I REALLY wish people would not call out 911..

[Chilipepper]

I REALLY wish people would not call out 911..

I also want to express an apprecitiation and understanding of Savon's original post. As a matter of fact, I believe we all can understand the spirit of her language. "Calling 911....at the end of my rope" is serious stuff and we should all take it that way! However, this type of wording rarely, if ever, especially if declared over the internet, means suicide is immenent. This language is usually a cry for help, and certainly in this case, being that we're we're all on an alcohol discussion forum, could be a declaration of a person in withdrawals needing emergency assistance (911).

Certainly, Colbe could have been more descriptive in her post, and this would have given those close to her on this forum a clearer direction to take. Even more, after some of the fairly "frantic" responses to this post, it would have been even better that a quick response could have been given by Colbe to explain her mindset. However, as we all may know that a person in the throes of withdrawal may not always think rationally. But this was offset by Colbe reporting that she aced an interview and other positive facts within relatively close timing to the "911" post.

In summary, we can all sympathize with Colbe, but we should all empathize with Savon.

Chili

[DriftyAlison0]

I REALLY wish people would not call out 911..

Chilipepper;671019 wrote: I also want to express an apprecitiation and understanding of Savon's original post. As a matter of fact, I believe we all can understand the spirit of her language. "Calling 911....at the end of my rope" is serious stuff and we should all take it that way! However, this type of wording rarely, if ever, especially if declared over the internet, means suicide is immenent. This language is usually a cry for help, and certainly in this case, being that we're we're all on an alcohol discussion forum, could be a declaration of a person in withdrawals needing emergency assistance (911).

Certainly, Colbe could have been more descriptive in her post, and this would have given those close to her on this forum a clearer direction to take. Even more, after some of the fairly "frantic" responses to this post, it would have been even better that a quick response could have been given by Colbe to explain her mindset. However, as we all may know that a person in the throes of withdrawal may not always think rationally. But this was offset by Colbe reporting that she aced an interview and other positive facts within relatively close timing to the "911" post.

In summary, we can all sympathize with Colbe, but we should all empathize with Savon.

Chili

From Http://www.suicide.org "Always take suicidal comments very seriously. When a person says that he or she is thinking about suicide, you must always take the comments seriously. Assuming that the person is only seeking attention is a very serious, and potentially disastrous, error. Get help immediately"

Never ignore a plea for help. Treat any calling 911 type threads seriously. They could be the thing that helps the person out of their funk.

[bloggy]

I REALLY wish people would not call out 911..

Yes, I agree that it sounds like that person is desperate, but the fact that she said she was calling 911- for me signified she was doing the best thing she could at the time.

She did not say "I've had enough- Goodbye". She said she was calling 911- they can do far more for her than we can sitting at our PCs thousands of miles away.

Why do any of us feel we have to help if she is calling 911? We just have to be there for her afterwards- and I feel we have failed her there- quite badly in fact.

If you are reading Colbe, I hope things are getting better for you now.

[DeeBee]

I REALLY wish people would not call out 911..

When Colbe created this thread she was in a very dark place -- this is/was a very real cry for help and she is definetly NOT crying wolf.
There are a few here who knew exactly what was going on even though she didn't post anything of substance. She has apologised to eveyone here and I hope the matter will now be dropped.

The last time I heard from Colbe was on Friday when she came back from her appointment at the hospital and she was on the phone to her insurance to get permission to possibly go into rehab for 3 days..... I haven't heard from her since.

I hope and pray that she is safe and will post soon.

[42cat]

I REALLY wish people would not call out 911..

Adding my happy thoughts, prayers and vibes.

Colbe, check in when you can. ((hugs))

[My New Beginning]

I REALLY wish people would not call out 911..

My best to Colbe. :l

[Heavenly]

I REALLY wish people would not call out 911..

DriftyAlison0;671052 wrote: From Http://www.suicide.org "Always take suicidal comments very seriously. When a person says that he or she is thinking about suicide, you must always take the comments seriously. Assuming that the person is only seeking attention is a very serious, and potentially disastrous, error. Get help immediately"

Never ignore a plea for help. Treat any calling 911 type threads seriously. They could be the thing that helps the person out of their funk.

Then Colbe really shouldn't have posted it like that, I doubt if she was truly ''suicidal'' as she still managed to get a job or got through a tough interview the next day ?

I am not having a 'go' at her but I understand Savon's thoughts more ....

[Changed1]

I REALLY wish people would not call out 911..

Heavenly;671662 wrote: Then Colbe really shouldn't have posted it like that, I doubt if she was truly ''suicidal'' as she still managed to get a job or got through a tough interview the next day ?

I am not having a 'go' at her but I understand Savon's thoughts more ....

