Poll: Suicide: Choice or Response?

[Jake0fTrades]

As a disclaimer, neither me nor my friend mean any offense to anyone who has had unfortunate dealings regarding the topic of suicide.

The other day, me and my friend were having a discussion. Is suicide a choice that someone consciously makes due to extreme depression or hardship; or is it a response to depression?

By my definition, a response is a reaction to a certain event or circumstance, for example: a lit match falls into the woods, the trees catching on fire is the response.

A choice on the other hand, is a conscious decision made by an individual, for example: a man is lazy, and makes the decision to throw a lit match out of his car door window.

My belief is that suicide is a choice, my friend believes it is a response.

Escapists, you have the floor.

EDIT:

I'm liking all the different reactions, however can we please try and stay respectful to those here who can't speak for themselves? If you think suicide is "weak" or "selfish", you can just say "I don't like it". We don't need to insult the people who've felt downtrodden and depressed enough to end their own lives.

 

[DJDarque]

I think depression is the response to other factors, but suicide is a choice.

 

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

I'm with Dr. Kevorkian on this one - it is a choice.

 

[The Night Shade]

Both it can be a response to extreme depression or just someone who doesn't like to live anymore for no apparent reason

 

[Knife]

It depends on whether or not you believe in free will, if you dont then everything is a response. If you do believe in free will, then basically everything a human does is a choice.

 

[redisforever]

Huh, never though about it like that before....

I think it's sort of both, because it can be a choice, or a response.
It really depends on the circumstances, and all people are different, and will behave differently in the same situation.

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

It is a choice. Responsibility ultimately (though not always exclusively)lies with the individual performing the action.

 

[TheComedown]

Well a response is a choice, no matter the circumstance, you can choose how to respond.

 

[legion431]

If depression is a factor of a bipolar disorder then they would swing between depression and mania[extreme happiness]. So someone could go from wanting to kill themselves to wanting to live life to the fullest, which could also be dangerous. I think that it is a response of depression, but if it can't be fixed they probably don't want to spend their life in depression or jacked up on some sort of medication.

EDIT: But if suicide isn't factored by depression, but another outside force, such as a break up, the person would eventually get over it. So I say it's a combination of the two.

 

[Agayek]

I think depression is the response to other factors, but suicide is a choice.

Basically this.

The way I see it, involuntary reactions are a response, things like your emotional state or autonomous functions, whereas any action you perform is a choice.

Since suicide takes the performance of actions, it is clearly a choice.

I also am of the opinion that those who commit suicide are the weakest possible human beings. Suicide is the ultimate expression of weakness and inability to cope with reality. It's my opinion that anyone who attempts it is not worthy of the gift they are trying to throw away.

 

[emeraldrafael]

I think its choice, cause you can snap yourself out of it.

Example. I myself and a close friend of mine have both had our runnings in with suicide. I when my first gf died, he when life got too stressful and was being mercilessly bullied. I decided after a night of staring at the barrel of a gun that it would do no good to kill myself just because she died.

My friend was snapped out of it after I finally had enough and told him to nut up or shut up. I handed him the gun and told him if he wants to do this he'd better pull the trigger or I will. It sobered him up quick.

If it was reaction, I would have shot myself. As would my friend.

 

[jawakiller]

I could kill myself right now. I don't wanna but I could prolly pull it off. I thinks its a choice.

 

[Twilight_guy]

I find your notion of "response" veuge. If the forest erupts in flames you make the choice to run. You could just as easily choose to stay. It sounds more like your trying to get at the notion of "response" as a subconscious or largely uncontrollable action. The forest lighting up would awaken a basic instinct that would strongly influence you instinctively.
Suicide is a choice. Clinical depression is not. You can't control depression. You can control suicide mostly because its not a natural response (animals have a base desire to live unless their brain chemistry is really off or under extreme duress) and even when pushed by many factors it still involves planning out a way to commit the act and thus formulating a deciding. You don't accidentally go "whoops I killed myself without noticing or controlling my actions, a-hyuck." There is some degree of planning that goes into it implying choice. You could make an argument that stress can affect judgment and make the thing a choice based on poor judgment but not that its not a choice at all.

 

[CManator]

Depression can be a response to one's environment or situation.

Thoughts of suicide can be a response to depression.

But I cannot imagine a situation where the act of intentionally killing oneself is not a choice. Maybe I misinterpreted somewhere but I don't see why this is even a question.

 

[Ken Sapp]

Suicide is always a choice, maybe not made with a clear head but it is a choice no matter what other factors are involved. Depression is a treatable disorder, if you or someone you know is suffering from it then you need to contact a professional and get help.

 

[NorthernTrooper]

Seeing as both of my parents committed suicide, my mom when I was 9 and my dad when I was 17, I believe I have a good say on this topic.

To me, suicide is a choice. You have the choice of dealing with what life throws at you and enduring hardship for those you love, or taking the easy way out and taking your own life.