Shirtless man jumped off of the Greektown parking garage

**Ray1936** · June-24-12, 10:31 AM

I'd like to see them all go away, also.

[[Uh, except for the ones in Nevada, of course!)

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · June-24-12, 10:37 AM

I am not a gambler and I am not a huge fan of the casinos [[although I accept that they are here and going to stay). I think it is absurd to blame suicides on the casino. Among other things it trivializes mental illness. People in their right mind, with the potential exception of people in tremendous physical pain due to illness, do not commit suicide. I feel very badly for people who ruin thier lives gambling, but it is a self-inflicted wound, usually accompanied by substance abuse or other mental illness. I have an uncle who has mostly ruined his life and his relationships. A large reason is the gambling. But he has also stolen money, been drunk more often than sober, been unwilling to work a hard day in his life, etc. Poker chips never walked up to him and said "let us ruin your life." And I think the notion that casinos are "covering up" suicides is silly. Dead people go to the coroner. There are statistics on how everyone dies. If they were hiding bodies, don't you think there would be more missing persons reports? This is a tragedy, to be sure. Suicide is never someone else's fault. NEVER.

**Meddle** · June-24-12, 10:37 AM

No, those too. And New Jersey.

Remember that both of those 'starting points' had [[have?) very strong ties to organized crime.

**Scottathew** · June-24-12, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by ThisIsForTheHeart

Should we blame Ford, GM, Chrysler, UAW and MDOT for deaths in car accidents?

Yeah, what next, blaming tobacco companies for targeting children in their advertising and making an addictive yet cancer-causing product?

I rarely go to casinos. People need to realize that you're BUYING entertainment, and in the long run you'll never win.

Hell, even if you develop a scientific method such as counting cards in blackjack, it's considered cheating and you're threatened and kicked out[[even though it involves no collusion, just brain-power).

**Meddle** · June-24-12, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn

Poker chips never walked up to him and said "let us ruin your life."

Neither have cocaine or heroin.

**Big Dan** · June-24-12, 12:00 PM

There are those that can gamble responsibly, and those that can't. There was an interesting story on This American Life about a woman who couldn't. Listen to Act 2:
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radi.../466/blackjack

**jcole** · June-24-12, 12:30 PM

If this is true, how come I can't find it on one news outlet in Detroit for the last two days?

**mikeg19** · June-24-12, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by jtf1972

They closed the observation deck at the Penobscot due to it's popularity for more than the view.

Now that is an interesting tidbit of information. I've never heard of any suicides off, well to be honest, any major buildings downtown. It's too bad they don't reopen it with some sort of setup like the Empire State Building. The views up on the Penobscot must be amazing from the observation deck.

**Ray1936** · June-24-12, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by Meddle

Remember that both of those 'starting points' had [[have?) very strong ties to organized crime.

"Had" is correct. They're all corporations today, all but a few publicly traded. But it was better when the mob was here; more comps, more courtesy, better odds. By the way, downtown Las Vegas now has a Mob Museum, featuring Bugsy and the gang. Worth a visit. Also the nuclear testing museum, an amazing facility.

**Zacha341** · June-24-12, 01:48 PM

Yeah, it is self-induced, yet the proximity can be an inducement for starting to gamble, particularly gambling. I mean there could be a crack house next door to me and I'd never go in or smoke that mess, but others have adictive personalities to all kinds of vices. I broke the gambling habit cold turkey fast once I saw where it was going.

You can see where it is going by observation, people near rock bottom, having lost far too much or everything. No need to loose all you have and ruin your life before making a change! You just have to walk away from that lifestyle completely.

Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn

I am not a gambler and I am not a huge fan of the casinos [[although I accept that they are here and going to stay). I think it is absurd to blame suicides on the casino. Among other things it trivializes mental illness. People in their right mind, with the potential exception of people in tremendous physical pain due to illness, do not commit suicide. I feel very badly for people who ruin thier lives gambling, but it is a self-inflicted wound, usually accompanied by substance abuse or other mental illness. I have an uncle who has mostly ruined his life and his relationships. A large reason is the gambling.

**Zacha341** · June-24-12, 01:59 PM

Yep, for the gambler on their way down it is a crazy love/ hate relationship with the casino - one they encourage with their comps, free hotel rooms, free food etc. It's a 'another' world of folks hanging out there...

You get to be friends with other gamblers, staff and everyone acts like it's ok, as you eat at their feed troughs [[buffets), in between gambling etc. Wave at the regulars from across the floor, but then you know it is crazy and contextual to the benefit of the house.

After all, who would throw money down a flushing toilet? But at the casino, well it happens. Winnings are down too, the cash payout cages once lined with people are void of staff. I do believe the slots are rigged within a certain payout percent range.

And you see alot of lonely people there and they do not seem be having an 'entertaining' time at all...

Originally Posted by Gannon

This is simply another "told you so" moment.

The casinos are simply a scourge on civilization, period.

I've only been into them under a half-dozen times, and every instance I've walked out feeling mystically toxic...spiritually poisoned. It is sick.

It is time to remind everyone that according to the Freep, in the time BEFORE the Detroit crooks opened up public shop...the Windsor casino caused an increase in Gambler's Anonymous chapters to increase from 4 to over 200.

That was just ONE casino where you had to travel to another country...

They are a scourge. Yeah, Greektown has kept one of my favorite people downtown employed for years...<sigh>...but he is dancing with the devil for his income. Ethically and morally, all the employees are within the liability loop.

There was an excellent article on This American Life on NPR about gambling problems last week...it was very revealing of how these crooks conspire to take people for every cent they can.

No cheers, I'd rather see them all go away today.

**Zacha341** · June-24-12, 02:09 PM

The incident happened a couple of years back. The thread just got started again because someone commented on it. I too initially thought it was a recent event!

