In this week's show and campfire discussion, we talk about 90dayjane.com. The 90 Day Jane blog was only a few days old before it was taken down by its owner. See, the blog documented the final ninety days of Jane's life before she commits suicide. She didn't know how she was going to do it, only that she was going to do it, and she was taking us along for the ride.
And what a ride it was. A few days into the documentation, and after much speculation mixed with genuine concern and confusion from her readers, Jane admitted that the whole thing was an art project and quickly took the blog and accompanying videos down.
We've posted the screen shots that we were able to grab from her blog here on our blog. We wanted to start a conversation about it. What are the implications of creating a project like this on the web? Are we creating a generation of cynics and non-believers who will think twice before helping a person who says they are in need of help? Or do these kinds of events fine-tune our bullshit meters? We're having a discussion over on MIX.
What do you think? Let us know on the MIX campfire discussion.
Mark Schoneveld said:
My bullshit meter was off the charts on this one, for sure. I liked the idea, though! Very interesting how taboo the subject of death is online anyway. So thanks to her for getting us all talking.
Nikkibee said:
Wow I can't believe someone would do this. I think it's good that she did though. We did needed a wake up call to see how the internet has changed the way we instantly help others in need. Now we're hesitant and have to wonder if something is real or not before we do anything about it. I'm not usually a fan of joking about death. It is a serious matter of course, but if she said it was an art project I don't see what's wrong with it... its quite brilliant actually. I feel like as long as the world population keeps growing there will always be attention whores and heyy lets just give them what they want (I'm not saying the creator of the blog is one though haha).
Sasaukeluver said:
wow. U can see the world changing instantly. and yet how old is she? she looks to me about 18 or 16. young. Tho the world is changing quickly who would not hezitate to do that.
Samantha said:
Even though this was an art project, I can see a lot wrong with it. I know if I had seen 90 day Jane before without knowing it was fake it would have crushed me completely. My father committed suicide and I know how it feels. Anyone who knew the suicide victim will usually never be the same. I just think it would cause a lot of emotional stress that for some may be a lot worse than just concern, and those who saw all this did not ask for more stress in their lives. Usually you know what you are getting into with most things like this. At least explain it's an art project. That would have made everything a lot better even though I know there would still be others who missed where it said it was fake and would be upset. Can't please everyone.
sedika said:
Wow...I cant believe that someones actually taken to advertise their suicide. How old is this girl? You are paving the way for people in the future who are going to do the same thing. For Example. How do you think all these school shootings came to be? Two little boys in Colorado shot up their school and now we haven't heard the last of it. Whatever is upsetting that your upset about in your life there are worse things in the world. If you think that the biggest obstacle in life is Halo 3...grow up...There are so many people all over the world that are suffering and your whining about not have a date. A DATE!!! Imagine people suffering in Africa STARVING TO DEATH. People in Palestine living in a cage. Being prosecuted every...single...day...This is so upsetting to me. In my opinion this girl dose not deserve the coverage shes getting. This is really frustrating to hear cause I can just see some other kid out there doing the same...EXACT...thing. I think this is truly a cry for help. I think you need someone to hug you and say, Jane...I LOVE YOU. I REALLY REALLY LOVE YOU FOR YOU.
I wish that you wouldn't do this. You should call that person that asked you out. Girl...you need to start somewhere. I wish that I can hear in a couple days that you didn't actually commit suicide.
I wish you would cherish your life.
darkproggy said:
I've been on the net since 1992 and have seen this a million times. People have been coming on the internet and threatening suicide as long as I can remember. Whether you want to call it art or a ploy for attention, it doesn't matter. Just ignore them. There's nothing you can do anyway. Focus on the people you know in real life and dismiss anyone who would start a suicide blog or anything like it.
jason_md2020 said:
I think if this project was done in another format, (book, film, music) the topic wouldn't be so disturbing. But when placed as a blog, which for all practical purposes is an on-line public diary, the line blurs a bit. We've defined other forms of media by content. (Comics are fiction, Newspapers are fact, TV is boring...) The web however has no real content definition & people are still working out exactly what it is. Unless you come out & say point blank at the beginning THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION, people may not get the point, or buy into it too much.
As for the topic of suicide, any attention paid to the act, motives, or prevention of, is a good thing. No problem was ever solved by NOT talking about it.
(I outta know. I had vomiting induced at 18 to remove a bottle's worth of pills, when I got dumped by my girl & rejected by my college of choice on the same day...seems pretty stupid now considering.)
LVS said:
Death is always going to be a taboo topic. Especially Suicide. A blog is such a public way to detail a death pact. It almost goes against everything I've experienced with people who go through with suicide. They tend cut themselves off from society - not parade it around like a badge of honor.
If anything this blog is confusing. Has there been any further explanation as to why they did this? I guess if they wanted shock value for their Art Project they have got it.
Yani said:
I don't believe this was ever a good "art" project. thin line my arse, what were the guidelines for her project because ppl should not play with death. It's not something to play board games with. It's a soul that is taken away out of shear ignorance and cowardliness. As someone whose mother took their own life, three days after speaking to her over the fone, I strongly agree with the site being taken down but it was up for far too long as I can see she almost made it to 90 days. People wake up to reality not virtual reality!
Taiwan Brown said:
I am almost 110% percent sure that that first screen shot is an email from MTV, I also had them contact me with an alike message and same long signature!
-tai
Roger said:
suicide is an important, relevant issue in our lives and the lives of others, and i'm happy this project brought this to peoples' attention. and the outpouring of sympathy, whether genuine or not (cuz it was over the internet and removed) was very uplifting. calculating suicide is very disturbing, and for me, that was the most important part of this project. i also don't know if 90 day john would have gotten as much press.
