Suicide Over 'Big Bang Machine' Fears

Kanastrous · Post by **Kanastrous** » 2008-09-10 01:03pm

BHOPAL, India - A teenage girl in central India killed herself on Wednesday after being traumatized by media reports that a "Big Bang" experiment in Europe could bring about the end of the world, her father said.

The 16-year old girl from the state of Madhya Pradesh drank pesticide and was rushed to the hospital but later died, police said.

Her father, identified on local television as Biharilal, said that his daughter, Chayya, killed herself after watching doomsday predictions made on Indian news programs.

"In the past two days, Chayya had asked me and other relatives about the world coming to an end on September 10," Biharilal was quoted as saying.

"We tried to divert her attention and told her she should not worry about such things, but to no avail," he said.

For the past two days, many Indian news channels held discussions airing doomsday predictions over a huge particle-smashing machine buried under the Swiss-French border.

The machine, called the Large Hadron Collider, was switched on on Wednesday, at the start of what experts say is the largest scientific experiment in human history.

The machine smashes particles together to achieve, on a small-scale, re-enactments of the "Big Bang" that created the universe.

Leading scientists and researchers at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, said the experiment was safe. They dismissed as "pure fiction" doomsday predictions that the experiment could create anti-matter, or black holes.

But in deeply religious and superstitious India, fears about the experiment and the minor risks associated with it spread rapidly through the media.

In east India, thousands of people rushed to temples to pray and fast while others savored their favorite foods in anticipation of the world's end.

"There were a thousand more devotees yesterday as well as today compared to (any) other normal day," Benudhara Sahu, a temple official in Orissa state, told Reuters.

Many women and children rushed to temples and observed fasts as they prayed for deliverance, officials and witnesses said.

Assurances by scientists and the media that nothing would happen counted for nothing for housewife Rukmini Moharana.

"I visited temple, prayed to god," Moharana said. "I am observing the fast for safety because god can only save us."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26641652/

Jaevric · Post by **Jaevric** » 2008-09-10 01:16pm

I should feel sympathy, especially for the girl's family, but honestly all I can think is "Committing suicide because you believe the world is going to end? How pointless is that?"

Honestly, even if you really believe the world is going to end, you may as well at least stick around for the fireworks. And drinking pesticide? That's probably a fairly unpleasant way to go, compared to the planet going Alderaan with you on it or whatever they thought was going to happen.

Kanastrous · Post by **Kanastrous** » 2008-09-10 01:24pm

The Bhopal-pesticide link was kind of odd.

Post by **Coyote** » 2008-09-10 01:45pm

I think the media should be held accountable for how they've over-inflated the BS and hype about the CERN experiment. It is misleading misinformation done to stir panic and sell papers, and nothing else.

Up to this point, I figured they bullshit-shoveling yellow journalism would do nothing worse than inflame stupidity and possibly spark some anti-science backlash, but now I wish they could be collectively charged with something related to this poor girl's death.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2008-09-10 01:49pm

Coyote wrote:I think the media should be held accountable for how they've over-inflated the BS and hype about the CERN experiment. It is misleading misinformation done to stir panic and sell papers, and nothing else.

Up to this point, I figured they bullshit-shoveling yellow journalism would do nothing worse than inflame stupidity and possibly spark some anti-science backlash, but now I wish they could be collectively charged with something related to this poor girl's death.

If you want to be sad, read the comments sections on a typical news website about the LHC doomsday fears. The religionists tend to come out in force, saying that scientists shouldn't meddle in things they don't understand, etc.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2008-09-10 02:05pm

If we didn't meddle with things we don't understand, we'd still be living in caves and clubbing each other over the head with sticks. Actually I don't know if we'd even make it that far.

Megabot · Post by **Megabot** » 2008-09-10 02:27pm

Maybe seeing this oh-so artistic image was what pushed her over the edge (At least the artist said he was only kidding, but the thought that there are people who actually think that is what will happen depresses me):

Large picture, again read the rules on pictures of this size.

