Suicide: What are your thoughts?

[Knox The Hatter]

Chosen pretty much put it in perspective. What wide gulf must you cross before you get to the point that you would attempt such a thing?

I had a friend many years ago, a real character she was. I adored her. She was adopted by the family of an upper management auto executive. Lived in a big house in Grosse Pointe, never wanted for anything. From the age of 8 to 14, she was abused sexually on a regular basis by a close friend of her family. When she finally came out with it, no one believed her. One night, visiting her, she showed me a photo album. With tears welling in her eyes, she told me, "pay attention to my face in the pictures. You can see when it started. You could see how all changed." It certainly was there, in living color.

She had to live with all of that, for the rest of her life. No therapy could help her. She attempted a number of times before we met. Afterwards, too. She just wanted the pain (not the least of which, what she perceived as a betrayal by her adoptive family) and the memories and the horror to end. Unfortunately, we lost touch. I've been trying to find her, but her family's moved away. She just might've checked out of the hotel. I don't know right now.

I used to be judgemental about these things, at one time. No more. I only want to provide emotional support. Love.

 

[Bugman]

Wow, thanks for understanding Goodieluver.

Danny, of course things get better for you. They always get better for the people that are "ok". The lucky people that have a wonderful life and everything is roses. What I am trying to make you see is that that is not always the case. That there are two sides and maybe there should be more understanding about their thoughts and feelings.

Aun - Thank you hon. Hugs you tight. Its nice to know there is someone that understands and I know you do.

Sultry,whether i am*ok* or not would depend on who you ask i guess.And has my life been wonderful and a bed of roses,no not by any means.I have had it better then some,worse then others.But where there is life,there is hope.Things can and do change,but we must make that happen.Easy to say and often hard to do?You bet,but whoever said life was supossed to be easy?For most people i know and have known it has been far from easy,but we keep plugging away because life is such a precious gift.And whatever you believe,when its over its over for ever.

I have had lots of very regilous friends,but none of them were in a big hurry to go to heaven.I will qualify that by saying yes,in the case of terminal illness they were ready to be realeased from their pain,but they still had regret about those they would leave behind.I guess i just feel like we should do all we can to make the best of our time here on earth,difficult as that can be.

 

[Senbab]

I do not agree with suicide, and can never respect anyone who attempts it, or even anyone who succeeds.

It dosen't matter how horrible your life is, DEATH IS WORSE. And if you think I'm gonna feel bad for you when you're gone, you've made a horrible mistake.

 

[Knox The Hatter]

I do not agree with suicide, and can never respect anyone who attempts it, or even anyone who succeeds.

It dosen't matter how horrible your life is, DEATH IS WORSE. And if you think I'm gonna feel bad for you when you're gone, you've made a horrible mistake.

You know, if you were an adolescent in a small village in Darfur, and you haven't had anything to eat in three or four days, and there's little more to drink than contaminated water, there are open, infected sores all over your body, and not long before, you had to watch government soldiers come in and machete your own parents to death...you might yourself think death as a release. And, could you be blamed?

How is death worse? If anything, death is final. Your argument will most likely fall deaf on the ears of someone who, for whatever reason, would think that it's a release.

 

[isabeau]

Sultry,whether i am*ok* or not would depend on who you ask i guess.And has my life been wonderful and a bed of roses,no not by any means.I have had it better then some,worse then others.But where there is life,there is hope.Things can and do change,but we must make that happen.Easy to say and often hard to do?You bet,but whoever said life was supossed to be easy?For most people i know and have known it has been far from easy,but we keep plugging away because life is such a precious gift.And whatever you believe,when its over its over for ever.

I have had lots of very regilous friends,but none of them were in a big hurry to go to heaven.I will qualify that by saying yes,in the case of terminal illness they were ready to be realeased from their pain,but they still had regret about those they would leave behind.I guess i just feel like we should do all we can to make the best of our time here on earth,difficult as that can be.

buggy...that is the best post i've read on this thread..my life certainly hasn't been a bed of roses...too many losses and tragedy, but i learned to deal with it..i plan on living just as long as God allows...about the terminally ill, that is a tough call...they are in a great deal of pain..and also there is what is known as mortal weariness, which can be harder to bear than the pain..then i agree that assisted suicide would not be wrong..i always thought it was a shame what happened to Dr. Kevorkian, who in my opinion, helped many people who were at the end of their rope and although not wanting to die, did not want to face the alternative of how terrible their death would be, if left up to nature..

 

[Ticklerguy4u]

Ive heard of wealthy people commiting suicide because they lost all their money. Most of the time suicide is caused by a person feeling like living is just too painful to bare and the only answer is to quiet the pain.

To some people it's not an answer and maybe even looked at as stupid.
To those I say, you probably never felt over-whelmed by disappointments in life or have a strong sense of self. That's great, however not everyone is that strong. To look down on a person that is suicidal doesn't help. In my opinion, if you aren't part of the solution..you are part of the problem. You don't have to be everyone's savior but don't criticize.

I think personally if a person is suicidal then they need to get some new friends (unfortunately we are stuck with family) because that means the friends they have are useless to them and do more harm then help.

 

[Ticklee1973]

There is certainly some thought that yes it is your life and why should it matter what anyone else thinks. That being said and I can say this as experiencing how suicide effects the people closest to you, it leaves everyone just reeling from the pain of it. Even worse yet, the people who do it and don't leave any kind of note or explanation or anything. My father committed suicide when I was 17 and I can tell you it took me forever to get over it. It tore our family apart. Yes it was his life but it affected everyone around him and when he decided to have a family and be close to others I think worrying about how things effect the people around us should be important.

