Originally Posted by alan

Yeah, that sounds all great and stuff, but there is quite a difference between your story and the OP.
As far as anybody knows, the kids weren't trying to commit suicide, Mr Zack was.
In your story, 1 of the kids managed to get out of the water (without assistance from Mr Delaney) and survived. 2 of the kids died. Mr Delaney died. Had Mr Delaney done nothing, there would have been one less death that day.
Who knows, had somebody attempted to rescue Mr Zack (don't forget, Mr Zack was trying to kill himself), there may have been 2 deaths, not one.

Originally Posted by sunwestdog

Hada shoulda coulda. When you risk everything to do the right thing, you might win and you might lose. But at least you tried to do what was right, and showed your heart and your spirit are filled with goodness. Something many in this world surely lack.

There is a time for intellectual calculation, and there is a time for spirit. Human dignity requires both to be contained within balance. They watched for an hour. More than enough time to get a rescue boat into the water. That didn't happen. They watched him slowly die. Very uncool.

Originally Posted by rivrrat

No, it's not incumbent upon any of us to risk our lives to try and stop someone from doing what they want to do.

Originally Posted by sunwestdog

Hada shoulda coulda. When you risk everything to do the right thing, you might win and you might lose. But at least you tried to do what was right, and showed your heart and your spirit are filled with goodness. Something many in this world surely lack.

There is a time for intellectual calculation, and there is a time for spirit. Human dignity requires both to be contained within balance. They watched for an hour. More than enough time to get a rescue boat into the water. That didn't happen. They watched him slowly die. Very uncool.

Originally Posted by Idealogically Promiscuous

If some fool is going to wade out into shark infested waters that isn't warm enough to safely swim in without a suit, I don't think anyone can be blamed for not going in after him. It sucks but there was no reason for anyone else to die with him.

Originally Posted by alan

The article explained that the water was too shallow for the Coast Guard boat (I guess you failed to read that part).

If you feel like killing yourself in order to create 2 deaths instead of 1 death and that somehow makes you feel morally superior, go for it.

Originally Posted by sunwestdog

A Coast Guard boat. How about one of the thousands of small fishing boats or rafts that would be available along any populated beach.

Originally Posted by sunwestdog

Wanted to die THAT DAY. Did his girlfriend cheat on him, so he had a few drinks and decided to end the pain. Tomorrow may be different. Everyone deserves a chance to take a breath and think before flying toward the clouds.

If you've had time to think it through and counsel with others, and you still want to go, I'll buy you the bullet. But it is incumbent upon every one of us to give another the opportunity to consider first their decision before pulling the trigger.

Originally Posted by sunwestdog

Note the capitalized words, THAT DAY. He spent an hour contemplating his worth in this world. He was crying for help and was ignored. When a person truly wants to die, it's instant and irrevocable. This person's feelings of worthlessness were only enforced by those standing by watching him die. He was reaching out for help and didn't get it. Sad. Very sad.

Originally Posted by sunwestdog

Note the capitalized words, THAT DAY. He spent an hour contemplating his worth in this world. He was crying for help and was ignored. When a person truly wants to die, it's instant and irrevocable. This person's feelings of worthlessness were only enforced by those standing by watching him die. He was reaching out for help and didn't get it. Sad. Very sad.