What are your thoughts on suicide?

[Necrosis1994]

It's a subject I often find myself thinking about for one reason or another and I'm curious what my fellow Escapists think about it.

I know a lot of people find it to be one of the most selfish things a person can do and while I can see the argument that's being made I personally don't find that to be true in all cases..if any at all. Those who actually go through with it were obviously very troubled and more than likely weren't thinking ahead as to how it may affect those around them.

So what are your thoughts on suicide?

 

[theparsonski]

I still can't freaking do it.

 

[Hazy992]

I think people are too quick to judge people who commit suicide. I'm not saying it's an answer, and if you know someone who is suicidal then of course you need to intervene, but you don't know what was going through their heads that made them do that. The fact that someone is so miserable, so devoid of hope that they decide death is a better option is not something people should be mocked and judged for.

 

[senordesol]

It is a permanent solution to what is most of the time a temporary problem. Tragic, wasteful, and extremely irritating when my train is late -AGAIN because someone couldn't sort out their shit.

I'll make allowances for medically assisted suicide (like when they are going to be in nothing but pain for the rest of their life), but -apart from that- sometimes the buttercups need to buck up.

 

[GigaHz]

Honestly, this may sound incredibly morbid, but I encourage people to weigh the options and potential benefits of suicide.

If you are unloved by family or friends, if you have no or slim career prospects, if you are a burden to someone or society, or if you have willingly or unwillingly destroyed other peoples lives, suicide may be your best option.

Otherwise, stop dwelling on your issues and make something of yourself. If you "can't", solutions exist, therapy or medicinal. You can think "what if it doesn't work?" or even give it a shot expecting nothing to change, but if you don't at least try to visualize a solution to your problems, psychologically, they will never fade.

Take it from someone who has "been there" if you get my drift.

 

[Rawne1980]

I have no thoughts on it whatsoever.

What people get up to is their own business.

 

[krazykidd]

I got nothing against suicide as long as the person doesn't piss people off while doing t , like jumping in front of a train or slittig his wrists in a primary school . The reason i feel this way is because , people die every day of unforseen circumstances, accidents , murder and what not. Why should one be able to choose when and how he / she dies . That being said i don't encourage peopleto of themselves , but it is ultimately their choice . And stopping someone for killing themselves , but They would miss said , person is pretty selfish .

Come. At . Me . Bros.

 

[tippy2k2]

Wow, I didn't think I'd have the controversial opinion here but...

I think it's the most selfish and cowardly act that someone can possibly do. Once your life is taken, it's over for you. However, think about all of the people that you are now letting down (not to mention future people). As required by the Internet Act of 1996, here is a great Cracked article [http://www.cracked.com/article_15658_the-ten-minute-suicide-guide.html] that explains my feelings on it. If you don't want to read the article, I think the important part is this: The Vast majority of the time, they're upset over something that is temporary and will change

My friend's friend committed suicide and it completely wrecked her for a good week (not counting the lasting affects) and I'm sure it did a number on all the other people who knew him as well (hell, this was a friend. How about the family members, his wife, his kids, etc). MAYBE there are a handful of people out in the world with absolutely NO ONE who cares about them at all but even then, I'm going with the "future friends" thing...

You can argue all you want that the suicidal person doesn't realize that they're going to hurt everyone around them but that doesn't make their actions OK.

EDIT: Also, if you intend to quote me and try to get me to debate this, don't bother. I am going off of the experience I have with this subject; namely the damage it caused to the "victim's" loved ones. I've had suicidal thoughts (who hasn't?) but have never been in a deep enough depression to think of it as an actual option in life. This is one of those hot button topics that will not result in anyone getting their mind changed but has the tendency to flame up and burn everyone down...

 

[Jedoro]

All rights can be surrendered with consent, so why not extend that to life? If you really want out that bad, I don't care to stop you. Just don't get upset if someone pisses on your grave because they thought you made a bad decision.

 

[Relish in Chaos]

I think, in numerous cases, you have to put yourself in the person's shoes. For example, those with extremely debilitating illnesses of unimaginable pain, both to themselves and their family, in which case euthanasia might be the best thing for them.

