I need some help, no joke here (moral, moral)

[DA_Cloud]

I have found out recently that one of my aqquantences is thinking about killing my friend (now known as K). I found something that discribes it and the joy he will get from killing k, like a journal almost, but its all bout killing k. Should i tell someone or is he possibly just fantisizing about it? Can anyone help me? I'm really lost, my aqquaintace has a very short temper and holds a grudge very well. Until now he has just been in alot of fights. I'm worried for k, but i also don't want to ruin this guy's future if i'm wrong.
Thank you for your time,
DA_Cloud

[Druidus]

Get advice from a psychologist. They will be able to help you help him. I am at a loss of what to do, however...

[Saw11_2000]

I feel your pain here.

Anyways, it's hard to decide which one. Some people are all talk...I'll $#*( you up...I'll $#&* them up...etc, but if this aquaintance has past tendencies of being violent, you might want to tell someone like the police. Do you think deep down this person is capable of carrying this out, or are they all talk? Or do they want attention?

[Druidus]

This person isn't saying it, Saw. DC found it in a private journal.

[Saw11_2000]

Sorry, the meds are messing me up.

Private journal...ehh...you might want to take that one seriously. When it's private, USUALLY they don't want attention, unless they try to make it obvious.

[Prima]

One cause for concern is that it seems as though he/she has been thinking about this for a long time. That's pretty serious.

Think about a few things:

- how will you feel if s/he does harm your friend, and you could have stopped it from happening?
- more to the point, how would you feel about spending time in prison because you didn't tell? You have a legal obligation to tell things like this, and if you don't - even if nothing happens - you can get in serious trouble
- if you didn't think s/he was capable of doing it, you would be so worried.
- if you tell, instead of ruining his/her life, you might help it


In your place, I would definitely tell. Go to a psychologist, a school officer...whoever. DO NOT tell your friend. DO NOT spread it around.

Good luck Remember that even though people might get ticked off at you, you did the right thing, legally and morally.

[Saw11_2000]

On second thought...do what the lady says!^

Good luck.

[kreeden]

It sounds as if that person , at the very less , has an obession . Which isn't healthy . If you don't feel comfortab;e confronting your " friend " , then get another to do so . { teacher , parent , priest , whatever ** .

Prima gives good advice , in my opinion . Do NOT spread it around .

[Unedited]

Would you feel comfortable talking to your acquiantance about the journal? Or maybe just talk to him about other things you've noticed about him lately, so you don't have to admit you found the journal. You should be careful about talking to him though, especially since he has a short temper. A public place would be best; though he may make a scene, it'd be much safer.

If you just don't feel comfortable talking to him by yourself, a psychologist or psychiatrist (or maybe a school counselour if you're still in school, though I personally don't trust them) would be your best bet. Either way, you probably need to get him to talk to a psychiatrist. People don't just obesses about killing someone for no reason; your friend sounds like he needs more help than K.

Calling the police or telling everything to someone who's not going to keep the secret would probably not be a good idea. Since your friend hasn't acutually done anything yet, there's probably very little the police could do, but you could very well scare or anger your friend. If you told someone else they might be able to help you help both K and your friend, but then again they might freak out and make things worse.

This is a sensitive situation and it's hard to know exactly what to do. Most importantly, make sure you think everything through before you act.

[michel]

I think Prima is right -as usual - if you involve the police, or some other authoritarian organization, you might end up with egg on your face if this guy turns around and says "I'm always writing stuff like that - last week I was writing about destroying the world!".

I can understand your dilema, and you need the comfort of knowing that you are passing the responsability of the situation onto someone far better prepared than you to deal with it (called 'passing the buck'). Seriously, you shouldn't have to deal with problems like that - you are not equipped; get someone else involved.