I've only known one person who committed suicide. He was a lovely,complex brilliant boy, and he couldn't see that in himself. He had a lot of superfluous baggage that he mistook for who he was. I think that's the reason for suicide - mistaking the baggage as having some value when it doesn't. It's just baggage.
~If they were right, I'd agree, but it's them they know not me...~ Cat Stevens
Posts: 3724 | Location: Brisbane, Australia | Registered: 07-26-02
I highly doubt that the same evils have plagued all the people that kill themselves. It's something so complex that It cannot be narrowed down to a sensible answer. There is absolutely nothing sensible about suicide, it's a harsh decision made by a person who has suffered something powerful. Wether it be due to a mental problem, or just due to heave stess placed on that person. Ofcourse your question is what is the prominent reason for suicide, and so i'll give you my opinion. I think that after whatever has led this person to decide to end their lives, the very thing they have lost is hope. Which is what keeps so many people going everyday, the hope that things will get better. The one thing that no one but yourself can take away, once you lose it there is nothing that can really stop you. Suicide is a difficult subject though, not only for myself, but for countless numbers of people suffering from depression and perhaps unknown mental problems. G*d save us all.
~~Frenchy8~~
"one day this will all make sense"
Posts: 305 | Location: USA (East coast) | Registered: 04-12-02
a few days after i posted this poll question i was shocked to find a neighbour of mine commit suicide by burning herself to flames.the reason i got made me think a lot.they say due to prolonged depression which she had developed for no specific reason and that her previous two attempts were turned down by her inmates the doctor syas she had been thinking of nothing but commiting suicide.she has been suffering from a mental pstchosis disease which according to doctors make her inner conscience think of all probable ways to die.if you do know more of this disease(?) lease do share it with us.
I say suicide is evil. Suicide is perhaps the most selfish act that someone can commit: it may end the suffering for the person who takes his or her own life, but it devastates the lives of those left behind. I've seen the grief and suffering it causes to friends, and in particular, family. A friend of the family was suffering from depression for some years, decided to hang herself in her mother's house, while her mother and son were downstairs. The mother walked in to find her own daughter hanging. Who will suffer for the rest of their lives? Her son was 17 at the time, and after the funeral her son tore up all the photographs of his mother because he hated her for what she had done to him; even though this will pass, he will be bitter for some time, and then the real suffering will begin for him. "Often the test of courage is not to die but to live."
Posts: 1375 | Location: England | Registered: 07-14-02
Suicide IS evil. In my religion if I were to commit suicide (which I almost did) I would not be given a funeral service, nor would I be allowed to be buried on consecrated ground. An answer to your poll. Suicide is the end cycle of all the symptoms listed in your poll. The cycle continues and continues, until the mind gives up. Then you walk around being guided only by your feelings, then once those are gone, only the grace of god can save me. And it did. Serb
I know someone who committed suicide and it did seem on the surface a destructive act and useless for such a bright caring person. But those who feel/are tortured day after day by demons the rest of us do not know should get some empathy from the rest of us. Though I dont think I would choose this option for myself, I dont see suicide as cowardly or selfish - its just despair. And for those Christians out there isnt the after life some great place to go? For those of us who believe "you have to make it here" in terms of ethics and how you treat others, I think those who find suicide unjustifiable should look at their own insecurities and needs first and just feel sorrow for someone who has taken their own life.
"Don't die just because everyone else does." Sartre
Posts: 1072 | Location: Richmond Va USA | Registered: 08-26-02
"Often the test of courage is not to die but to live" I've said it before. I know what despair is and know what it feels like to contemplate suicide, so I am in a position to empathise with despair, and also to condemn the selfishness of suicide.
Posts: 1375 | Location: England | Registered: 07-14-02
quote: I dont see suicide as cowardly or selfish - its just despair. And for those Christians out there isnt the after life some great place to go?
According to Jeudo-Christianaty, suicide is a sin. So, there may not nessiscarily be a "great place to go" once you die. Instead, a rather hot, depressing place of eternal torment.
Also, suicide is not the best choice, for the most part. (There is an exception: a person who is injured beyond possible recovery; kept alive only by machines. Turning off the machines is not really suicide, but it could be conceived as such.) But a normal, healthy human being could find many reasons to live. We all have them, whether they be our children, significant others, position in society, our country, or many others. Even if you are depressed to the verge of suicide, with help you can find what a special person you are, and how your life has had an effect on many others, maybe even without your knowing.
Viva tous les persons enfonces et ne pas de la monde!
