Suicide

[Buddhagirl]

Me either...this thread hits way too close to home, and I worry that I'll lose my cool and piss off some people that I consider friends. For some unfathomable reason, I keep coming back to read it though

Gotta agree with Sunstroke on this one.  Philly, too. 

[MaineDolFan]

I think it's important to remember that Frimp's opinion and feelings are just as valid as anyone else's.  Most of us have been touched by this subject, so it will be a sticky one to delve into.

I personally will leave it at this:  I personally wish everyone a calm soul.  A lot to ask, yes, but that's my wish.

[Brian Fein]

Brian, I didnt start this thread to start a fight. I just needed to blow off some steam.

I know you didn't.  I was worried about something else...

Its a complicated subject, which different people experience in different ways.  I just didn't want all those differences to clash and create a firestorm, that's all.

[SCFinFan]

I'm with Maine on this one, and the rest of the people who've felt the complicated repercussions of the act of suicide. One of the most interesting cases of suicide that I've read about is the case of R. Budd Dwyer. Have any of your heard of him? If you haven't then read this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budd_Dwyer

Certainly an interesting, tragic act. Alot of art has dealt with it too. Romeo and Juliet, Madame Bovary, the Faerie Queene, etc. Also, cultures deal with it differently. In feudal Japan, if what I've read is trustworthy, commiting suicide because you disgraced yourself (and family) was one of the only honorable paths you could take. Seems strange to us, but I'm sure our view on it would be the same to them.

It's impossible really, from my viewpoint to say, "in conclusion" about suicide. It's a terrible, terrible thing. I wish it was impossible, but then again, I wish all the complicated sets of difficulties and feelings leading up to it were impossible too. God bless ya all. I hope you never have to deal with it.

Brian, I didnt start this thread to start a fight. I just needed to blow off some steam.

I hope the steam is blown off, sir. I know how aggravating it can be. My thoughts and prayers are with you, your significant other, and then man's family...

[ADeadSmitty]

It's fine, we can discuss this without fighting.

Spider-Dan, you seem to acknowledge that for someone who's going to be tortured, suicide is logical. Why is that the only case? Many people are lonely and have no one to care about them; many people are terminally ill; many people just do not get pleasure out of living; their daily routines are depressing burdens. Why is it illogical for these people to continue on?

[Dave Gray]

Why is it illogical for these people to continue on?

I personally feel that survival is pretty much hard-coded into our makeup.  When this is lost, something is wrong.  I don't think we choose to live each day based on logic.  It's instinct.

[ADeadSmitty]

Just because something isn't hard-coded into your nature doesn't mean it's illogical.

[Spider-Dan]

It's fine, we can discuss this without fighting.

Spider-Dan, you seem to acknowledge that for someone who's going to be tortured, suicide is logical. Why is that the only case?

Specifically, because these people have a relatively high chance of being killed.  Most people who are willing to torture are also quite willing to murder.  If you are in a situation where you are subject to repeated torture, the situation is quite literally out of your control at that point, and could remain so for the rest of your (short) life.

Many people are lonely and have no one to care about them; many people are terminally ill; many people just do not get pleasure out of living; their daily routines are depressing burdens. Why is it illogical for these people to continue on?

Excluding the terminally ill (who I already addressed), it's not illogical for the others to continue on.  Assuming that the person is middle-aged or younger, it's ridiculously unlikely that the next 20+ years of your life will be the same as they are now.  You have an extremely long period of time in which your life can change.