If you've been on any social media platform within the last week or so, then chances are you've seen some post relating to the new Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. Originally a book by Jay Asher, the story centers around a high school girl named Hannah Baker who committed suicide and left behind thirteen tapes containing the reasons why she killed herself. The tapes are dedicated to specific people in her life- the people who drove her to the act.

Upon the book's release in 2007, there was immediate backlash because of its content. Having read the book myself, I can say it is nothing more than a dramatized young adult novel written to entertain those who can successfully read at a sixth grade level. With that being said, its subject matter is nothing short of wildly inappropriate. A mystery/thriller centering around suicide doesn't exactly sound like the first choice for a young adult novel. Or at least, not in the way it is depicted in the book. It doesn't target suicide prevention, it targets the thrill of Hannah Baker's story that lead to her suicide.

This brings me to the new Netflix series. If the book is dramatic, then the show is ridiculous. From the very first episode it is blatantly clear that the main goal is to sell, to get views, to stir up conversations and whispers. Some will argue that it sheds a light on bullying and promotes suicide prevention. As someone who was bullied and has survived suicide, I believe that this show is nothing short of a disgusting, pompous display of Hollywood showmanship at its finest.

My first thought regarding this series is that if they knew what kind of controversy the book caused, then why would they make into a series? Think about it. Think about how many copies of 13 Reasons Why were purchased simply because readers were shocked that such a thing would be written. It's similar to E. L. James's 50 Shades of Grey, it sold because of the disturbance it created. From a marketing standpoint, the only thing that might actually sell better than sex is human tragedy. Now, in all fairness, the only person who can know the book's true intentions would be Mr. Asher, but from my point view, not much good came from his book. If you have to read two hundred and forty-five pages and watch thirteen episodes, each an hour long, before you realize that bullying is a problem and your actions impact others, then there is clearly something fundamentally wrong with our nation, and this story isn't going to fix it.

My next thought deals with the blatant showmanship of the series. Everything from the sets, the lighting, the music, and the cast gives away the fact that it is nothing more than an opportunity to make money. The high school is full of hot young actors who go about their day brooding over their problems as if it's Twilight. Does anything in that show remind you of "real life"? My life definitely doesn't look like that, never has and never will. So how could it address real life issues if it doesn't correctly portray real life? Then the producers decided to take their portrayal of "real life" a huge, inappropriate step forward and actually portray the suicide of Hannah Baker- who graphically slits her wrists on camera. I have to live with my failed suicide attempt every day, and every little thing reminds me of it- it is always there in the back of my mind. Personally, this scene is indescribably painful to watch; it makes me physically sick. Maybe the producers wanted to show the ugly truth about suicide, but I think that showing Hannah sitting in a tub with her wrists spewing blood doesn't exactly send the message "suicide is bad", but rather "check out this gore". I only watched the show so I could form an educated opinion on it before I actually said anything, and my recommendation is to avoid it. Don't give them the ratings they want. There isn't a new lesson to be learned from watching it.

I do believe that suicide, mental health, and bullying should be more openly discussed, but I also believe that this show and book are not the mediums through which these topics should be discussed. As I previously stated, there is something fundamentally wrong with America when it comes to these issues. Change may come slowly, but it is well worth the wait.