Please read if you have any information about Tony Morris(nabble.com)
nabble.com
Please read if you have any information about Tony Morris
http://www.nabble.com/-scala--URGENT%3A-Please-read-if-you-have-any-information-about-Tony-Morris-to22462911.html
37 comments
I know him, and I know others who are closer to him are looking into it (who all live nearby) - so I can assure you lots of people are chasing this up (I won't say any more). (of course any more information would be welcomed).
OK it seems it is related to a medical condition, Brad Clow from workingmouse has posted more on his blog: http://bradclow.blogspot.com/2009/03/tonys-letter-to-medical...
Wow. Been there with misdiagnosed orthopedic problems. Been there with a string of MRIs and X-rays which don't reveal anything useful when the body's not in a certain position. Been there with the !@#$%^& anti-psychotics. Been there with the muscle atrophy. Been there trying to do a full-time job.
Medicine and the medical care system are traumatizing, all right. And the realization that they're traumatizing is additional trauma.
Medicine and the medical care system are traumatizing, all right. And the realization that they're traumatizing is additional trauma.
Yes - it all traces back to chronic pain. If someone hasn't wanted to kill themselves (seriously) from strong chronic pain, then they haven't experienced it strong enough yet. If you come to the realisation that there is no end in sight, its a horrible, horrible thing.
Latest post doesn't look good:
http://www.nabble.com/Re%3A--scala--URGENT%3A-THEY-FOUND-HIM...
Sorry, I have no way to verify that post.
Sorry, I have no way to verify that post.
[deleted]
Fuck, that's awful. If anyone ever is contemplating suicide, or knows someone who is, refer them to:
http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/
Some thoughtprovoking things and resources on there: "Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain."
When you constantly look into the deeper meanings of life and analyze where everything is at, there's lots of things most people don't notice that are pretty crummy about life. It's sad to see that often the most thoughtful, intelligent, kind people have the weight pile up on their shoulders. when I get to know people, sometimes I ask questions most people find to be taboo. One thing I realized - a lot, if not most truly transcendent thinkers contemplate suicide at some point. And it's a damn fucking shame when it happens.
http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/
Some thoughtprovoking things and resources on there: "Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain."
When you constantly look into the deeper meanings of life and analyze where everything is at, there's lots of things most people don't notice that are pretty crummy about life. It's sad to see that often the most thoughtful, intelligent, kind people have the weight pile up on their shoulders. when I get to know people, sometimes I ask questions most people find to be taboo. One thing I realized - a lot, if not most truly transcendent thinkers contemplate suicide at some point. And it's a damn fucking shame when it happens.
"Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain" makes sense to me. But the page fails, I think, to address the fact that external resources are needed for coping, period. And I don't just mean a listening ear, which can be hard enough to find, or a psychotherapist. No, sometimes you really do need people to do tangible things, like give you a car or force someone violent out of your life or treat your medical problem or take care of your baby--without sucking you into a nightmare of paperwork and barely functional social services.
Everyone, except perhaps Grizzly Adams, needs other people. Some days you need a new client for your Rails expertise. Some days you need a plumber. You need those guys who stock the grocery store in the middle of the night. And you need real life friends. Friends who don't sap your energy or tell you what to think. Friends who will scrounge up a car for you.
Edit addendum: Hillary used to say, "It takes a village to raise a child." Yeah, whatever. What I'm trying to say is, it takes a community for thriving and emotional health. And don't let Ayn Rand tell you otherwise. There's no shame in hitting a point where you can't "produce" and you need help from others. You're not self-made. No one is. And a person who needs help is not a loser. Or a "looter."
Everyone, except perhaps Grizzly Adams, needs other people. Some days you need a new client for your Rails expertise. Some days you need a plumber. You need those guys who stock the grocery store in the middle of the night. And you need real life friends. Friends who don't sap your energy or tell you what to think. Friends who will scrounge up a car for you.
