At Least 13 People Died by Suicide Amid U.K. Post Office Scandal, Report Says

Post by immibis » Sat, Jul 12, 2025, 6:57 PM UTC

BobaFloutist wrote: post #256

arrowsmith wrote: post #202

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't like the tabloids either but what exactly do you propose we do? Are you sure it's a good idea to undermine the freedom of the press? A government with the power to censor the tabloids is also a government with the power to censor the news outlets that you do like. I'd be careful about opening that can of worms.

The United States (famously) has stronger free speech protections and weaker libel/slander laws, yet seems to have less of an issue with tabloids. Is there maybe more of a divide between what's alloweable for "public figures" versus private citizens? Or maybe even our right-wing rags are more skeptical of the government? I don't know what the difference is, but you seem to see less of this sort of thing, gross as our…

Post by comprev » Sat, Jul 12, 2025, 9:27 PM UTC

hermitcrab wrote: post #481

This whole scandal has been exposed partly due to the dogged work of journalists at Private Eye over many years. Private Eye is also very funny, with some very good cartoons. Please consider taking out a subscription to Private Eye, to support investigative journalism - even if you only read the cartoons.

Post by lanfeust6 » Sat, Jul 12, 2025, 9:58 PM UTC

wat10000 wrote: post #393

lanfeust6 wrote: post #341

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Healthy, sane people in good situations don't kill themselves. Correct. This has no bearing. > it ended up killing some of them. No, and it's irresponsible and unhelpful to act like agency and choice is not part of the equation. As if to say that basically everyone chooses the same way (euthanasia) in the face of terminal illness, or depression. Tautologically, if you want to convey that help is out there and that…

There's a lot of agency in heart attacks too, but we still say that the heart attack killed them, not that they killed themselves with a heart attack. There is agency, but it's equally irresponsible and unhelpful to act like outside factors are not part of the equation, and that someone who drives a person to suicide is blameless. Let's say someone jumps out of a burning building and they're killed by the fall. Did t…

Post by wat10000 » Sat, Jul 12, 2025, 10:41 PM UTC

lanfeust6 wrote: post #565

wat10000 wrote: post #393

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a lot of agency in heart attacks too, but we still say that the heart attack killed them, not that they killed themselves with a heart attack. There is agency, but it's equally irresponsible and unhelpful to act like outside factors are not part of the equation, and that someone who drives a person to suicide is blameless. Let's say someone jumps out of a burning building and they're killed by the fall. Did t…

Heart attacks can and do happen regardless of optimal diet and lifestyle, but notwithstanding, indeed CVd can be likened to a slow-motion suicide, like cigarettes, given modern knowledge most people are aware of. No one is saying outside factors aren't part of it. But you cannot negate or mitigate the fact that people make a choice with suicide that is not inevitable. Your last questions are irrelevant and pointless

Post by labster » Sun, Jul 13, 2025, 1:09 AM UTC

keyserj wrote: post #509

labster wrote: post #507

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wealth is not the same as class, either. Even in America. A teacher with an annual salary of $60k is higher class than a plumber making $100k annually. Unless the teacher is black, of course, then racial elements of class come into play.

I agree that wealth is not the same as class, but just as a counter anecdote, my dad is a (small business) plumber and I never felt like we were treated less than any other middle class family. If anything, it seemed like people were often really grateful and giving random gifts like food from gardens or tickets to local events.