Jaevric · Post by **Jaevric** » 2008-09-10 02:36pm

You know, that's pretty good. Might save that for a desktop wallpaper...

apocolypse · Post by **apocolypse** » 2008-09-10 03:07pm

Jaevric wrote:You know, that's pretty good. Might save that for a desktop wallpaper...

LOL...I was thinking the same thing when I saw it.

Jaevric · Post by **Jaevric** » 2008-09-10 03:41pm

The most irritating part is, very few of those people who went and prayed yesterday or indulged because it would be "the end of the world" today is left feeling really really stupid. Or, if they're feeling a little silly now, they probably won't remember by next week that they were freaking out over nothing.

And to add insult to injury, some of them are honestly going to believe that the fact the world didn't come to an end when someone pushed the On switch is because of all the people praying that it wouldn't.

Big Orange · Post by **Big Orange** » 2008-09-10 03:54pm

Isn't the 'ZOMG, TEH CERN PROGECT WIL KEEL TEH EARTH WIF AH BLAKHOLE!!!' theory dreamt up by the same kind of wackos who think the trips to the moon were filmed on a studio set and the Theory of Relativity is part of the eviiiil Jewish Zionist conspiracy? I'm looking forward to results all the same.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2008-09-10 03:56pm

While this story is possibly true, call me skeptical. I’m betting its actually just bullshit to cover up an honor killing or suicide for some other more immediate reason the family thinks might bring them shame.

Kanastrous · Post by **Kanastrous** » 2008-09-10 04:28pm

Considering the size of the human population, I don't have any trouble believing that at least one of us was freaky-dumb enough, to off herself over experiment-related panic-mongering.

Come to think of it, the surprise would be if it was only one of us...

Loner · Post by **Loner** » 2008-09-10 07:57pm

These people are jumping on this too soon. End of the world is next month, when they smash the beams at each other!

Aratech · Post by **Aratech** » 2008-09-10 08:46pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:While this story is possibly true, call me skeptical. I’m betting its actually just bullshit to cover up an honor killing or suicide for some other more immediate reason the family thinks might bring them shame.

What was this girl's background? I know that there's a small Muslim sect in India, but what's the rest of the country's historical relationship with "honor" killings?

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2008-09-10 08:52pm

apocolypse wrote:
Jaevric wrote:You know, that's pretty good. Might save that for a desktop wallpaper...
LOL...I was thinking the same thing when I saw it.

Really? My first thought was 'wow, they don't even know how perspective works, let alone geology'. I'm still not sure if it's supposed to be a big fireball or a hole - this guy can't use lighting for shit. I love how the ocean just sits next to it and everything is green outside it too.

Post by **Steve** » 2008-09-10 08:57pm

Aratech wrote:
Sea Skimmer wrote:While this story is possibly true, call me skeptical. I’m betting its actually just bullshit to cover up an honor killing or suicide for some other more immediate reason the family thinks might bring them shame.
What was this girl's background? I know that there's a small Muslim sect in India, but what's the rest of the country's historical relationship with "honor" killings?

IIRC Hindus are also quite capable of such things. This was a culture that used to burn widows alive until Gen. Napier threatened to build his gallows beside their funeral pyres....

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2008-09-10 09:13pm

SMALL muslim sect in India? India has the second largest Muslim population of any country in the world, with 13.4% of the population being Muslims.

apocolypse · Post by **apocolypse** » 2008-09-10 09:35pm

Stark wrote:
apocolypse wrote:
Jaevric wrote:You know, that's pretty good. Might save that for a desktop wallpaper...
LOL...I was thinking the same thing when I saw it.
Really? My first thought was 'wow, they don't even know how perspective works, let alone geology'. I'm still not sure if it's supposed to be a big fireball or a hole - this guy can't use lighting for shit. I love how the ocean just sits next to it and everything is green outside it too.