Edit addendum: Hillary used to say, "It takes a village to raise a child." Yeah, whatever. What I'm trying to say is, it takes a community for thriving and emotional health. And don't let Ayn Rand tell you otherwise. There's no shame in hitting a point where you can't "produce" and you need help from others. You're not self-made. No one is. And a person who needs help is not a loser. Or a "looter."
I looked at the page. Unfortunately, it would not have helped me during the brief time I felt suicidal. Knowledge of fundamental evolutionary facts changes one's perspective about things, such as the statement "some part of you still wants to live"--which then becomes not an argument, but an obvious, irrelevant fact.
I've only heard Mr. Morris' name in passing but it sounds like he's in unbearable pain.
I'm on the fence about people's right to kill themselves. But when someone's in pain I try to accept the decision even if I disagree with it.
In that way I feel kind of weird about this.
I know I have developed friendships with people online. I care about these people as much as I care about people in the real world and if they were in this situation and wanted to say goodbye I'd want to hear it.
Launching a search party to stop him based on this goodbye discourages others from saying goodbye in the future.
I don't know. I guess if I read this message from a friend I'd probably instinctively do the same thing and rush to stop them. But as someone detached it just makes me feel uneasy.
I'm on the fence about people's right to kill themselves. But when someone's in pain I try to accept the decision even if I disagree with it.
In that way I feel kind of weird about this.
I know I have developed friendships with people online. I care about these people as much as I care about people in the real world and if they were in this situation and wanted to say goodbye I'd want to hear it.
Launching a search party to stop him based on this goodbye discourages others from saying goodbye in the future.
I don't know. I guess if I read this message from a friend I'd probably instinctively do the same thing and rush to stop them. But as someone detached it just makes me feel uneasy.
As someone who spent a long time in that boat, $0.02:
Saying someone doesn't have a right to kill themselves implies that they should be forced to go through with whatever pain is so severe that they don't want to live. It's not fair. Forcing them to live through that is a terrible sentence.
Now, I'm all for getting people out of that situation, but you can't get out of there by force, you have to finish processing the origin/cause of the depression.
As for responding to a suicide message on IRC, it is a call for help. Their compensatory abilities to fight the depression have been exhausted, and they need external help. The proper thing to do is respond.
For programmers it can be pretty bad, especially in open source projects. Most of their daily lives are connected to very distant people with little emotional connection -- it's pretty draining if you don't have other parts of your life to counterbalance. It takes up time and energy that could be used for activities which provide better emotional support. The lack of basic emotional feedback for all the effort put in can really make things worse.
Saying someone doesn't have a right to kill themselves implies that they should be forced to go through with whatever pain is so severe that they don't want to live. It's not fair. Forcing them to live through that is a terrible sentence.
Now, I'm all for getting people out of that situation, but you can't get out of there by force, you have to finish processing the origin/cause of the depression.
As for responding to a suicide message on IRC, it is a call for help. Their compensatory abilities to fight the depression have been exhausted, and they need external help. The proper thing to do is respond.
For programmers it can be pretty bad, especially in open source projects. Most of their daily lives are connected to very distant people with little emotional connection -- it's pretty draining if you don't have other parts of your life to counterbalance. It takes up time and energy that could be used for activities which provide better emotional support. The lack of basic emotional feedback for all the effort put in can really make things worse.
I don't know Tony at all, and in theory I do support a person's right to end their life if they wish. However, if I were in the channel at the time, I would do exactly what the channel participants did - immediately try to contact Tony, people close to him (or anyone that might know him), and the authorities.
Somehow there is a distinct difference between philosophising about the right to suicide, and a very real, specific case of a fellow human being in distress. I don't know why I feel this way, but I have a very deep feeling that this is the right thing to do.
Somehow there is a distinct difference between philosophising about the right to suicide, and a very real, specific case of a fellow human being in distress. I don't know why I feel this way, but I have a very deep feeling that this is the right thing to do.
People may have a right to kill themselves, but they don't have a right to kill themselves on a whim or without discussing it with their loved ones first.
