https://nypost.com/2019/12/31/georgia-tech-football-recruit-bryce-gowdy-fatally-struck-by-train/
no doubt that Operation Lifesaver will use this to there benifit. Does anyone know about the crossing and how often it is used by locals beach goers and speed of trains? Last stat was that over 266 people took there life on freight and passenger tracks according to the FRA...I dont have a stat for Transit yet.
ruled a suicide?? The kid is living the dream of every young man that plays ball..and so soon was there a camera on front of engine?
https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/30/us/high-school-student-killed-by-train-trnd/index.html
divebardaveruled a suicide?? The kid is living the dream of every young man that plays ball..and so soon was there a camera on front of engine? https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/30/us/high-school-student-killed-by-train-trnd/index.html
Until you are in their body and in their head you have no idea of how they view their life. Your version of a dream life, may be their version of the 7th level of Hell.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACDUntil you are in their body and in their head you have no idea of how they view their life. Your version of a dream life, may be their version of the 7th level of Hell.
This is a sad story. You are completely correct, Balt. No one knows what some people think and experience, and their outward lives may not show what is really going on.
York1 John
Very sad.
Until you've walked in a man's shoes ...
Neither railroad is within a mile of the beach. FEC was closer than SCL out by US-441. (U of Cincinnati had me there as a co-op ages ago(Electoliner understands this with UC) .... At that time, ages ago, FEC's R/W was incredibly clean, partially because of the morons trying to bomb the railroad out of existance because it defied the unions)....Newsworkers failed in the detail department here in the who and where department.
Other news sources call it FEC near 10th & Dixie Hwy. The kid had mental health issues and there already were a rash of train vs. pedestrians/ cyclists in the area this year.
I can attest that there were times in my life, only once when visiting Israel, but several times in the USA, when I seriously considered suicide. But I did not give any outward indication to anyone, and the problems that led to such consideration, and certainly their extent, were almost entirely unknown to people who knew me at the time, especially close family members.
On each occasion, a thought came as to possible routs to solve the problems and a good reason to continue to live.
I cannot say that similar serious problems have not come to me in Israel. But the support system of frieinds is far closer, faith stronger, and my previous experiences in handling serious problems give more hope and more answers.
I wish I had known and could have helped this youngster.
Strong feelings of helplessness and hopelessness are predictors of suicide along with ideation, means, availability and plan. People who attempt and later are counseled often lack (at the the time at least) good life problem solving skills. The latter should be an important element in their therapy.
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divebardave ruled a suicide?? The kid is living the dream of every young man that plays ball..and so soon was there a camera on front of engine?
"...Until you are in their body and in their head you have no idea of how they view their life. Your version of a dream life, may be their version of the 7th level of Hell..."
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Also, being a football player - who knows how many concussions he's sustained over the years and what damage those have done to him.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
zugmann Also, being a football player - who knows how many concussions he's sustained over the years and what damage those have done to him.
This is an area that only recently has gotten the attention it needs to get. This could well mean that this young man had, indeed, suffered some concussions in the past - including some that weren't recognized (or were simply ignored) by the coaches and others.
As noted, not everyone has the ability to recognize and deal with such situations - and sometimes they're too proud to admit to a problem. It's an issue the fire service (which has it's share of PTSD and suicides) is grappling with.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
tree68 zugmann Also, being a football player - who knows how many concussions he's sustained over the years and what damage those have done to him. This is an area that only recently has gotten the attention it needs to get. This could well mean that this young man had, indeed, suffered some concussions in the past - including some that weren't recognized (or were simply ignored) by the coaches and others. As noted, not everyone has the ability to recognize and deal with such situations - and sometimes they're too proud to admit to a problem. It's an issue the fire service (which has it's share of PTSD and suicides) is grappling with.
I don't know the level of drug testing for PED's that happens in High School these days - PED's have also been known to be related to 'clouded' thought processes in their users.
30+ years ago - I used to use a local High School's track for my personal exercise area. I would see the football players hitting the weight room every day that school was open, and even when school was closed the coach made arrangements so that the players could access the weight room. This particular school did not field 'elite teams' in the state. Better performance through chemistry is a most effective lure for kids with big dreams, who just know they will live forever despite anything they put in the bodies.
A lot of wild speculation beyond what is actually known.
samfp1943 BaltACD divebardave ruled a suicide?? The kid is living the dream of every young man that plays ball..and so soon was there a camera on front of engine? "...Until you are in their body and in their head you have no idea of how they view their life. Your version of a dream life, may be their version of the 7th level of Hell..." Balt: You are probably closer to THE TRUTH, than you have ever imagined! Possibly, the most amazing part is that a couple of drunks, in a bar, could remember the story in that paper that was left on the bar.....
