Tragic twist

[Ally T]

I agree with most of the above. It was just a prank call & nobody could have foreseen the outcome. Yes the DJ's were in the wrong, but how on Earth could they have known what might come from their joke?? It is very wrong that people are calling for their heads, as justginger has said. They are obviously filled with remorse, regret and sadness, so leave them be. Learn from this and move on.

And what should be a beautiful and amazing time for William and Kate (and us, the British public) has now been completely taken over by this horrible turn of events. Whilst my heart goes out to the nurse's family and friends, there has been no further excitement or mention of the impending heir to our Monachy on the news here. The only news now is of Kate's distress and sadness, which she shouldn't have to be dealing with this at this really exciting time, and about the DJ's being dragged to Hell and back on the other side of the world

 

[rainwood]

Calling something a prank doesn't change the fact that people are responsible for what they do, and the consequences of their actions even when those consequences aren't intended. It was certainly morally wrong, and I don't know about Australia but in the U.S. it is illegal to record a phone call without first identifying that you are doing so. So they may also have broken the law first off.

They clearly didn't intend for the nurse receiving the call to lose her life, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that, if successful, their actions could have had some type of negative consequences. Someone could have lost their job or be disciplined. And at the least, they were taking up someone's time who has better things to do than to deal with these morons who were trying to get confidential information they aren't entitled to. The Duchess may be royalty but she has a right to privacy as a patient just like anyone else. There's nothing about what the DJ's did that was okay. The radio station bears responsibility too, but that doesn't let the DJ's off the hook for being at the center of all this.

I watched an interview, and neither one of them actually said they were sorry for what they'd done. Maybe it was legal advice to do that, but it still rankles. I hope they're haunted by this for the rest of their lives. That's the least they deserve. I also hope they are fired permanently, rather than just taken off the air.

 

[NonieMarie]

I think there were some other issues as to why she did what she did. I also feel everything has been blown out of proportion and the blame lies on the person that commited suicide. Maybe that sounds harsh but would you take the blame if someone took their life after you had a 2 second encounter with them. My goodness, all she did was forward a call. She did nothing wrong. The media sees a story and will run with it as long as the public continues their feeding frenzy.

 

[justginger]

One of the key points that makes me feel as if the DJs should bear little blame is the fact that it was NOT the nurse who divulged the information who committed suicide. She's alive and well. The woman who killed herself simply transferred the call. That is the fact that strongly suggests to me this woman was already very unwell and perhaps should have been counseled by friends and family long before. If this is the event that tipped her over the edge, anything could have, from an act of road rage to a cruel comment from a local teenager. I don't think the DJs should bear the blame for an act that must have been well on its way to fruition before they came on the scene.

For the record, these calls are VERY popular here, but I've never heard them try to obtain confidential information before. They generally call members of the public and say silly, "Is your refrigerator running?" type of things. Even those calls make me uncomfortable and get turned down on my radio. I get too embarrassed for the other person on the line to listen to that rubbish.

 

[cellardoor433]

I consider pranks like this equal to bullying. The goal is to make a fool of someone in order to get a laugh. There have been other cases of cyber-bullying that have resulted in deaths in the US, and I believe there has been legal action against the bullies.

Regarding the suicide, I think public humiliation in some cultures is far different than what some of us understand. I don't know that to be the case here, but I suspect it is at least a possibility.

So shame on the bullies. They should feel bad. And I agree with Dreamer that those who laugh at pranks that attempt to make someone look like a fool is just as bad.

(I omit politicians from this because they are public figures and that comes with the territory.)

+1. These so-called prank calls and jokes are juvenile and have no place in the entertainment industry.

 

[MyDiamondSparkles]

I consider pranks like this equal to bullying. The goal is to make a fool of someone in order to get a laugh. There have been other cases of cyber-bullying that have resulted in deaths in the US, and I believe there has been legal action against the bullies.

Regarding the suicide, I think public humiliation in some cultures is far different than what some of us understand. I don't know that to be the case here, but I suspect it is at least a possibility.