My grandfather died from a terminal illness with unbearable pain. Had he decided to end his life rather than ride out his illness, I wouldn't have denied him that right. Maybe I would have tried to talk him out of it, but, witnessing how much he suffered, maybe I wouldn't have. I certainly wouldn't have prevented other family members from trying to talk him out of it.
I don't know whether Tony's wife and young children were aware of his intentions. If they weren't, surely they have a right to try to talk him out of it. In the absence of such information, launching a search party was the right thing to do.
My grandfather died from a terminal illness with unbearable pain. Had he decided to end his life rather than ride out his illness, I wouldn't have denied him that right. Maybe I would have tried to talk him out of it, but, witnessing how much he suffered, maybe I wouldn't have. I certainly wouldn't have prevented other family members from trying to talk him out of it.
I don't know whether Tony's wife and young children were aware of his intentions. If they weren't, surely they have a right to try to talk him out of it. In the absence of such information, launching a search party was the right thing to do.
It's kind of strange talking about the right to kill oneself. Of course, we mean that each of us is the master of our fate but it just sounds strange to read that someone has a right to kill oneself. If one didn't, what would happen if one ignored the fact that he doesn't have right to do it?
Anyway, I'd say it this way. I have never been there when I thought there's no other way out, maybe for a fraction of time but that may indicate I've never been in situations where people like Tony have been. So I can't really say with certainty how I'd behave in a situation like that but I can say this: The life isn't just a possession, it's, as far as we know, a remarkable gift and since nobody knows for sure what's beyond that, it's really tricky thinking whether it's better to--just not be any more. Are we sure we would be better off if we just weren't alive anymore? This brings in a lot more questions and answers depend solely upon what you believe. I believe I will always be better off by being rather than not being, until of course the time comes for that. A friend of mine, God I don't know how he's now, used to half joke saying he likes to feel pain every morning even though he could barely dress himself and function normally due to his illness, but feeling pain every morning meant that he is still alive.
But as someone already said here, what Tony did prior to disappearing was a clear call for help, even though maybe not so clear to himself. I'm hoping he finds the strength to fight indefinitely now that he can clearly see the support he has from his friends and community. I wish people close to him realize what he needs most right now is support and understanding for his condition, no matter what some people say. No one can tell for sure what he feels. A life is a serious matter, not to be taken lightly. Unfortunately, too many people find out about that too late.
Anyway, I'd say it this way. I have never been there when I thought there's no other way out, maybe for a fraction of time but that may indicate I've never been in situations where people like Tony have been. So I can't really say with certainty how I'd behave in a situation like that but I can say this: The life isn't just a possession, it's, as far as we know, a remarkable gift and since nobody knows for sure what's beyond that, it's really tricky thinking whether it's better to--just not be any more. Are we sure we would be better off if we just weren't alive anymore? This brings in a lot more questions and answers depend solely upon what you believe. I believe I will always be better off by being rather than not being, until of course the time comes for that. A friend of mine, God I don't know how he's now, used to half joke saying he likes to feel pain every morning even though he could barely dress himself and function normally due to his illness, but feeling pain every morning meant that he is still alive.
But as someone already said here, what Tony did prior to disappearing was a clear call for help, even though maybe not so clear to himself. I'm hoping he finds the strength to fight indefinitely now that he can clearly see the support he has from his friends and community. I wish people close to him realize what he needs most right now is support and understanding for his condition, no matter what some people say. No one can tell for sure what he feels. A life is a serious matter, not to be taken lightly. Unfortunately, too many people find out about that too late.
From the mailing list:
As an update to everyone who is assisting looking for Tony:- Tony's family are fully aware of the situation and have been contacted. Police are assisting with the matter, but as of yet Tony is un-contactable.
He has taken his motorbike; if anyone can suggest where he might be please email [email protected] or [email protected] and we will forward the information on.
As an update to everyone who is assisting looking for Tony:- Tony's family are fully aware of the situation and have been contacted. Police are assisting with the matter, but as of yet Tony is un-contactable.
He has taken his motorbike; if anyone can suggest where he might be please email [email protected] or [email protected] and we will forward the information on.
