's life?

Re: Show HN: CheckUp – Social network suicide prevention in Go

#14

Post by phfez »

smclaughlin wrote: post #12
phfez wrote: post #8

I can understand why you think this might be a good idea. But it completely doesn't take the depressed person into account at all. It thinks it can solve suicide by checking up on the individual? Do you think the individual wants to be checked up on? Maybe the people checking up on the person are the actual problem in that person's life, which could create an even more serious dilemma for that person. If there is any…

That's an interesting perspective. I disagree. I think if someone is tweeting about suicidal intentions then it follows that they are not concerned about the privacy of those intentions.

Exactly, which would make this app unnecessary.

Re: Show HN: CheckUp – Social network suicide prevention in Go

#15

Post by blowski »

phfez wrote: post #8

I can understand why you think this might be a good idea. But it completely doesn't take the depressed person into account at all. It thinks it can solve suicide by checking up on the individual? Do you think the individual wants to be checked up on? Maybe the people checking up on the person are the actual problem in that person's life, which could create an even more serious dilemma for that person. If there is any…

As somebody who was affected by the suicide of a close friend, it would be wonderful if something existed that could help others with suicidal feelings.

But there is something sad about the idea that an algorithm would be better at detecting suicidal feelings than your closest friends.

Re: Show HN: CheckUp – Social network suicide prevention in Go

#16

Post by matart »

How accurate do you think this can be? What happens if I write a facebook update that says, as an example:

I don't believe I have ever said "I feel depressed"

Would this be flagged? Does it only take one post to be flagged or is it looking for recurring behaviour?

Re: Show HN: CheckUp – Social network suicide prevention in Go

#17

Post by rkirkendall »

phfez wrote: post #8

I can understand why you think this might be a good idea. But it completely doesn't take the depressed person into account at all. It thinks it can solve suicide by checking up on the individual? Do you think the individual wants to be checked up on? Maybe the people checking up on the person are the actual problem in that person's life, which could create an even more serious dilemma for that person. If there is any…

Hey thanks for the feedback. I understand your point on the topic, but I would like to point out that CheckUp isn't trying to 'solve' suicide in this manner. The philosophy behind the project is that you, at some level, care about the people you are socially connected to, and you may care if they are contemplating something very bad.

The goal is to create a service that will prioritize self-threatening posts from people you care about above the usual noise of your social network. Publicly posted cries for help can indicate very serious intent and we just want to make sure they don't go unnoticed.

Re: Show HN: CheckUp – Social network suicide prevention in Go

#18

Post by JoeAltmaier »

phfez wrote: post #13
JoeAltmaier wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cynical. Depression is often the cause of suicide. Its not 'caused' by people trying to socialize. Makes perfect sense to me to monitor my mental state externally, just like I check my blood pressure and weight.

Do you think an external program can understand all of the complexities of the human drama within the context of a single person's life?

No all, but that's not a reason not to try.

Re: Show HN: CheckUp – Social network suicide prevention in Go

#19

Post by phfez »

blowski wrote: post #15
phfez wrote: post #8

I can understand why you think this might be a good idea. But it completely doesn't take the depressed person into account at all. It thinks it can solve suicide by checking up on the individual? Do you think the individual wants to be checked up on? Maybe the people checking up on the person are the actual problem in that person's life, which could create an even more serious dilemma for that person. If there is any…

As somebody who was affected by the suicide of a close friend, it would be wonderful if something existed that could help others with suicidal feelings. But there is something sad about the idea that an algorithm would be better at detecting suicidal feelings than your closest friends.

You think it would be wonderful because of the way that you felt, not the way your friend felt.

And there is no algorithm that can detect suicidal feelings. I can't help but think of Alan Turing in this scenario.

Re: Show HN: CheckUp – Social network suicide prevention in Go

#20

Post by blowski »

phfez wrote: post #19
blowski wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As somebody who was affected by the suicide of a close friend, it would be wonderful if something existed that could help others with suicidal feelings. But there is something sad about the idea that an algorithm would be better at detecting suicidal feelings than your closest friends.

You think it would be wonderful because of the way that you felt, not the way your friend felt. And there is no algorithm that can detect suicidal feelings. I can't help but think of Alan Turing in this scenario.

> And there is no algorithm that can detect suicidal feelings.

I get what you're saying, but given the miracles that do exist in modern medicine, I'm not prepared to say it's impossible. I suspect better availability of mental healthcare, preferring counselling over drugs, and less stigmatising would all be better 'solutions' than an algorithm, but if an algorithm did exist that could genuinely help then it would be a good thing.

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