BaltACD divebardave ruled a suicide?? The kid is living the dream of every young man that plays ball..and so soon was there a camera on front of engine? "...Until you are in their body and in their head you have no idea of how they view their life. Your version of a dream life, may be their version of the 7th level of Hell..."
Balt:
You are probably closer to THE TRUTH, than you have ever imagined!
Possibly, the most amazing part is that a couple of drunks, in a bar, could remember the story in that paper that was left on the bar.....
Im confused, Sam. What are you referring to in the second paragraph?
divebardaveruled a suicide??
Not sure why the papers find it so important to report that detail...even if it is true. It accomplishes nothing of a news worthy nature and only piles shame on the perp and their survivors.
One would think that after the first hundred or so in a reporter's career, the novelty would finally wear off.
It's sad that this kid gave up so much, so early in his life, for whatever reason. But by putting this stain on his legacy, the media only makes things worse.
Convicted One divebardave ruled a suicide?? Not sure why the papers find it so important to report that detail...even if it is true. It accomplishes nothing of a news worthy nature and only piles shame on the perp and their survivors. One would think that after the first hundred or so in a reporter's career, the novelty would finally wear off. It's sad that this kid gave up so much, so early in his life, for whatever reason. But by putting this stain on his legacy, the media only makes things worse.
divebardave ruled a suicide??
Considering the geographic location of the incident, I view that comment was placed with racist intent, without using the N word. The subtle form of racism in that more than likely that assessment would not have been published had the deceased been white.
Supposedly the official "filter" that my local paper uses, if the departed acted in their own home, then the cause is not reported. But if they act in a public place, then all the news that's fit to print rules the moment.
Oddly, the debate currently making the local rounds centers on where those low-rent residential motels fall on that spectrum.
it's really sad that people have to suffer so, and all the worse that the media piles it even deeper.
Convicted and Balt, I agree with both of you; and this subject to me brings up a broader point:
Do we need to know if it was foul play? Do we need to know if it was an accident?
There are people who do need to know these things: cops, safety officials, etc.
But is every death that is not from illness or old age really something that needs to be reported to the general public?
I don't know what I think, frankly. Just food for thought. But sometimes I do feel that a lot of this is unnecessary. I mean, if there is a dangerous grade crossing, probably it's good for the public to know someone died there again, to reinforce the idea that motorists must use more care.
But say there's been gang-related shooting with no clear good guys or bad guys? How does it benefit the public to even know? Sometimes death stories just seem like easy stories. I'd rather read a story about an inner-city priest who is finding ways to keep kids out of gangs.
Lithonia Operator Convicted and Balt, I agree with both of you; and this subject to me brings up a broader point: Do we need to know if it was foul play? Do we need to know if it was an accident? There are people who do need to know these things: cops, safety officials, etc. But is every death that is not from illness or old age really something that needs to be reported to the general public? I don't know what I think, frankly. Just food for thought. But sometimes I do feel that a lot of this is unnecessary. I mean, if there is a dangerous grade crossing, probably it's good for the public to know someone died there again, to reinforce the idea that motorists must use more care. But say there's been gang-related shooting with no clear good guys or bad guys? How does it benefit the public to even know? Sometimes death stories just seem like easy stories. I'd rather read a story about an inner-city priest who is finding ways to keep kids out of gangs.
I agree with all three of you, Convicted, Balt and Lithonia. That's what I actually meant before.
Why shame his family? Maybe the reporting shows a racist bias. And some of the comments on here have been uninformed, pure speculation. Death from a train accident is tragic, period.
charlie hebdo Lithonia Operator Convicted and Balt, I agree with both of you; and this subject to me brings up a broader point: Do we need to know if it was foul play? Do we need to know if it was an accident? There are people who do need to know these things: cops, safety officials, etc. But is every death that is not from illness or old age really something that needs to be reported to the general public? I don't know what I think, frankly. Just food for thought. But sometimes I do feel that a lot of this is unnecessary. I mean, if there is a dangerous grade crossing, probably it's good for the public to know someone died there again, to reinforce the idea that motorists must use more care. But say there's been gang-related shooting with no clear good guys or bad guys? How does it benefit the public to even know? Sometimes death stories just seem like easy stories. I'd rather read a story about an inner-city priest who is finding ways to keep kids out of gangs. I agree with all three of you, Cknvjcted, Balt and Lithonia. That's what I actually meant before. Why shame his family? Maybe the reporting shows a racist bias. And some of the comments on here have been uninformed, pure speculation. Death from a train accident is tragic, period.
