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A Discussion About "Thirteen Reasons Why"

It's not about the show/book, it's about the message.

Alyssa Erb

Apr 13, 2017

Indiana State University

A Discussion About "Thirteen Reasons Why"

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A new Netflix TV series is taking us by storm. It's called "Thirteen Reasons Why." Without spoilers, I'll tell you the main plot just in case you haven't read the book or caught into the craze about the show. Hannah Baker is a high school student who commits suicide, but before she does she records 13 tapes, each tape is dedicated to a certain person and it describes what that person did to hurt Hannah or make her life as miserable as it was. The tapes started with the person on tape 1 and continued to be passed through the ranks. No one dares tell a soul, or their secrets would be let out and their lives potentially ruined. We follow Clay through as he listens, and then reacts, to each tape.

That's it. That's all I'll tell you. I'd hate to spoil anything. This article isn't about the show or the book, it's about the message. "Thirteen Reasons Why" shows us just how cruel people can be and what some students go through without their parents, friends, or school administrators ever truly knowing. It shows how alone a person can feel.

This is serious stuff guys.

What if something you said pushed a person over the brink? What if you were the one on the receiving end? I know a lot of you are probably thinking that this is no big deal, that people get their feelings hurt too easily. This may be true in some cases, but also consider this, what if they also leave school and go to an even worse home life? What if they are abused (physical, verbal, etc) at home and school is supposed to be their escape? You never truly know or understand what another person is going through, even if you think that you do.

If you're that person that feels all alone, you're not. I promise you that much. There is someone that cares about you, someone that would miss you if you were gone. There are so many resources out there if you need help. The National hotline number is 1-800-273-8255. You're not alone.

On another note, I've been seeing memes on social media poking fun at the show, like in the image seen below. First off, I don't think it's funny. The girl in the movie/show was seriously hurt, and while it may be fiction in this instance, it's real for some people. Depression and suicide are not things to make light of. Stop joking. It hurts.

Everyone has their own struggles, don't pretend to know what everyone else is going through and don't act like your struggles are worse than someone else's, it's degrading. If you need help, don't be afraid to ask for it. If you know that someone is struggling, reach out to them. Above all, just be nice.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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