I believe some people jump to conclusions too quickly when they say that those who commit suicide are selfish, because they have no idea what that person's going through, and sometimes, people just feel trapped and actually don't think that anyone would care when they die. So, before you label all suicide cases as "selfish", try to have some empathy and don't act so "holier-than-thou" and prejudiced, saying, "Well, if I could deal with something like that, why couldn't they? Coward." That's not the right attitude to take with clinically depressed people like this.

 

[JimB]

Suicide is selfish. Of course it is. It is the decision to affect the lives of everyone around you by ending your own, and you're doing it because for yourself. The thing is, selfishness is not the same thing as wrong or bad. Ultimately, your life is your life, and no one else can live it for you. You have to decide when it has no further value to you.

And to everyone who says suicide is cowardly: That's crap. Unless you've tasted the barrel of the gun, unless you've started sawing the razor through your veins, unless you've stared at the rocky foot of the cliff, you have no idea what you're talking about or how much effort it took to override your screaming instinct for self-preservation to get there. You might not agree that self-annihilation is the best choice, but don't pretend that overcoming a fear of death is somehow easier than overcoming a fear of life.

 

[Relish in Chaos]

It is the decision to affect the lives of everyone around you by ending your own

As I aforementioned, many suicide cases actually think that no-one would care about them when they die. I heard a story about these two depressed boys that routinely talked about their desire to commit suicide. One of the boys became worse, while the other one was about to go on holiday. The first boy asked the second one to stay because he needed him, but the second boy brushed it aside and said that he'd be fine, and he'd only be gone for a couple of weeks or months. Sometime later, the second boy recieved a phone call from the first boy's mother or someone saying that he'd hung himself, leaving a note that said, "No-one cared enough to stay".

Something like that. When you remove that from the equation, it becomes much easier to understand these people's mindset. For them, there's no other way out of their living hell than to just end it all, and they've forced themselves into thinking that no-one would care if they died due to possible neglect, apathy or whatever. It's sad, but it's true.

 

[Broady Brio]

From a objective point of view? A rather selfish act. Who does it affect? Pretty much everyone that person knows. 99/100 times, it is likely to impact everyone negatively.

However, I can understand why someone would do that, I've contemplated it before and so have many people.

 

[Necrosis1994]

It is the decision to affect the lives of everyone around you by ending your own

As I aforementioned, many suicide cases actually think that no-one would care about them when they die. I heard a story about these two depressed boys that routinely talked about their desire to commit suicide. One of the boys became worse, while the other one was about to go on holiday. The first boy asked the second one to stay because he needed him, but the second boy brushed it aside and said that he'd be fine, and he'd only be gone for a couple of weeks or months. Sometime later, the second boy recieved a phone call from the first boy's mother or someone saying that he'd hung himself, leaving a note that said, "No-one cared enough to stay".

Something like that. When you remove that from the equation, it becomes much easier to understand these people's mindset. For them, there's no other way out of their living hell than to just end it all, and they've forced themselves into thinking that no-one would care if they died due to possible neglect, apathy or whatever. It's sad, but it's true.

This. I personally feel that way more than I'd like and it's an awful feeling. And I have to say that's quite a depressing story

 

[Aerosteam]

I think if someone absolutely gives up on life, says to themselves there's no point in living, they should able to commit suicide when they want to. Everyone should die happy, so maybe by painless, lethal injection in a bed surrounded by family/friends. By choice, of course.

 

[Ectoplasmicz]

It's a really tough subject.

On one hand, you can call it selfish due to the great grief caused to the loved ones of the person. But on the other hand, it is that persons life. They are in full control of their life and ultimately should be able to make any decisions they see fit concerning themselves. Most (if not all) of those who do commit suicide are very troubled, and don't do it without any previous thoughts and deliberation.

Quite honestly, I cannot sway to one side or the other, because I agree with both arguments. It's an extremely tough subject, and it is difficult to dismiss either argument.

 

[Professor James]

I think it is a permanent solution to a probably temporary problem.

Edit: Wow this is one of the few times I've been ninja'd