I agree with all three of you, Cknvjcted, Balt and Lithonia. That's what I actually meant before.
I find myself in the unusual situation of defending "The Media."
A young athletic man is sadly dead. That's not normal. People are going to know he's dead. So what do you want, a bunch of rumors?
The public health officials need to look in to such deaths. Physically healthy young people normally don't just die. When they do, the cause needs to be determined. The public will know he's gone, and they should be informed as to why.
I don't see this as "Shaming" anyone. Or, in anyway being "Racist." Just an honest reporting of facts.
God rest and bless his Soul.
Public health and law enforcement officials will know about it without splashing it on the front page.
Lithonia OperatorBut say there's been gang-related shooting with no clear good guys or bad guys? How does it benefit the public to even know?
FWIW, 20 years ago while I lived in Los Angeles, the official policy of the Times was to publish nothing pertaining to gang on gang violence, because it was felt that publishing those stories gave the perps a "trophy" of sorts to flaunt, attesting to their prowess.
There were exceptions when innocents were collateral damage, but not often.
greyhoundsThe public will know he's gone, and they should be informed as to why.
How about using a little more charitable wording? Such as "the coronor ruled out foul play as a cause".....something along those lines.
Some time back there was an incident for which the media coverage never mentioned suicide, but for which were mentioned a number of factors that would lead one to the conclusion that such was the case. The reader just had to connect the dots.
"All the news that's fit to print"--and not all details, especially those of pure speculation, are not fit to print,
Johnny
I'd concede that knowing that a young man with such a promising future killed himself might make family and friends be more proactive in trying to make sure their own loved ones are doing okay.
Lithonia Operator I'd concede that knowing that a young man with such a promising future killed himself might make family and friends be more proactive in trying to make sure their own loved ones are doing okay.
Unfortunately, there can be two sides to that coin - it can, indeed, be a teaching moment, or it can be the "approval" someone considering suicide needs to do so themselves, ie, a copycat.
Freshman suicides are not unknown, although thankfully they're far from epidemic. It's the high-profile cases like this promising young athlete that get the most attention.
There was one such case at the University of Pennsylvania in 2014 involving a female star athlete from New Jersey named Madison Holleran. Very sad, but it did lead to the passage of some useful legislation. Here's the story, and click on the highlighted areas for more information.
https://www.phillymag.com/news/2016/08/01/madison-holleran-suicide-prevention-act/
Maddie's parents also started a foundation to address this issue as well.
https://www.madisonholleranfoundation.org
And by the way, Maddies suicide was just one of several at the U of P that year, but it was the high-profile one.
Needless to say this has nothing to do with railroading, but maybe I can do some good by putting the information out there for all to see.
A personal note here. The son of one of Lady Firestorm's sisters attended Northern Highlands High School with Maddie. He didn't date her, but knew her well as a fellow athlete. He was just as shocked as anyone by her suicide.
tree68 Lithonia Operator I'd concede that knowing that a young man with such a promising future killed himself might make family and friends be more proactive in trying to make sure their own loved ones are doing okay. Unfortunately, there can be two sides to that coin - it can, indeed, be a teaching moment, or it can be the "approval" someone considering suicide needs to do so themselves, ie, a copycat.
Yep, that's the other side of that coin. Hopefully, though, the general growing consciousness of the society on this subject leads more people to ask more questions of their loved ones.
I'm not sure how this thread drifted so far but... This subject hits pretty close to home for me. Two years ago one of my employees took his life. He was my friend who had I worked beside for 29 years. It came right out of left field and left everybody he knew in shock. Our company offered grief counceling, but I was the only one out of 40 to take them up on it. Men, in general have a hard time dealing with emotions, more-so in talking to others about emotions. Being who I am, I shared all I learned with the rest of my crew of 17 guys. When someone commits suicide, the first thing out of everyone's mouth seems to be "how could anybody in their right mind do such a thing?" That's also the answer. In order to commit suicide, one is not in their right mind. For whatever reason, they have convinced themselves that this is their only option. All they want is for the pain to end. They never consider the effect it will have on those they leave behind. A week or so back there was an obituary in our paper for a young man who committed suicide. It said so right in the obit. His parents took the time to actually write about the problem of suicide and how to help people. I wish I could find that obit and send those people an award. I'd bet that 90% of the time, you can tell by reading an obit if it was suicide. For some reason, society gossips just need to know those sort of things. It's none of our business. That is information to be left for those grieving the loss of someone. It makes us no better off to know the details. Hug your kids, and tell them you love them.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
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