Poll: Can suicide be rational?

[CuddlyCombine]

What do you think? While I realize that it may be a hard topic, given the subjectivity involved in justifying something like suicide, think about it; in a case where a completely sane individual decides to kill him/herself, do you think rationale and logic can be applied? Is it destined to stay forever objective, mind-independent and only understood by those who have actually gone through the thoughts?

Grand displays of suicide discounted (jumping out of a train, shooting yourself on webcam, etc.). We're assuming that, since the subject would be sane, they'd use a convenient, quick method (poison et al.) that wouldn't traumatize everyone close to themselves. Too much, at least.

My view: yes, it could be rational. Sometimes, things become bad past the point of fixing them, and the benefits of death (to both oneself and loved ones) outweigh those of life. Of course, that's hypothetical, I've never seen this happen in real life.

Poll included for you folks who'll shout "TL;DR" unless you've got the Cliffs notes. Oh, and respect opinions and all that jazz.

 

[timmytom1]

Hmm...
No.

Rational person:
"My life is awful."
Solution:
"Where's the liquor cabinet?"

Insane person:
"My life is awful."
Solution:
"Let's end it all on a low note."
Logic:
"Were you just not going to consult me on this?"

*Downs whiskey botlle* Alcoholism FTW!!!!!

 

[Xvito]

Not really...

I mean, rational people don't want to die.

 

[darrinwright]

Suicide is never rational. A rational being would not choose a permanent solution to a (98% likely) temporary problem.

MaxTheReaper also has a good example.

 

[Fairee]

I would say yes, suicide can be logical. Whenever I get suicidal, my thoughts stay purely logical and, to an extent, cold. My thought process is that my life has never been good, and there is no proof that it can change, so therefore it will not change. As a result, it will never be good, and so therefore why continue living when things are never going to turn out good?

Also, I can understand someone who has a terminal illness contemplating suicide in a logical fashion. If you are going to die anyway, why put off the inevitable?

Having been suicidal myself, I understand that others may not be able to see things from the same point of view. But the OP asked what do you think, so I gave my thoughts.

 

[Haydyn]

Rational person:
I've lost my house, my job, my family, there's nowhere for me to go. *Kills self*

It's possible.

 

[Internet Kraken]

If someone was suffering horribly every day, and they had no way of escaping from this suffering, then I can understand why they would want to kill themselves.

However most people who commit suicide are not suffering like this.

 

[dnnydllr]

If your life is really that bad, I'd say leave the life you have and start a new one or something. But why would you kill yourself? Honestly if your willing to die at least sign up for the army. I think there can be no logic in killing yourself.

 

[sizzle949]

It's rational for someone with several uncurable diseases that force them into constant suffering and make it so they cant live a fulfilling life. I'm not talking about euthanasia because that means that they were killed without their consent. But I'm sure a life spent on drugs in a bed suffering isn't all it's cracked up to be.

It is not rational for some little teenage emo kid who sad because nobody likes them or because they are going .through a hard time... that is quite irrational

 

[ElephantGuts]

Yes. Sometimes things happen in life that are out of your control that make your life unbearable and suicide a perfectly reasonable option. Sure there's a chance you could get out of it, but sometimes it's not always worth suffering through things in the hopes of your situation improving.

Besides, suicide isn't always about escaping a bad situation. There are plenty of other potential circumstances in which someone may need to kill themselves.

 

[Andalusa]

Not really bu...
You know, this reminds me of a lesson in school, we were doing about suicide and euthanasia and stuff. It was a happy, fun lesson filled with smiles and happiness and shiney things and ...stuff.?
No, suicide is not rational.

 

[CuddlyCombine]

If someone was suffering horribly every day, and they had no way of escaping from this suffering, then I can understand why they would want to kill themselves.

However most people who commit suicide are not suffering like this.

True. I didn't say that this is a widespread phenomenon; I'm just wondering whether people classify all suicidal individuals as crazy or think that there may be a select few who actually still retain their sanity.

Imagine all the action movie heroes we wouldn't know today if they hadn't developed that suicidal urge to tear shit up with a M249 SAW...

 

[_Janny_]

I would say yes, suicide can be logical. My thought process is that my life has never been good, and there is no proof that it can change, so therefore it will not change. As a result, it will never be good, and so therefore why continue living when things are never going to turn out good?

Pretty much my idea as well, couldn't have worded it better myself. You're in charge of you own life, so nobody should have the right to put you in a straitjacket and forbid you to act as you wish.

And how would drinking help anyways? It'll just make your life seem more meaningless. If you lose your family, job, friends, is there any point to stick around? I'd say that is a pretty good (and logical) reason not to.

 

[GodsOneMistake]

Not unless that persons death will save others in some way. Or they are in a lot of emotional or physical pain

 

[ryai458]

you would hate to be rich now thats bull