Posts: 360 | Location: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: 05-04-01
"Even if you are depressed to the verge of suicide, with help you can find what a special person you are, and how your life has had an effect on many others, maybe even without your knowing."
Well, sorry therein lies the rub for the unforunate who Do choose suicide! "with help you can find"....some can't or don't know how - why else do you think they are in total despair?
"Don't die just because everyone else does." Sartre
Posts: 1072 | Location: Richmond Va USA | Registered: 08-26-02
quote: whatever has led this person to decide to end their lives, the very thing they have lost is hope. Which is what keeps so many people going everyday, the hope that things will get better. The one thing that no one but yourself can take away, once you lose it there is nothing that can really stop you.
I couldnt have said it better myself. The vey reason I nearly commited suicide. well ,thanks to some great friends, who were there for me, and really helped change my mind, that I am still alive. Suicide is the worst sin possible in my religion.(I think!) I also Agree with afenton About the act being selfish and all those poor ppl like you parents and family who are gonna suffer. Personally, I think a lot of people, especially guys commit suicide when they get turned down in love. (same reason I was gonna do it) but after all, i decided, instead of suicide, all i need is a New life, therefore a new way of thinking and looking at things, well.... lets see how long I stay alive!
Posts: 82 | Location: Third rock from the Sun. | Registered: 05-17-02
Afenton condemns the selfishness of suicide. Who are you condemning it with/to. You don't know what its like to commit suicide. I know two families whose sons/brothers died . They certainly don't feel like you do , thank the Lord. And why is it a sin. Where does it say this. The two people who died both had Christian burials. I don't know why folk take their own life, if I did I would be God. I certainly do not think it evil. from........Katrine
No, I don't know what it's like to commit suicide, and neither do you. You may know people who did, as I do, but that doesn't mean we know what it's like to commit the act.
Posts: 1375 | Location: England | Registered: 07-14-02
I see that someone who styles himself surgeon 50 in spite of the request to observe the rules of decency earlier hinted that I came from a country what was initially strated with criminals .Terrible people sent there for stealing a handkercheif or something akin. I dont mind being abused myself but my country is a fine upstanding one, not intending to bomb or kill and do it in the name of patriotism.May I add that to be tied in with a land settled by criminals is not becoming to a memembr who is a land that invented drive by shootings and has the largest criminal population in modern times anywhere . I apologise to decent well mannered generous hearted americans who I found in abundance in your great country but I must defend my own country first and foremost this will probably mean my ejection from your group so I will say thank you all for the intelligent discussions I have heard whilst a member Alfit
Posts: 50 | Location: whyalla. south australia. australia | Registered: 08-02-02
Surely it is selfish to expect someone in pain to continue to live so that you can avoid sadness, what right do you have to impose that punishment on anyone? the the family and friends do not commit suicid then they are obviously not in as much pain as the suicider so the greater suffering has been ended, if they do end up taking their own life I would suggest there must be other factors contrbuting to the decision and it is probably the right one for them. But going bacK I think my question really is who are you to tell someone they must live a life of pain unless you can take that pain away?
Posts: 78 | Location: Australia | Registered: 09-04-01
I want to go slightly off the topic for a minute to talk about the nature of 'pain'. I do think that avoiding pain -as a useless evil in itself-, IS what motivates a lot of our destructive behaviours - not just suicide. The fact is that pain, has not always been so dreadfully feared. The old sayings 'No gain no pain' and 'What doesn't kill you will make you stronger' and the like, very much reflect another view of 'pain'. The most spiritual and mystic of people, actually invite pain into their lives as a tool for moving to a higher plain.
The reason I can say this is that 12 years ago I experienced one of the most traumatic things a mother can and I thought I couldn't live anymore. But I did and can say with hindsight that the insights and sense of peace born out of that pain are unimaginable.
The point is that suicide doesn't reflect the true nature of pain. It views it as a senseless waste when beyond there are hidden treasures.
Sorry to be so personal.
~If they were right, I'd agree, but it's them they know not me...~ Cat Stevens
Posts: 3724 | Location: Brisbane, Australia | Registered: 07-26-02
why is there so much focus here on how selfish it is to commit suicide? It's my life, is it not? Much of western society glorifies or at least condones selfishness and individuality in every other realm of life so why not value or at least accept it at the conclusion?
and I do NOT want to hear that this is not the Christian message - all you hear from the contemporary American Christian mainstream are messages that corporatism and business can be reconciled with the word/message of God and Jesus - either the message was wrong or the contemparary senders have distorted the message.
"Don't die just because everyone else does." Sartre
Posts: 1072 | Location: Richmond Va USA | Registered: 08-26-02
