MySpace Suicide
| MySpace Suicide |
|---|
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| Original YTMND: |
| Myspace Suicide (Original/Unedited) |
| by cobalt |
| December 1,2005 |
| Worthy Spinoffs: |
| Used Music: |
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The Myspace Suicide fad is based on a suicide annouced on Myspace during late November.
Contents
Day of the Suicide
On the morning of November 29, 2005, Joshua Ballard posted the following message to his MySpace:
- From: you BROKE my LIFE
- Date: Nov 29, 2005 11:14 AM
- Subject: do me a favore....
- Body: call the police.
- address: 27802 Abadejo, Mission Viejo, CA 92692.
- tell them to go down the hall to the bathrooom.
- im soo sorry <3
According to the Orange County coroner's office Josh shot himself in the head fifteen minutes after posting the message.
Two days later, news of the suicide hit YTMND. Muzzleflash's site appears to have been the first, but cobalt's MySpace Suicide, created 15 minutes later, gained more attention and set the standards for the ensuing fad.
Fad Structure
The fad typically sees YTMND fad characters posting suicide notes in the form of Ballard's, with the reason being explained in the style of Ballard's username (e.g. Darth Vader's "you BROKE my EMPIRE") The text from cobalt's site, "And he really did commit suicide," is often used. The fad quickly grew at an alarming rate within 2 days, yielding over 200 parodies before dying out.
The music of choice for the fad is Simple Plan's "Untitled," which had already become of a mainstay of YTMNDs mocking emo or otherwise depressed people. Due to the unpopularity of the song, the fad became more hated by the community than it would be if it had better music choice.
Reaction
Initially, many were dubious that Ballard's suicide was not an online hoax. Several YTMNDs were created to point out that, although people were leaving mournful comments on Ballard's MySpace as early as November 30, he appeared to have logged in on December 1 and December 2. A non-supernatural explanation has not presented itself, although it is certainly likely that Ballard's next of kin would have turned on his computer, and that his MySpace.com cookies did not expire when he did.
Ballard's MySpace account has since been taken over by a relative or friend to protect the site from vandalism and help those affected by suicide.
NARV Status
The MySpace Suicide fad is not well-loved possibly due to parodizing of a dead person as well as the overuse of Simple Plan's "Untitled". The fad is often associated with the NARVs due to the numerous attempts at making a myspace suicide site for various fads and news events. For example, after news of an attempted suicide by Cowboys WR Terrel Owens was annouced, there was over 15 attempts at a myspace suicide based on T.O., all scoring very low ratings. At this point, the myspace suicide is considered a dead fad.
Was it a hoax?
Some time after the sopposed 'Myspace Suicide', a blog was either created or edited. The following was said: "This Whole Profile is a joke so Don't Take it seriousley I do not want to commit Suicide". Whether this is just MySpace vandalism, or an actualy entry by Joshua Ballard, is unknown. NOTE: As he spelt 'favor' wrong, it seems that 'seriously' has been spelt wrong also. The lack of english grammer could lead many to believe it IS Joshua Ballard, and some come to believe it is someone mocking him.
External Links
- MySpace Suicide YTMNDs
- Josh Ballard's MySpace
- The suicide note (it's either been locked or deleted)
- "They have MySpace in heaven, right?" The Phoenix, 3/28/2006
- The revealing MySpace suicide blog entry
