Tuesday, August 05, 2003



Suicide by Google

NZFirst's Peter Brown - author of the late lamented Death With Dignity Bill - is objecting to the idea of Exit New Zealand publishing a "suicide handbook":

This handbook, in the wrong hands, could be responsible for all sorts of trouble. A graphic illustration of how to commit suicide is not the road to take. I am totally opposed to this book becoming available in New Zealand.

Sorry, Peter, but this is a straight freedom of speech issue, and the possibility of a suicide guide being used by teenagers or depressed people is not a sufficient reason to deny it to anyone. On the other hand, I don't see any reason to buy such a book, when Googling for the phrase alt.suicide.holiday FAQ will give you all the advice you'll ever need.

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