Not sure where to put this
I need to know if I did the right thing.

A few hours ago I was talking to my pal with whom I've been friends with since we were in school. I've since moved abroad and I'm 6000-ish miles away. We keep in touch via MSN.
Today he started talking strangely, he wanted to ask a "serious question" but changed the subject quickly, stating that it wasn't important.
Not long after this, I walked away from the computer for a few minutes. When I returned, he was offline and he had said "right. i think it's time, if i disappear for a while... take care. it's been awesome. bye bye buddy"
I panicked because I thought he'd killed himself.
I searched for his phone number everywhere, on my old mobile from the UK, in address books, everywhere. I had nothing to go on, just a name and a vague idea of an address.

I decided to call the UK police over Skype at 3am GMT to track down my friend with only a name. Two hours later, I got a response from the police. He was ok. He was confused as to why I thought he was going to commit suicide, and why the police showed up at his house at 4am.

Did I do the right thing, or am I an idiot?
( Grokthought wouldn't pay that for Chinese 5-Spice, Sun 12 Oct 2008, 10:12, 12 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

You're
most definitely not an idiot.
(Eds Meds Mathskillz=1,Socialskillz=0, Sun 12 Oct 2008, 10:15, Reply)

^agrees.
He has a very good friend if you ask me.
( girlinthehole, Sun 12 Oct 2008, 10:41, Reply)

Sounds like you have your head screwed the right way
If you ask me.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Sun 12 Oct 2008, 11:11, Reply)

You're not an idiot.
His message could be read to mean that he wanted to disappear for a while because he had stuff to do and that talking to you had been awesome etc. but he did make it sound a bit like it'd be the last time you'd hear from him.

The trouble with text is that it's often difficult to read the tone. Your reaction was the best one, under the circumstances.
( thealternativefact, Sun 12 Oct 2008, 11:14, Reply)

You did exactly the right thing
He is honoured to have a friend like you.
( Mrs Entity is in hiding., Sun 12 Oct 2008, 11:33, Reply)

Given the circumstances
You did exactly the right thing. He has a good mate
(Fredz A graveyard of hopes, a dump of ambition, Sun 12 Oct 2008, 12:11, Reply)

what do you do when someone tells you they're popping out for some milk?

( glued eel /questions/questionsyoudliketoask/post1648081, Sun 12 Oct 2008, 14:51, Reply)

.... FOR A WHILE.....
Unless he's jesus, you're a twat. And even then, it doesn't matter if it's jesus, because he'll come back anyway.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Sun 12 Oct 2008, 14:54, Reply)

Hes lucky to know you
I would of just shrugged and closed the window. I'm such a terrible person.
( theniwokeup has been awake since, Sun 12 Oct 2008, 14:57, Reply)

It was the right thing to do.
Remember me telling of the Mad Stripper? There was one night when I was at work and she called me and was highly upset and sounded drunk. During the course of the conversation she told me that she had taken all of her remaining Valium, eight or ten of them. She wasn't coherent enough for me to get much more than that out of her, and she hung up shortly thereafter.

I thought about it for a few minutes, said a few very bad words and called 911 and had the cops go check on her.

She turned out to be okay and was rather angry with me for embarrassing her in this way- but I'd rather have her angry and embarrassed than have to spend the rest of my life knowing that she had died of an overdose because I had done nothing...
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Sun 12 Oct 2008, 16:25, Reply)

Thanks guys
It turns out he has been feeling pretty down and was indeed having the bad thoughts.
I don't feel so bad now.
( Grokthought wouldn't pay that for Chinese 5-Spice, Sun 12 Oct 2008, 18:07, Reply)

Better to have done it
and it turn out OK, than not bothered and rgeretted it forever.
(hutchers, Mon 13 Oct 2008, 18:40, Reply)