Cameraphone snappers edge on "jumper"

A dark cloud of morbid fascination lingered over Edinburgh on Monday as the first rush hour of the week loomed, reports the Scotsman.

Crowds gathered to stare at a "jumper", balanced precariously on a 2ft ledge, 100ft above the glass roof of Waverley Station.

Onlookers with "camera-phones held aloft, manoeuvred themselves into the best spot to get a snap, a hush descending when the man appeared to wake from his slumber and start to move.

"Just jump," shouted one sadistic voyeur".

In this age of 24-hour news reports and instant access to footage of everything from murder scenes to war zones, it appears that we have become hardened to even the most basic human emotion: compassion.

All credit then to the lone individual who, when encouraged by her companion to stay and watch, was overheard to ask: "Why would I want to watch someone die?"

Thankfully, no-one did die and the man was finally rescued early on Monday morning after he fell asleep, enabling firefighters to secure a harness around his waist before hoisting him to safety."

emily | 2:58 PM | How people and businesses are using cameraphones |
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/picturephoning/archives/2005/04/008122.htm