So shame on the bullies. They should feel bad. And I agree with Dreamer that those who laugh at pranks that attempt to make someone look like a fool is just as bad.

(I omit politicians from this because they are public figures and that comes with the territory.)

+1. These so-called prank calls and jokes are juvenile and have no place in the entertainment industry.

This. Having a laugh at anyones expensive is rude and in ill taste. It seems as this pair were known for it. Did I hear they got a 14 year old girl to put on a lie detector and asked her questions about her sex life? And she revealed she had been raped? Or is this heresay? If true, this pair has none of my sympathies, seems as they will do anything to get a good laugh. I am not laughing.

 

[Haven]

Suicide is not a normal reaction to any life event, and certainly not to this event. To blame the DJs minimizes the complex reality of suicide and mental health issues. And I think it is just as bad for society to point the finger at a couple of comedians for "causing" a woman's death as it is for society to laugh at the prank in the first place, if not worse.

This sounds so reasonable and spot-on to me.

A friend of mine committed suicide after having a big fight with his mom. He referenced the fight in his suicide note, and many who weren't privvy to other details about my friend's life were very quick to blame his mother for his death. The truth was that my friend was mentally ill and had attempted suicide several times before he killed himself. The family wasn't keen to share this information publicly after his death, but the community was very keen to blame his terribly distraught mother. It was a sad, sad thing to witness.

 

[Gypsy]

My thoughts:

1. I've had family in the hospital and there have ALWAYS (in the last 5 years at least) been password/passcode protocols in place for phone AND in person information. No password/passcode = no information. Why the HECK didn't the hospital set this up for a royal??? They share a large portion of the blame, IMO, and whoever it was that didn't do this is the person whose job should be at risk.

2. If the DJ's were not doing the prank live, then they shouldn't have aired it. Period. Once they got information by fraudulent means they should have MORALLY done the right thing and told the royal family about the lapse in security AND refused to air the segment. And frankly, legally I'm not sure they are scott free. You are responsible for the consequences of your actions, IMO, foreseeable or not.

3. What kind of mother of two children takes her life because of some embarrassment? I know mothers who have survived true tragedies for their children. This one offs herself because of a mistake over the phone? I know I am judging but... come on. You don't leave your kids for something like this. You move. You change your name. But you do NOT commit suicide! Something was wrong with this woman. And she should have been receiving care for whatever it was, depression or otherwise.

4. Who is the MORON in charge of privacy for the royals that allowed Kate to stay in a facility without providing them with STRICT protocols for any inquiries, be it on the phone or otherwise, while a member of the family is staying there. That person should lose their job for sure, IMO.

 

[justginger]

I consider pranks like this equal to bullying. The goal is to make a fool of someone in order to get a laugh. There have been other cases of cyber-bullying that have resulted in deaths in the US, and I believe there has been legal action against the bullies.

Regarding the suicide, I think public humiliation in some cultures is far different than what some of us understand. I don't know that to be the case here, but I suspect it is at least a possibility.

So shame on the bullies. They should feel bad. And I agree with Dreamer that those who laugh at pranks that attempt to make someone look like a fool is just as bad.

(I omit politicians from this because they are public figures and that comes with the territory.)

+1. These so-called prank calls and jokes are juvenile and have no place in the entertainment industry.

This. Having a laugh at anyones expensive is rude and in ill taste. It seems as this pair were known for it. Did I hear they got a 14 year old girl to put on a lie detector and asked her questions about her sex life? And she revealed she had been raped? Or is this heresay? If true, this pair has none of my sympathies, seems as they will do anything to get a good laugh. I am not laughing.

Different DJs, but the incident you describe happened. The DJ that was involved with that is the Australian version of Simon Cowell, someone everyone loves to hate, so this was lots of cannon fodder for the public.

 

[anne_h]

I find radio hosts pranking strangers obnoxious. But that's my personal taste.

That said, I don't feel these DJs are responsible for the nurse's suicide. Her response could be considered disproportionate to the offense. I do believe probably there were other factors at play here.