Also see the chat log here:
http://www.nabble.com/-scala--Re%3A-URGENT%3A-Please-read-if...
http://www.nabble.com/-scala--Re%3A-URGENT%3A-Please-read-if...
Tony, you will be in my prayers tonight; god I hope they get hold of you in time.
I know Tony and am in contact with people around him. Friends/family are looking for him on the Gold Coast.
There is a possible lead in the form of a Brisbane 2005 UBD Street Directory, with the following pages marked:
Map 239/240: Browns Plains/Heritage Park Map 1/2: Mt Tamborine (...went riding?) Map 29/30: Labrador and Southport (...including both Labradore and Southport Squash Courts) Gold Coast
and:
p374/375: Faculties A-C (including Cemetary...?) p386/387: Gold Coast St Listing (letters E,F,G)
There is a possible lead in the form of a Brisbane 2005 UBD Street Directory, with the following pages marked:
Map 239/240: Browns Plains/Heritage Park Map 1/2: Mt Tamborine (...went riding?) Map 29/30: Labrador and Southport (...including both Labradore and Southport Squash Courts) Gold Coast
and:
p374/375: Faculties A-C (including Cemetary...?) p386/387: Gold Coast St Listing (letters E,F,G)
IRC channel has added this to the topic:
The police have been called and gone to what we have verified to be tony's address
Seems like all that is left is to wait and pray.
The police have been called and gone to what we have verified to be tony's address
Seems like all that is left is to wait and pray.
A couple of months earlier, Tony posted a comment regarding agile and some remarks regarding the Christian faith.
I respectfully replied to that posting pointing out that Jesus is truly who he says he is and that we can know this for sure if we honestly approach Him ready to do what he asks of us. He says that "whosoever is willing to do God' will, shall know if Jesus' teachings are true." (John 7:17). I have personally come to find this to be true.
Now I am fully aware that many people are skeptical and many for good reasons.
Please, be careful not to hurry to conclusions though.
It appears that Jesus was trying to reach to him and help him through his pain. You see, no one could foresee what he would do, yet Jesus did and I find this remarkable.
Jesus is God coming to reach us where we are, lost and far away from Him. He died on the Cross so that "whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have eternal life.". Trust in Him, and you will have peace with God and eternal security.
I pray Tony will be well and you guys will ask Jesus to help figure out this confusing world of religions.
Florin Gheorghies Atlanta, GA
I respectfully replied to that posting pointing out that Jesus is truly who he says he is and that we can know this for sure if we honestly approach Him ready to do what he asks of us. He says that "whosoever is willing to do God' will, shall know if Jesus' teachings are true." (John 7:17). I have personally come to find this to be true.
Now I am fully aware that many people are skeptical and many for good reasons.
Please, be careful not to hurry to conclusions though.
It appears that Jesus was trying to reach to him and help him through his pain. You see, no one could foresee what he would do, yet Jesus did and I find this remarkable.
Jesus is God coming to reach us where we are, lost and far away from Him. He died on the Cross so that "whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have eternal life.". Trust in Him, and you will have peace with God and eternal security.
I pray Tony will be well and you guys will ask Jesus to help figure out this confusing world of religions.
Florin Gheorghies Atlanta, GA
My thoughts are with the family at this time.
Despite having lost someone to suicide myself, I can't even begin to understand what they must be feeling - the 'not knowing' and helplessness - it must be awful.
Despite having lost someone to suicide myself, I can't even begin to understand what they must be feeling - the 'not knowing' and helplessness - it must be awful.
[deleted]
[deleted](2)
he is dead. http://www.nabble.com/-scala--URGENT%3A-Please-read-if-you-h... gunshot in the head :-(
"There's no evidence to believe "Dr Hibbert"'s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr_Hibbert) message is factual."
http://www.nabble.com/forum/ViewPost.jtp?post=22471998&f...
http://www.nabble.com/forum/ViewPost.jtp?post=22471998&f...
Why this matters to Hacker News (in addition to it being a person in need):
http://cv.tmorris.net/
A small sampling from that page reads as follows:
Tony actively participates and contributes to the open source software community.