Poll: Suicide

[Circleseer]

I doubt anyone will read this, 6 pages in, but regardless.

The original subject: Do I mock suicidal people? If it is appropriate in the situation, yes.

Whether or not anyone can be blamed personally for wanting to commit suicide is an extremely difficult question, and is fully dependant on whether there is free will, exactly how hormones and neuron connections result in behavior, and possibly other factors that I am unaware of.

Don't just call such people selfish, they do not have a normal brain configuration or mental state.

More interestingly; if we were able to change a depressed / suicidal person's personality, and thus 'cure' them, would this be ethically acceptable?

 

[Revenge Revisited]

Death is the worst choice you could ever make. Even if I was having a bad time I would never comit suicide EVER.

 

[The Man With the Soap]

As someone who has contemplated suicide before, I will say this. I do not think suicidal behavior is ever justified. If you kill yourself, they win. That philosophy was enough for me. It should be enough for you too.

 

[Lord Of Cyberia]

SNIP

.....I HAVE ADHD and my mother had depression. Depression is caused by a Neurochemical Imbalance which can be treated by application of various forms of medication. This is the position we have come to take after OVER A CENTURY OF RESEARCH ON NEUROLOGY AND THE HUMAN BRAIN. THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IS NOT GOD. THEY CANNOT SIMPLY MAKE UP A CRIPPLING NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION. And saying people should just "Overcome it"?

Let's try that with other mental problems:
Schizophrenics? YOU NEED NO MEDICINE! Just get over your violent hallucinations and psychotic episodes! You can do it, its' just a mental thing!

Bipolar people? You just need to get a little control! All those people who flip out and hurt themselves and others were simply WEAK.

Sociopaths! You're evil because you CHOOSE to be, not because you're completely and utterly devoid of human sympathy due to malformed neural structures that cause you to manipulate and harm those around you!

 

[P.Tsunami]

*Facepalm

Please read my previous comments.

No I don't agree that depression should be a medical disease as it currently is. Im not saying this to be insensitive, but seriously from a medical standpoint it was only added to benefit from the financial pocketbooks of major drug companies. I know this sounds very conspiracy heavy but from a personal experience it is true. Saying that a population is suffering from "Cronic Depression" is the equivalence to saying 80% of the U.S population under the age of 10 have ADHD and need immediate treatment to surcome their disorder....No for the love of god no they dont. Their only problem is that THEY ARE KIDS their Calcitonin levels are there their Insulin levels are not proper yet and they are rambunctious. A natural reaction to a natural cause...thats all depression is. Of course im taking a highly humanist and psychoanalytical approach to this, but a minor hitch in serotonin levels does not constitute a disorder. Dont get me wrong there are worse diseases that have less deficiencies, but take a look at your body under sympathetic stress and you'll find your ALL people suffer from Depression its a mental inhibitor that must be overcome by the individual not drowned out by medication.

I am now seriously worried. I hope, at least, that you do not work at all with anyone dealing with mental disorders. The reason for that, of course, is the arguments you're constructing. While I don't have the time to spare for an exhaustive list, I'll point out a few examples. First, I wouldn't argue that a "minor" hitch in serotonin levels should necessarily constitute and be diagnosed as a mood disorder, sure. But you accompany that with a statement that depression categorically should not be classified a disorder (which is the preferred term when addressing mental health issues, not "disease"). Secondly, you seem to equate that since everyone has, to some degree, the same biochemical processes in their brain, that must mean everyone has depression. That's just as nonsensical as claiming that since everyone's cells grow, everyone has cancer. Thirdly, you prove ham-handedly that you have zero understanding of what the words "humanist" and "psychoanalytical" work. Your entire argument is riddled with rampant flaws, steeped in speculative conspiracy, and only serves to embarrass you.

Again, I urge you to find another job.

 

[WanderingFool]

I naturally prevent people from committing suicide from just being within the area... either that, or there hasnt been anyone who truly felt like com meting suicide around where I live... yeah, never had the opportunity.

 

[marcooos]

Some people commit suicide for completely justifiable reasons, other people kill themselves because they're too cowardly to work out their problems the hard way.

As with any group of people, there are extemes on both sides.

No reason is justifiable enough for suicide to be okay.

What if your family and friends all died in a massive fire which destroyed everything you owned. You were also paralysed in the fire.

You have LITERALLY nothing left. Are you telling me if your lost EVERYTHING all at once you would not kill yourself?

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/538.266196-The-end-of-the-road

Please read the OP.
I am still alive. Although I'm not paralyzed.

Now, tell me another worst case scenario.

Fuck....... mate it makes me a wuss but that made me cry.