I also think the fact that two hospital employees took the call seriously and one offered info to be a probable violation of personal privacy codes. I think the hospital should check its policy on this and (re)train their employees. They need to setup a process to prevent another breach such as this one.

I also believe the DJs should not be fired over this. A break from the public would be a good idea right now though.

Anne

 

[JaneSmith]

Mental illness is not something one can just snap out of or get over with sheer determination and positive thinking.
Please realise that the woman who committed suicide was obviously ill in some way.

I'm going to use a quote by a poster here not to target her specifically at all, but as a good illustration of how some blame gets attributed to those suffering from a mental illness. Bolded words are my alteration.

"What kind of mother of two children gets diabetes because of some embarrassment? I know mothers who have survived true tragedies for their children. This one gets diabetes because of a mistake over the phone? I know I am judging but... come on. You don't let your kids see you stick yourself with needles for something like this. You move. You change your name. But you do NOT get diabetes! Something was wrong with this woman. And she should have been receiving care for whatever it was, depression or otherwise."

 

[Rae~]

I have thought long and hard on this topic, and will try to sum up some of my thoughts:

1 - I am amazed (in a BAD way) and appalled at the fact this stunt even (remotely) worked. I believe at one point the male DJ incredulously commented something along the lines of "Is this seriously working...?!?" while they were on hold waiting to be put through. Serious breakdown of (or, perhaps, lack of training in) protocols.

2 - I find the radio station's choice to air the (pre-recorded) segment abhorrent, however I also have extremely low expectations of Southern Cross Austereo; they have shown their poor judgement quite clearly in the past by not firing (several times over) that grub of a DJ, Kyle Sandilands (the one who put the 14-yo on air while she was strapped to a lie-detector test and asked her questions about sex, revealing a past rape. And that's just one of his (numerous) scumbag acts. There is a reason he is called "Vile Kyle".)

3 - I agree with anne_h when she said she found radio hosts pranking strangers to be obnoxious; that is also my personal taste. I don't BLAME the DJs for this per se; I think they are shock jocks seeking cheap laughs, but ultimately the radio station (and the parent company, SC Austereo) are responsible for aired content.

4 - I am deeply saddened that it appears this nurse saw suicide as her main/only option. I also consider these sort of pranks/public humiliation to have echoes of bullying.

An article I agreed with (much more eloquent than I): http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4417936.html

 

[ksinger]

I have thought long and hard on this topic, and will try to sum up some of my thoughts:

1 - I am amazed (in a BAD way) and appalled at the fact this stunt even (remotely) worked. I believe at one point the male DJ incredulously commented something along the lines of "Is this seriously working...?!?" while they were on hold waiting to be put through. Serious breakdown of (or, perhaps, lack of training in) protocols.

2 - I find the radio station's choice to air the (pre-recorded) segment abhorrent, however I also have extremely low expectations of Southern Cross Austereo; they have shown their poor judgement quite clearly in the past by not firing (several times over) that grub of a DJ, Kyle Sandilands (the one who put the 14-yo on air while she was strapped to a lie-detector test and asked her questions about sex, revealing a past rape. And that's just one of his (numerous) scumbag acts. There is a reason he is called "Vile Kyle".)

3 - I agree with anne_h when she said she found radio hosts pranking strangers to be obnoxious; that is also my personal taste. I don't BLAME the DJs for this per se; I think they are shock jocks seeking cheap laughs, but ultimately the radio station (and the parent company, SC Austereo) are responsible for aired content.

4 - I am deeply saddened that it appears this nurse saw suicide as her main/only option. I also consider these sort of pranks/public humiliation to have echoes of bullying.

An article I agreed with (much more eloquent than I): http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4417936.html

Thanks for posting that piece Rae. Brilliant. And you're right - she hits that nail squarely on the head. She finally articulated what I've long been searching for with this:

Then there was the presentation, for laughs, of the psychological torture of two Cambodian women, "winners" of a competition that promised a family reunion; only to be told there was a catch:

Jackie O: Now, if you don't pick the right door, if Dana's not the door you pick, Dana flies straight home. No meeting.
Kyle Sandilands: So she flies over here, 15 hours. She stands behind the door. If you pick the wrong door Dana gets back on the plane, flies home, 15 hours.

