Computer Program Tells You If Poets Are Suicidal

from the it-does-what? dept

Ah, here's an article that was made for this topic. Some researchers in Texas have written a computer program that will analyze poems to see if the poet is suicidal. Apparently, suicidal poets tend to use the words "me", "I" and "my" slightly more than your everyday, healthy, well-adjusted poets. So, be careful with the friend who shows you the poem entitled "Me, myself, and I". It's good to see computers being put to good use these days.
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  • identicon
    another Mike, 27 Jul 2001 @ 1:47pm

    I don't know...

    When I read an article about this earlier in the week, I didn't get the impression that it was all that stupid. A psychologist was looking for insights into the thoughts of people who commit suicide. He found some interesting differences between the writings of the poets who committed suicide vs. the poets who did not. These differences may yeild some clues to the thought processes suicidal people. The Register implies that all the analysis is good for is predicting which poets are going to kill themselves. They completely dismiss the idea that any useful information could be obtained from this study that could apply to the general population. The Register doesn't give any of the details from the study which, I feel, gave it credibility. IMHO, very poor journalism.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      dasee, 8 Aug 2003 @ 3:36pm

      Re: I don't know...

      hmmm-
      having gone through a suicidal phase
      actually been caught in a wild daze
      crazily attempting to inflict harm
      with a blade on an unsuspecting arm

      by the same hand that left off writing why
      happen you read its verses by and by
      you'd scarcely find a reference to see
      perchance how these lines continue to be

      flowing and showing up in such places
      words written to anonymous faces
      is they deflect away from what’s hidden
      even though compelled to tell unbidden

      don’t expect to find through analysis
      examining what you’ve been led to miss

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    mhh5, 28 Jul 2001 @ 1:06am

    I, Me, Mine

    does that mean the Beatles were suicidal??

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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