A Buddhist monk confronts Japan’s suicide culture (2013)

Does anyone else here finds that there is disproportionnate amount of articles related to death, depression and mental illness that reaches the frontpage of HN ? I'm not saying it's necesseraly a bad thing, but it makes me wonder about the effects working in IT might have on mental health.

Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan’s suicide culture (2013)

#6

Post by xrd » Thu, Jul 31, 2014, 4:22 PM UTC

Stunning.

Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan’s suicide culture (2013)

#7

Post by conistonwater » Thu, Jul 31, 2014, 4:34 PM UTC

bsaul wrote: post #5

Does anyone else here finds that there is disproportionnate amount of articles related to death, depression and mental illness that reaches the frontpage of HN ? I'm not saying it's necesseraly a bad thing, but it makes me wonder about the effects working in IT might have on mental health.

One might also think that such articles are underrepresented everywhere else. In fact, seeing them getting voted up is some evidence that people actually want to read them.

Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan’s suicide culture (2013)

#8

Post by brixon » Thu, Jul 31, 2014, 4:36 PM UTC

bsaul wrote: post #5

Does anyone else here finds that there is disproportionnate amount of articles related to death, depression and mental illness that reaches the frontpage of HN ? I'm not saying it's necesseraly a bad thing, but it makes me wonder about the effects working in IT might have on mental health.

I think you are just noticing them. I feel like I see more of the "I work 5 minutes a day and I'm more productive than you", "unlimited vacation is awesome", or "I don't want money, I just want to surf more"

Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan’s suicide culture (2013)

#9

Post by oldspiceman » Thu, Jul 31, 2014, 4:37 PM UTC

Short Vice documentary on the forest mentioned in the article. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FDSdg09df8

Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan’s suicide culture (2013)

#10

Post by jessaustin » Thu, Jul 31, 2014, 4:41 PM UTC

By tradition, suicide can absolve guilt and cancel debt, can restore honor and prove loyalty.

In this respect I feel Japan's culture is superior to ours in the USA. For example, I felt Mark Madoff's suicide was entirely appropriate, a final act that put the rest of his life in a more dignified context. Yet every article one reads about it treats the suicide as an additional disgrace, yet another horrible thing we can blame on Mark and his father.