90 Day Jane

I come across a lot of strange/interesting/questionable things on the internet but one site that has been receiving much buzz (considering its relatively short time out on the net) is of this girl, who I’m assuming goes by the pseudonym, “Jane”. You see, Jane plans on offing herself in 90 days and going by the date of her first post, appropriately titled, "Day 90: The Decision", she plans on killing herself on May 4^th, 2008.

There’s no rhyme or reason to this decision. Her profile says, “[…]as an atheist I feel life has no greater purpose. My generation has had no great depression, no great war and our biggest obstacle is beating Halo 3. So, if I feel like saying "game over", why can't I?”

So why 90 days from February 5^th? Her answer: “Well, I'm not really sure except that it's better than day 91.”

Seems a bit too arbitrary to me. You would think that if somebody was so calculative in something like this, the day surely must have some sort of significance. But then perhaps because since her life is seemingly of such little value to her it shouldn't be hard to imagine her picking a day of little to no significance. Regardless, I Googled the date of May 4^th to see what events may have taken place to see if there were any events which occurred on this day that may hold some significance. However, I had no leads whatsoever for any public information that would hold May 4^th in favorable (or unfavorable) regard to be penned as doomsday. (Unless she really hates that ABBA’s “Waterloo” reached the top of the singles chart on this day.)

Her blog goes on to say:

I didn't expect this kind of response, or really any response at all. To be honest, I’m kind of freaked but I also feel a sense of responsibility to continue the blog. I started it to be a public record of my suicide, but i thought it would be after the fact. I also wanted to use this blog to help answer the question of "why" for anyone who knew me and also for myself. Your comments are certainly helping me do that- many of them in a good way.

You've brought up questions that I didn't exactly think about; Who will find me? What will I do with my body? Will I have a funeral? How will i let readers of the blog know that I am dead? Well, I plan on answering ALL of these questions and more as soon as i figure it all out. That's why I gave myself 90 days.

Some people have dismissed this as a viral marketing scheme but I don’t see any advertisements on the blog and if she were doing this for recognition/attention, then you’d think she’d at least reveal something of her identity, or at least a clue of some sort to a 'project' in which this blog is intending to solicit interest. If it is genuine, however, she insists she doesn’t need your help.

Please don't attempt to "help" me. If you want to truly help, please send me ideas on how to do the deed. thx-Jane

Some people still contend that this is a hoax because of her comment, "as an atheist, I feel life has no greater purpose." They imagine it sounds as if something a devoutly religious person would attribute to the thought process of an atheist, whereas some could attest that atheists, or many humanists don't necessarily need to believe in a deity to partake in a meaningful existence. Who knows though. There's no real way to know if she goes through with it, even if she does stop blogging after May 4th.


Comments from her readers:


"Anonymous said...

You should put out too, because its not going to matter if you get pregnant or get aids. You will be dead before either really matter anyway."

One person offered actual advice:

Hey, Jane. Sweet Jane. Jane's Addiction?

I suggest cutting your hair, first of all. Maybe pulling your hair back, maybe a ponytail.

Second, set up your death site in an area where people are known to congregate, like a hotel lobby or something. Somewhere your body will be found.

Write up a few suicide notes and have them addressed to different people you want to talk to. That way, you can be as personal as you want with the person, and won't necessarily have to worry about having to hide anything from anyone else. Remember to give your blog password to a friend so that they can update with details of how it all went down.

Remember to have what I like to call "warning signs". A copy of Final Exit, a mix CD of songs with depressing, self-depraving lyrics, you understand.

Now for your final method. I do not suggest any of the classics, i.e. hanging, cutting one self, seppuku, you know. Rather, try to go for something a bit more original. Instead of blowing your brains out with a shotgun, blow your brains out with a Super Soaker loaded with gasoline as you hold a match in your mouth. It's all up to you.

See you in your respective afterlife, if any."