You have my utmost respect

 

[P.Tsunami]

I would agree with some of that with the acceptation that if you have dependents and you try to kill yourself you just not a good human being.

...

Let me make sure I've got that on straight. You think that categorically, anyone who - regardless of reason - commits suicide when they have people who have depend on them, are bad human beings?

Are you serious? Have you thought this through?

 

[technophebe]

I just find this thread so utterly ridiculous, it's not even offensive.

Why anyone would think the Escapist forums are a suitable place to discuss such a serious and complex subject is beyond me; it's clear that anyone who is even remotely informed on the issues involved isn't going to take the time to post.

OP, what were you actually hoping to achieve here?

 

[P.Tsunami]

anyone whom abandons their children to be alone without a parent so that they can voluntary end their lives. Yes I do unless their some really convincing reasons why they are doing it.

In which case you're not categorical about it, which is good. The fewer intolerant, ignorant opinions I have to call out here, the better.

 

[thelastgentleman]

SNIP

.....I HAVE ADHD and my mother had depression. Depression is caused by a Neurochemical Imbalance which can be treated by application of various forms of medication. This is the position we have come to take after OVER A CENTURY OF RESEARCH ON NEUROLOGY AND THE HUMAN BRAIN. THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IS NOT GOD. THEY CANNOT SIMPLY MAKE UP A CRIPPLING NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION. And saying people should just "Overcome it"?

Let's try that with other mental problems:
Schizophrenics? YOU NEED NO MEDICINE! Just get over your violent hallucinations and psychotic episodes! You can do it, its' just a mental thing!

Bipolar people? You just need to get a little control! All those people who flip out and hurt themselves and others were simply WEAK.

Sociopaths! You're evil because you CHOOSE to be, not because you're completely and utterly devoid of human sympathy due to malformed neural structures that cause you to manipulate and harm those around you!

Please before you blow a gasket take a deep breath and re-read my statement. Im talking purely about the over diagnosis of depression. ADHD, Schizophrenia, and many other disorders should be taken with serious deliberation however a child who simply has eaten too much sugar or is simply being a child should not be improperly diagnosed just because parents want a cop out for doing their job. Depression should be treated the same way. Proper Psychiatric treatment should be sought out in all cases. In my "personal" (I cant say that enough) this route is not sought out enough. As it lies 91% of depression lies in a deep rooted psychological problem whether it be: Obesity, Bullying, Low Self-Esteem, or Loss. All very "easily" (simple yet arduous process) reversible with the proper help and desire to overcome it. Medication will do nothing but numb the problems. It might help with the feeling but the "disorder" is never gone. If you really want to rid yourself of your monsters FACE THEM!! Take your childhood hero's to heart and follow in their footsteps. My personal favorite character Link from the Zelda Franchise is my favorite. Although facing intolerable and gruesome odds this hero emerges from a humble background. Facing foes and EVEN HIMSELF (in the Ocarina of Time water temple) Link defeats his enemies and creates a brighter future, his past is not forgotten but instead acts as a stepping stone for his future endevours. Use this as your cure not chemically made pills. Now I get paid for every non-generic drug I prescribe to my patients, but Ill gladly forgo the extra income if it means that people are able to help themselves without my intervention. If there is ever a time my job become useless...well then on that day I can retire and die a happy man, but until then all a can do is warn you of your own actions and hope you make the right decision.

 

[JeetKuneDonut]

(Suicide) is the only way powerless people can think of to take others' attention away from their own shame. The intention is not to die, but to hide.
-Orson Scott Card

 

[icyneesan]

Suicide in real life: Depends, if a person keeps failing to kill themselves one has to wonder what else could be left for them

Suicide in video games: That guys got chainsaw for arm and you backpedal into a zombie/corner, you might as well throw grenades at your feat and hope you get the kill *shrug*

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

I always try to help. Making fun of them would be incredibly cruel IMO.

 

[Soluncreed]

Yes I have mocked a suicidal person. In person, never. As a joke, yes. I am of the personal belief that nothing should be allowed to escape humor. It is just a joke.

Personally, I don't really care if a person commits suicide, as this is their choice, not mine. People are in control of themselves and choose to act upon that power. Who I am to deny that of them.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

I've joked with the few suicidal people I know about it, only to get theirs minds off of it and get them to laugh, but I'm not gonna be mean spirited about it. I'm not gonna take their reasons and berate them for it, that's just mean and a dick move. It's not for me to have a say about their life unless they asked me for it, but Jesus some of these comments here are just cold.

For the record, when I've joked with those people, I knew they could take a joke, so it's not like I was doing it to be cruel.