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Geektastic

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#272760 14-Jul-2020 18:15
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Is “died suddenly” in a newspaper report supposed to be a euphemism for suicide that can’t be mentioned or is it supposed to suggest an unexpected heart attack or similar?

I’m confused.





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RunningMan
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  #2522905 14-Jul-2020 18:23
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I would think suddenly, as in unexpected. If there was a preceding terminal illness then it wouldn't be considered sudden, but a heart attack without warning would be.




richms
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  #2522906 14-Jul-2020 18:27
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Look for the copy paste list of helplines at the end if its suicide they cant report on.





Richard rich.ms

robjg63
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  #2522907 14-Jul-2020 18:28
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Could be either couldn't it?





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clinty
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  #2522909 14-Jul-2020 18:32
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Geektastic: Is “died suddenly” in a newspaper report supposed to be a euphemism for suicide that can’t be mentioned or is it supposed to suggest an unexpected heart attack or similar?

I’m confused.

 

 

 

This has been used in a few reports from the US in the past few days - it seems it has been used by the families in their statements - so not specifically a Kiwi euphemism

 

It can be used for suicide, but possibly also for instances were the autopsy hasn't been completed and no obvious cause of death is immediately apparent 

 

 

 

Clint


Geektastic

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  #2522916 14-Jul-2020 18:52
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clinty:

 

Geektastic: Is “died suddenly” in a newspaper report supposed to be a euphemism for suicide that can’t be mentioned or is it supposed to suggest an unexpected heart attack or similar?

I’m confused.

 

 

 

This has been used in a few reports from the US in the past few days - it seems it has been used by the families in their statements - so not specifically a Kiwi euphemism

 

It can be used for suicide, but possibly also for instances were the autopsy hasn't been completed and no obvious cause of death is immediately apparent 

 

 

 

Clint

 

 

 

 

I am never sure because of the whole "don't mention it" thing about suicide. In the UK, they just say suicide if that is what they mean which at least has the benefit of being clear! Thus I can find it opaque here sometimes.

 

 

 

If they are going to make it obvious by printing all the helplines underneath, I wonder why they do not just use the correct term - surely it fools nobody?!






gbwelly
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  #2522956 14-Jul-2020 19:03
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Geektastic:

I am never sure because of the whole "don't mention it" thing about suicide. In the UK, they just say suicide if that is what they mean which at least has the benefit of being clear!



And the 'non benefit' of increasing the likelihood of suicide in other vulnerable people. Which I suspect you already knew when asking this question.







gzt

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  #2523076 14-Jul-2020 19:25
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Geektastic: Is “died suddenly” in a newspaper report supposed to be a euphemism for suicide that can’t be mentioned or is it supposed to suggest an unexpected heart attack or similar?

Link the article please.

 
 
 

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  #2523077 14-Jul-2020 19:27
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richms: Look for the copy paste list of helplines at the end if its suicide they cant report on.

Is this one really the case? I'd like to see an example for this specifically. I'm pretty sure I haven't seen this combination.

Rikkitic
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  #2523088 14-Jul-2020 19:48
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As a professional writer and translator (now retired) I am generally pretty good at reading between the lines. When I first came here I was also struck by the circumlocutory manner by which self-inflicted deaths were described. I believe this used to be due to academic advice intended to prevent copycats. I think it has also been enshrined in law, which is why media have been so careful when discussing it. Eventually it was realised that pretending it didn't exist was not helping prevent it and discussion has become more open, though still fairly reserved. Over time I worked out that when a death is mentioned in very abbreviated or coy language, it almost always means suicide. When the helplines are mentioned, that is a certainty.

 

 





Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

 


 


frankv
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  #2523118 14-Jul-2020 21:40
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Rikkitic: I was also struck by the circumlocutory manner by which self-inflicted deaths were described.


I think NZ got stuck in a Victorian-Edwardian time warp. Whilst the rest of the world moved on, Kiwis continued to pretend that social problems (e.g. suicide, teen pregnancy, STDs, family violence, alcohol abuse) didn't exist, and certainly didn't talk about them.

It's changing, but some aspects linger.

Geektastic

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  #2523123 14-Jul-2020 21:44
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gbwelly:
Geektastic:

 

I am never sure because of the whole "don't mention it" thing about suicide. In the UK, they just say suicide if that is what they mean which at least has the benefit of being clear!

 



And the 'non benefit' of increasing the likelihood of suicide in other vulnerable people. Which I suspect you already knew when asking this question.

 

 

 

So if I call it "sudden death" then print a list of suicide prevention helplines etc underneath, you believe that won't give the game away?






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  #2523127 14-Jul-2020 21:53
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Geektastic: 

I’m confused.

 

Wait till they use "person fatally injured released from hospital" or "Fatally injured person died today"

 

 





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gzt

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  #2523223 15-Jul-2020 06:53
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Geektastic: So if I call it "sudden death" then print a list of suicide prevention helplines etc underneath, you believe that won't give the game away?

You have not provided one example of this to show it occurs.

floydbloke
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  #2523227 15-Jul-2020 07:22
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gzt:
richms: Look for the copy paste list of helplines at the end if its suicide they cant report on.

Is this one really the case? I'd like to see an example for this specifically. I'm pretty sure I haven't seen this combination.

 

Like this one?

 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/celebrities/300055431/lisa-marie-presleys-son-elvis-presleys-grandson-benjamin-keough-dies-age-27

 





Did Eric Clapton really think she looked wonderful...or was it after the 15th outfit she tried on and he just wanted to get to the party and get a drink?


clevedon
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  #2523229 15-Jul-2020 07:24
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gzt:
richms: Look for the copy paste list of helplines at the end if its suicide they cant report on.

Is this one really the case? I'd like to see an example for this specifically. I'm pretty sure I haven't seen this combination.

 

 

 

I see it all the time, here for example -

 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/121497895/family-of-auckland-butcher-who-died-suddenly-say-covid19-restrictions-added-to-burden


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