That's because the LHC's smashing of the protons produces a NDF effect, thus allowing a thrashing of Europe while leaving the rest of the area intact.

You aren't buying it, huh?

Akhlut · Post by **Akhlut** » 2008-09-10 09:57pm

Aratech wrote:
Sea Skimmer wrote:While this story is possibly true, call me skeptical. I’m betting its actually just bullshit to cover up an honor killing or suicide for some other more immediate reason the family thinks might bring them shame.
What was this girl's background? I know that there's a small Muslim sect in India, but what's the rest of the country's historical relationship with "honor" killings?

Nitpick: India's Muslim population is only small in relation to its Hindu population. Otherwise, in terms of Muslim population, India is the third largest country on earth.

Anyway, given the fact that India is pretty thoroughly penetrated by a lot of Western technology in any largish city and that a lot of people are still extremely religious as well as scientifically ignorant, I would not be surprised at all if this girl really was afraid of earth being destroyed by the LHC and offing herself for fear of what may occur.

Phantasee · Post by **Phantasee** » 2008-09-10 10:45pm

She was young, too. We all know younger people aren't very rational to begin with, and what with all the crazy talk in the media, showing "both sides of the story" and letting the crackpots spread their brain disease, I'm not surprised a young kid got scared, confused, and suicidal. Of course, it's the Indian media's fault, not mass media in general, right guys?

Aratech · Post by **Aratech** » 2008-09-10 11:31pm

Akhlut wrote:
Aratech wrote:
Sea Skimmer wrote:While this story is possibly true, call me skeptical. I’m betting its actually just bullshit to cover up an honor killing or suicide for some other more immediate reason the family thinks might bring them shame.
What was this girl's background? I know that there's a small Muslim sect in India, but what's the rest of the country's historical relationship with "honor" killings?
Nitpick: India's Muslim population is only small in relation to its Hindu population. Otherwise, in terms of Muslim population, India is the third largest country on earth.

I stand corrected then, I was unaware that it was that significant in relation to the population. My thanks to both you and The Duchess for that bit of enlightenment.

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2008-09-10 11:36pm

That petition I created a few months back had my full e-mail available on it. You would not believe the number of wackaloon messages I have gotten abut the LHC. For example

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indi ... 467519.cms
I ask you guys as a friend to not go through with the upcoming test in, I think you guys said in October or November. I am frightened the world could get blown up, JUST like the person who is shown on the web link I have placed above my worry-message.
I ask as a good friend to you, and a citizen of the USA, please cancel the scheduled plan of the upcoming test. I beg of you all, as a friend. Please ?
A new friend,
Kyle
P.S.
God bless

Phantasee · Post by **Phantasee** » 2008-09-10 11:52pm

Ender wrote:That petition I created a few months back had my full e-mail available on it. You would not believe the number of wackaloon messages I have gotten abut the LHC. For example

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indi ... 467519.cms
I ask you guys as a friend to not go through with the upcoming test in, I think you guys said in October or November. I am frightened the world could get blown up, JUST like the person who is shown on the web link I have placed above my worry-message.
I ask as a good friend to you, and a citizen of the USA, please cancel the scheduled plan of the upcoming test. I beg of you all, as a friend. Please ?
A new friend,
Kyle
P.S.
God bless

Damn it Ender, the poor guy is scared! And he's a citizen of the USA! Fucking asshole, turn it off!

Seriously, what the fuck?

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2008-09-11 03:48am

Ender wrote:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indi ... 467519.cms
I ask you guys as a friend to not go through with the upcoming test in, I think you guys said in October or November. I am frightened the world could get blown up, JUST like the person who is shown on the web link I have placed above my worry-message.
I ask as a good friend to you, and a citizen of the USA, please cancel the scheduled plan of the upcoming test. I beg of you all, as a friend. Please ?
A new friend,
Kyle
P.S.
God bless

Dear Kyle,

No.

P.S.
See you on the other side of oblivion!

The folks at CERN