Originally Posted by jcole

If this is true, how come I can't find it on one news outlet in Detroit for the last two days?

**townonenorth** · June-24-12, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by jcole

If this is true, how come I can't find it on one news outlet in Detroit for the last two days?

From facebook:

Well the excitement for the day here in Greektown is that we had a jumper from the 7th floor of the gararge that I work in and the street is blocked off and the guys brains and skull pieces are splattered all over our driveway and Brush street! Our other employee witness the smacking of the person on the ground and now she is being treated for shock

**Alley** · June-24-12, 02:59 PM

This happened [[and I began this thread) YESTERDAY, my whole family saw it from a wedding reception they were attending. I don't know why it wasn't on the news, but it happened for a fact.

Originally Posted by Zacha341

The incident happened a couple of years back. The thread just got started again because someone commented on it. I too initially thought it was a recent event!

**innercitydoc** · June-24-12, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by jcole

If this is true, how come I can't find it on one news outlet in Detroit for the last two days?

It happened because they took him to DRH to clear the scene. He was DOA with a wide open skull fracture and brain matter exposed. [[No HIPPA)

**adamjab19** · June-24-12, 05:34 PM

I have just as much compassion as I can muster for my fellow man, but one thing I think is ridiculous is to blame whole industries for the problems of the relative few people [[compared to how many people can go and leave and enjoy themselves) who are addicted to them [[i.e. casinos, alcohol, drugs). You are placing the blame on the wrong side. Sad as it is, and I do feel bad hearing about this, it is the person that is/has the problem.

I mean if we got rid of the casinos, would no one jump off a parking structure again?

**jcole** · June-24-12, 05:43 PM

Actually, I think I'm more concerned that someone leapt from the top of a 13 story building and no one in the news media said a word about it than what kind of building it was. Just because it was a casino parking deck doesn't mean that the person had even been IN the casino. That garage is used for Tiger games, people who work in the vicinity, concert attendees and, possibly, the very wedding the OP was attending. Oh, and employees at the 1st precinct.I don't really understand why the fact that the jumper was "shirtless" adds any importance to the event either.

**downtownguy** · June-24-12, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by Ray1936

But it was better when the mob was here; more comps, more courtesy, better odds.

Interesting to hear from your perspective, Ray, how is was better under the mob.

GUSHI · June-24-12, 07:11 PM

Gambling is entertainment, I enjoy going to Snooker and playing poker, doesn't mean I am addicted, I prefer tournament over cash games. I know what my buy-in is, thats the most I could lose, it keeps me entertained for a few hours, just like a movie, people are just weak now-a-days, wether it's drugs or poker, if the person is weak, it's there fault not, the casinos or drugs they choose to do, how many young kid do you know that are on anti-depressants, I know a few and to me it's like they are just weak. Seriously what's a 20 to be depressed about?

**Lowell** · June-24-12, 07:21 PM

Has it been determined that this suicide was gambling related?

"Just the facts ma'am."

That aside statistics show that 1% of the population are gambling addicts. Of them 1 in 5 will attempt suicide and a majority will be involved in a felony. Something like 3-4 % are problem gamblers And have less serious issues but still have generally messed up lives.

Does that mean we should outlaw gambling? No. That just gives the business to criminals.

However I believe there should be a ban on advertising or promoting it. Ditto for alcohol, prescription drugs, tobacco, junk food, and any substance or activity that is harmful. Do it if you wish but no one will be allowed to entice you. Couple that with a large and well funded effort at educating the public as to their danger and provide rehabilitation resources funded by those industries and then let the dice roll.

GUSHI · June-24-12, 07:34 PM

What they should ban is all the fukn hormones they use in our foods, alot of them have the same affects has smoking, they are found to cause cancer,

**Zacha341** · June-24-12, 07:40 PM

Oh ok. There was a post soon after yours [[post #5) that cited a previous issue. That's where the confusion came in for me. I did search the web and they are keeping this recent episode quiet. Very quiet...

Originally Posted by Alley

This happened [[and I began this thread) YESTERDAY, my whole family saw it from a wedding reception they were attending. I don't know why it wasn't on the news, but it happened for a fact.

**Zacha341** · June-24-12, 07:45 PM

OK, now that we have more information can we be certain the person jumped? Maybe they had a bit of help as in PUSHED? Where's the certainty that this was jumper?

Originally Posted by jcole

Actually, I think I'm more concerned that someone leapt from the top of a 13 story building and no one in the news media said a word about it than what kind of building it was. Just because it was a casino parking deck doesn't mean that the person had even been IN the casino. That garage is used for Tiger games, people who work in the vicinity, concert attendees and, possibly, the very wedding the OP was attending. Oh, and employees at the 1st precinct.I don't really understand why the fact that the jumper was "shirtless" adds any importance to the event either.

GUSHI · June-24-12, 07:50 PM

Maybe a mob guy pushed him off the building,after ripping his shirt off, in a fight

**Scottathew** · June-24-12, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by Lowell

Does that mean we should outlaw gambling? No. That just gives the business to criminals.

However I believe there should be a ban on advertising or promoting it. Ditto for alcohol, prescription drugs, tobacco, junk food, and any substance or activity that is harmful. Do it if you wish but no one will be allowed to entice you. Couple that with a large and well funded effort at educating the public as to their danger and provide rehabilitation resources funded by those industries and then let the dice roll.

Hmmm... A most interesting proposal. It makes sense. It allows people to be free and make their own decisions, but doesn't allow harmful or addicting behaviors to be advertised.

I always laugh when I see commercials for the casinos and how naive a person would have to be to want to frequent such a place.

I just work too damn hard to give it away to them1