 |
alt.suicide.holiday Introduction
In its prime, the alt.suicide.holiday Usenet newsgroup featured discussions about life, depression and suicide. However, a.s.h was special in that suicide was legitimate both as a desire and an action. Suicide was not encouraged but was also not denounced. Thus, the atmosphere permitted open expression.
A.s.h was not a support group in the normal sense, but paradoxically it gave many readers strength to carry on.
Sadly, the Usenet newsgroup alt.suicide.holiday is therefore no longer considered to be an "ash space" - that is, a forum where ashers can meet and feel free to discuss issues which are important to them.
Since the middle of 2002, the number of predators and abusive elements on alt.suicide.holiday have steadily increased on the unmoderated newsgroup, and as a consequence, it is not safe to openly express a pro-choice opinion there. This has had the effect of driving away many people who once found the alt.suicide.holiday newsgroup therapeutic and beneficial to their lives.
It is not uncommon now to find both denouncement of suicide, encouragement to suicide, and violations of personal choice and privacy -- all totally against traditional ash values -- being done by the same small group of abusive predators now operating on the Usenet group. These predators operate by stealth in pretending to be helpful to the suicidal person, however history showns their methodology is abusive and potentially dangerous to the suicidal person genuinely seeking help to overcome their ideation. These predators attempt to bully the depressed and suicdal person and invalidate his or her feelings, which is extremely dangerous.
ASBS is representative of the "old" alt.suicide.holiday, and we seek to preserve a.s.h. values.
What was ash? What was it about? What was it good for? Part 1 of the ASH FAQ, answers these questions and provides an introduction to the community. We also explain what ash is not.
Part 2 of the FAQ describes the way ashers talk and behave online, whereas Part 3 offers an explanation to those who question whether ash is genuine.
There are other texts which provide slightly different points of view, such as the synopsis on the main ash web site . That site also contains many other explanations, of the "ash mindset", taken directly from posts to Usenet.
