I think this does well in highlighting a number of pretty big issues, firstly, the scumbags which infest the internet and egg others on to commit suicide - this has happened before with a forty something year old man hanging himself on webcam to a chatroom audience.

I think the anonymity of the internet is allowing people to show their real characters rather than the censored ones presented in real life.

Secondly, what I find most alarming is the moderator's apparant lack of concern in stopping what was being said before it got taken way too far.

This sort of thing irritates me on a number of levels.

I think you're right.

The saddest thing is that evidently no one n either of the forums thought enough of the young man as a human being to try to intervene before he took the pills!

As for the moderator, was it my forum, that would be one less I'd have working on my site. Wonder if that person could be arrested for negligence or abetting a suicide?

I'm sure the guilt the moderator(s) feel bad enough already, plus if somebody was prosecuted it could make forum owners liable for quite a few things, the last think we want is to insure forums in case were sued.

That's assuming any moderators were on the site at the time.

According to the report, they didn't do it as he'd threatened to kill herself.

They didn't do what? And himself or herself? Which is it?

Wait! We must be politically correct... Itself!

Sorry, my iPod is playing up. Apparantly the moderators knew it had been posted but did nothing.

Hmm, well I think I'd need proof that the moderators on site at the time had abilities to remove posts in whatever area it was being posted before lynching them for not removing the posts.

Jeez, Broward County in the news again. I live here and it seems people will do anything to get themselves in the news if they live here. Sorry. Not to get off topic, but Gods!

I may get shot down for this but- It's rare when I take anyone seriously when they say "I'm going to kill myself." My experience has been that it's a cry for attention and point them in the direction of the nearest therapist. Most suicides are done quietly. Meaning afterwards friends, family, etc usually remark "I never knew there was anything wrong." This person obviously meant it and someone should have called the police or some sort of authority when they saw him take the pills. Who knows, perhaps he would still be alive and getting the help he so desperately needed.