The laughs continued until both women, survivors of Pol Pot's genocide, were reduced to tears, on their knees and begging.

A "prank" worthy of a Milgram experiment that one.

That's it. Finally. All these pranks are exercises in cruelty that are very very like the Milgram experiments. Every one being just a bit more sadistic than the last, until you wake up and realize (IF you're lucky enough to wake UP) that you (or you entire culture) is comprised of empathy-free monsters.

There are times - like when I hear this stuff - that I wish the Mayan prophecy was true.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

All fun, and no accountability. Just because they could, doesn't mean they should.

cheers--Sharon

 

[mayerling]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20673899

 

[justginger]

I have thought long and hard on this topic, and will try to sum up some of my thoughts:

1 - I am amazed (in a BAD way) and appalled at the fact this stunt even (remotely) worked. I believe at one point the male DJ incredulously commented something along the lines of "Is this seriously working...?!?" while they were on hold waiting to be put through. Serious breakdown of (or, perhaps, lack of training in) protocols.

2 - I find the radio station's choice to air the (pre-recorded) segment abhorrent, however I also have extremely low expectations of Southern Cross Austereo; they have shown their poor judgement quite clearly in the past by not firing (several times over) that grub of a DJ, Kyle Sandilands (the one who put the 14-yo on air while she was strapped to a lie-detector test and asked her questions about sex, revealing a past rape. And that's just one of his (numerous) scumbag acts. There is a reason he is called "Vile Kyle".)

3 - I agree with anne_h when she said she found radio hosts pranking strangers to be obnoxious; that is also my personal taste. I don't BLAME the DJs for this per se; I think they are shock jocks seeking cheap laughs, but ultimately the radio station (and the parent company, SC Austereo) are responsible for aired content.

4 - I am deeply saddened that it appears this nurse saw suicide as her main/only option. I also consider these sort of pranks/public humiliation to have echoes of bullying.

An article I agreed with (much more eloquent than I): http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4417936.html

Thanks for posting that piece Rae. Brilliant. And you're right - she hits that nail squarely on the head. She finally articulated what I've long been searching for with this:

Then there was the presentation, for laughs, of the psychological torture of two Cambodian women, "winners" of a competition that promised a family reunion; only to be told there was a catch:

Jackie O: Now, if you don't pick the right door, if Dana's not the door you pick, Dana flies straight home. No meeting.
Kyle Sandilands: So she flies over here, 15 hours. She stands behind the door. If you pick the wrong door Dana gets back on the plane, flies home, 15 hours.

The laughs continued until both women, survivors of Pol Pot's genocide, were reduced to tears, on their knees and begging.

A "prank" worthy of a Milgram experiment that one.

That's it. Finally. All these pranks are exercises in cruelty that are very very like the Milgram experiments. Every one being just a bit more sadistic than the last, until you wake up and realize (IF you're lucky enough to wake UP) that you (or you entire culture) is comprised of empathy-free monsters.

I remember this 'prank' - it was terrible. I turned it off. I can't express exactly why, but I find this to be very different to calling a hospital with a terrible Queen accent and asking when visiting hours are. The content of the separated sisters segment was far more abhorrent to me, personally.

I don't disagree that many 'pranks' border on bullying, and at times cross over the line entirely. However, I still feel as if the DJs as individuals should wear no blame in this situation. In a culture that accepts these calls as entertainment, they were doing their jobs. The decision to air the segment would have been beyond their control, and again, I can't imagine anyone anticipating such an irrational reaction to a phone prank.

I do hope this shakes things up and get prank calls done away with entirely. I get tired of having to turn my radio off at a particular time every morning, because they're a daily segment on my morning drive to work.

There are times - like when I hear this stuff - that I wish the Mayan prophecy was true.