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ffuxlpff 9 hours ago

By always talking only about non specified "problems" and getting people not to expect any further information it is easier to hide when it's a suicide.

Svip 8 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I cannot speak for other countries; but in Denmark, they are always crystal clear when the train has hit someone (»personpåkørsel« in Danish); and even when they suspect they might have hit someone; so when I say "technical problems", I mean technical problems. Besides, I am not sure I see the point of hiding when they've hit someone?

mikkupikku 6 hours ago | parent [-]

There's a lot of evidence for suicide being socially contagious, particularly through communications to the general public which will inevitably find their way to people who in that moment are particularly vulnerable. Newspapers publishing suicides causes an untick in subsequent suicides. Newspapers publicizing murder-suicides even causes an increase in murder-suicides. Publicized information about suicides by train increase the rate of suicides by trains.

It is therefore a beat practice to generally avoid mention suicide, because mentioning suicide means prompting people to think about suicide and in some cases that means prompting people to consider suicide. This is known as the Werther effect, you can look that up if you'd like to know more.

Vespasian 9 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

At least the last few times I had those they were announced as "accident with injuries along the tracks" or "People on the track".

It's usually reported (briefly) in the local news.

martin-t 7 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Sometimes the train conductor will admit it or you can tell because the reason they give is different each time.

I find it stupid, it is what it is, just say it. This double speak serves no purpose.