Be that as it may...

I understand the reason for posting this thread in a general sense. A lot of people were upset and reasonably so. It's unfortunate that things went down this way.

I do hope that Colbe will come back and post once again. I've been the subject of a thread like this in another forum that got very specific with respect to me, so I know what it feels like. I think Savon's intention was to send a message to the forum in general, which I think was a good idea in general and I remain convinced Savon's heart was in the right place.

Colbe, if you are out there reading, please let us know how you are doing.

[sosad61]

I REALLY wish people would not call out 911..

I really wish this thread would just go away. It seems to be the only one on the "Need Help ASAP" part of the forum that seems to get any attention and stays at the top of the thread.

There are a lot of folks out here that need help ASAP, and this constant criticizing of people for calling 911 in times of need is getting really old for me.

How about addressing some of the people that need help ASAP rather than criticizing people for calling 911?

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY on this forum knows how badly a person might be screaming out for help. 911 might be their only way out, so please stop criticizing those who are desperate.

[nancy]

I REALLY wish people would not call out 911..

Sorry to post one more and keep this thread at the top...

But i really think some people have over-reacted to the original post. I think Savon did a service alerting everyone including Colbe to how people might take the phrase "911 at the end of my rope" on this forum. I have a feeling some might be really desperate (but not suicidal) and use that, not knowing that if you do that on this forum, you actually could easily wind up with police at your house. We have had a number of suicidal people on this section before and so members do and should take it seriously. AT times in the past, people have seen messages like that and tracked down the member details through the website organizers. That's fine if it is a life and death situation and it may have been in this case. but if it's not, personally I would definitely not want police arriving. So Savon made us all aware of that.

I don't think there was anything personal against colbe in Savon's message. It's too bad that some members perceived it that way and blew it out of proportion. Hope you are donig well Colbe!

Nancy

[savon19]

I REALLY wish people would not call out 911..

Sorry - but one last note on this! The way I read Colbe's original post that she was not actually calling 911 (which would have been good if she was in emergency situation). I read it that she was calling out 911 to US.

(As in, "what's the 411?" Like 911 was just the shorthand for saying HELP.)

But I think I was wrong in that she was speaking Literally. However, I still say if you post something like that... a little explanation, if only a sentence... would be good.

[puddytat]

I REALLY wish people would not call out 911..

Exactly!! just a misunderstanding

I, too, Savon, mistook Colbe's post as a shout-out to the group for help! oops

Please keep reading, anyone who is reading now ...please? Because it may be healing to this community to get behind this misunderstanding ... here goes:

"Calling 911" has become a figurative expression that means:
"calling out at S.O.S." or, in our context, means "shouting out for help from the group!"
Whereas "calling 911" also means -- literally -- "dialing 911 on my phone to contact emergency services" --right?

Many words/phrases take on a figurative meaning that is different from the literal meaning.

Another example: the phrase "out to lunch" has become an expression that-- figuratively -- means:
"not paying attention", or "spaced out", or even "not in their right mind - as in mentally ill".
Whereas "out to lunch" means --literally -- "out getting a noon-meal".

Another example, (almost hate to bring this one up), but, uh, the phrase
"at the end of my rope" is another expression that can run the gamut of meaning ....
anywhere from "exasperated" to "completely suicidal".

My point, and I do have one:
It's easy to misinterpret language ... especially with text-only, and without any body language or vocal intonation, and/or without knowing background info.

Colbe did everything right! I mean, gosh, even in the throes of her pain and fear she still updated the community on her status -- letting all know she was seeking medical attention.

Once I understood that Colbe was literally dialing 911 to get medical attention -- and realized my misunderstanding (that I had inadvertently thought she was calling out to group for help ... oops )-- well then ... it was beautiful.

It was Beautiful to see how much caring and love and wisdom is on the MWO board.
Once one "gets" the dual interpretation/misinterpretation of where the individual poster was coming from ... i.e. a "literal" vs. "figurative" understanding of the language
... well, then you'll see every comment was without exception coming from a place of caring and integrity.

[42cat]

I REALLY wish people would not call out 911..

Yes, very nicely said Puddy.

[savon19]

I REALLY wish people would not call out 911..

Yes - thank you Puddytat. You said it Much better than I did... but that was basically what I was trying to say!

VERY easy to be misunderstood in writing...

(Does anyone know what happened with Colbye?)

[bloggy]

I REALLY wish people would not call out 911..

Thanks Puddy- I was annoyed that poor Colbe just let us know that she was dialling the emergency services and everyone seemed to jump on her for it- I did not realize people interpreted it as though she wanted help from the board- I interpreted it as though she did not want help from the board.

I now see where the confusion was.