Stop Banning Suicidal And Other Self-Harming Users
There is a friend of mine who, on any normal day, perfectly abides by the Discord ToS. She's had a few rough patches, but has always managed to pull through. The other night, my friend was in more turmoil than any of us had ever seen. I'm reluctant to share all of the details, but she was not in her regular mental state. In a state wildly unlike her, she starts making numerous details voicing every single disturbing thought out loud as she begins and goes through her process.
She tried to kill herself. She almost succeeded.
In that time, and I don't really know how it happened, her account got locked for "promoting self-harm". Luckily, she survived, just barely, and luckily, some of us had access to her phone number.
Not everyone is so lucky.
For many people, the people they know on Discord are their only support base. Sometimes, being able to talk to them is literally the difference between life and death. Take that away, and what do you think is going to happen?
This is a preposterous interpretation of policy. Here's the excerpt straight from Discord's Guidelines:
- You may not share content that glorifies or promotes suicide or self-harm, including any encouragement to others to cut themselves, or embrace eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.
This rule only makes sense if it's advocating self-harm in general or if a user is attempting to convince or coerce others to harm themselves. It should not be used on people who are either contemplating or actively attempting suicide, right when they need the most someone to talk to. Their actions, while stressful to their loves ones, don't cause them actual pain or convince them to hurt themselves as well. But is sure as all the infinite hells causes them far more pain when suddenly they have no way to access this person in need.
Cut off from their support base, suicidal and self-harming people can be far more at risk of going through with their plans.
By banning these people, it is Discord itself that is promoting self-harm.
How many people have died because of Discord's policies?
This is an insane oversight that helps no one and hurts everyone. Suicidal people are not wrongdoers, they're victims. We do not punish victims. There are many different things Discord could be doing better to address these behaviors other than outright ban them. Personally, I think you could have a bot DM them with addresses to suicide hotlines. Or you could do nothing and let their friends do what they can do get them the help they need. Even that's better than just banning them.
Stop punishing people for crying out for help.
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I completely agree
7 -
Instead of shunning people with such struggles in their lives, Discord should try to create a place where people can discuss such topics and try to help and support one another. With its veritable status and sense of community, why can't Discord have options for the support of people struggling with such issues? When I first joined Discord, it seemed to be the exact kind of place where people could talk and find support and a sense of solidarity. To find people like them, facing similar problems, and feel less alone.
I personally know someone who, going through some tough times by themselves, finds daily comfort in talking to people on Discord, setting up daily reminders and check-ins through the kindness of someone's heart. A person who was once a stranger to them, but because of this app, became one of their closest friends, a person to connect with and find solace with. They talk daily, taking time out of their rather stressful lives to give a few words to a stranger, give some morsel of kindness to lighten their hearts.
This app, being well structured and having gained such a reputation, can truly become more than just a place where people can express their hobbies, their passions, it can be a place to share their lives. With the struggles human beings of the world are going through, we must try to better the world for all of us, to create support and love where none can be found.
By banning this, Discord is cutting off communication, limiting their own chances of help. For many people, Discord is a place to find help, for talking is a vital part of the journey towards healing themselves. Please, I urge you, instead of shunning other human beings in need of help, embrace them. Think of your own loved ones and the things we would do to protect them. Try to think of these people in the same way.
Give them help when they need it the most.
7 -
Do you mean discord bans those who have those issues? Are they crazy?
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I completely agree with this. Cutting them off from people they care about very much might make it get even worse. So maybe ask them to get help or have a community specially for those kind of cases?
6 -
i honestly couldnt have said it better, i myself have struggled with this issue, and if anything they’re ending lives other than doing good just because of their “TOS”
4 -
Honestly, discord loves to issue bans on some of the sweetest people for simply being suicidal, all while leaving p3d0s to roam the app. (personal experience)
3 -
forget it discord loves suicidal acts they show no mercy, we had nothing to do but to act normal its what they wanted.
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I absolutely agree, here is a whole another thing though, Discord does not monitor servers, so someone must've been a jerk and reported your friend to Discord in that case.
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What the hell, Discord?
4 -
I think discord did the right decision. These people get into other people minds and makes others suicidal too.
-9 -
srt if you don't understand how it feels to be in that position, better don't say anything at all. And that's not how it works lol. So you're telling me the people who are in need for help shouldn't even talk to friends about it? that's just dumb. Educate yourself on such topics or else you're just helping society become more ignorant about sensitive topics as such. Sheesh.
5 -
Seeing this now kinda scares me.
I didn't knew they banned people for being suicidal, and as a person that is getting almost my entire support trough discord is kinda scary, if I lose access to all the people that are keeping me up its not gonna be a good thing.0
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