 

[Ticklerguy4u]

There is certainly some thought that yes it is your life and why should it matter what anyone else thinks. That being said and I can say this as experiencing how suicide effects the people closest to you, it leaves everyone just reeling from the pain of it. Even worse yet, the people who do it and don't leave any kind of note or explanation or anything. My father committed suicide when I was 17 and I can tell you it took me forever to get over it. It tore our family apart. Yes it was his life but it affected everyone around him and when he decided to have a family and be close to others I think worrying about how things effect the people around us should be important.

Im sorry about your father. You are right. I guess its up to us and the person involved. It effects everyone..not just after but during as well. If someone that was feeling suicidal I would hope that the person would find someone they can trust and the person would help them overcome whatever it is that is making them think like this.

 

[Dussicar]

I do not agree with suicide, and can never respect anyone who attempts it, or even anyone who succeeds.

It dosen't matter how horrible your life is, DEATH IS WORSE. And if you think I'm gonna feel bad for you when you're gone, you've made a horrible mistake.

You are going to have to understand that it's not as simple as someone splitting their wrists open because they are having a bad day. Internal and personal anguish has a very powerful grip in some people's lives. It's not for someone who can't grasp that concept on their terms to decide whether they are being weak or not.

Life can do VERY horrible things to a person. I am not flying a banner to promote suicide or anything like that, but there is a distinct difference between having money or mortgage problems and some of the things I have heard and seen people go through.

There are honestly people I have met who had been suicidal in the past. I knew the circumstances as to why they wanted to end their life. As cold blooded as it sounds, I felt that maybe ending their torment in that fashion would be the only way to find peace. It sounds sick, to be sure. But, in some cases-I FEEL-it is also a fact.

Western culture has written an unofficial book about how we should behave. I think out of all of us, there is only two percent that do. I don't follow that book. I doubt very much you do. Why should they?

I know I sound like a defeatist, animalistic pessimist. But this is how I see things.

 

[Capnmad]

I used to be judgemental about these things, at one time. No more. I only want to provide emotional support. Love.

Well said.

 

[Ticklee1973]

Im sorry about your father. You are right. I guess its up to us and the person involved. It effects everyone..not just after but during as well. If someone that was feeling suicidal I would hope that the person would find someone they can trust and the person would help them overcome whatever it is that is making them think like this.

Thank you. I agree, if anyone came to me and said they were even thinking about it a little, I would do whatever I could do get them help.

 

[Senbab]

You are going to have to understand that it's not as simple as someone splitting their wrists open because they are having a bad day. Internal and personal anguish has a very powerful grip in some people's lives. It's not for someone who can't grasp that concept on their terms to decide whether they are being weak or not.

Life can do VERY horrible things to a person. I am not flying a banner to promote suicide or anything like that, but there is a distinct difference between having money or mortgage problems and some of the things I have heard and seen people go through.

There are honestly people I have met who had been suicidal in the past. I knew the circumstances as to why they wanted to end their life. As cold blooded as it sounds, I felt that maybe ending their torment in that fashion would be the only way to find peace. It sounds sick, to be sure. But, in some cases-I FEEL-it is also a fact.

Western culture has written an unofficial book about how we should behave. I think out of all of us, there is only two percent that do. I don't follow that book. I doubt very much you do. Why should they?

I know I sound like a defeatist, animalistic pessimist. But this is how I see things.

I understand fully, and of course I don't hold my beliefs too hard, as I do not know anyone personally who has commited suicide, Bu the thought had crossed my mind a few times. I am well aware of the emotional and mental strain involved with such a decision, but I have found some way to look at life through different eyes. Perhaps I just want to live to spite those who dislike me. Perhaps I want to live because I'm afraid of the uknown. All I know is that there are many better solutions to one's problem than ending your own life.

Of course, many people actually have loved ones who have killed themselves. Anyone here who has lost a loved one to such a tragedy, you have my sympathies.

 

[Mz Chaos]

Well... the way I look at it...
If I'm gonna die... I'd rather do it myself... at a time of my own choosing, then leave it up to nature who may pick an inopportune time.
I'd make sure it was quick and painless... or at least painless... where nature might have me lingering and suffering for a while.
It'd be for a good reason to... at least one that makes sense to me. Won't be over no fella, or overwhelming bills... but more than likely when I am no longer useful, needed or productive. No sense in wasting air or taking up space if I can no longer contribute anything to anybody or anything.
I already have the method planned... I've had it planned for a while... no guns, no overdoses, no slicing of the wrists, no running my car into a brick wall or over a cliff... heck... a couple of those could really leave behind a mess that others would have to clean up. I don't want folks having to scoop up brain matter or sponging up copious amounts of blood. Leastways, not on my account. That would kinda be defeating the purpose for the ending don't ya think?

My feelings are, and I hope I don't offend anyone...
You do not have the right to end your own life. You have been given life; it's your obligation to live it. Through thick and thin. You are not the one who decides when you move on.

Bless you... but the way I look at it... if it was given to me... it's mine to do with as I please. I have made different choices throughout the years on how I should live my life and it's only fair that I be given the choice on how to end it. And when it's all worn out and don't work no more... when there is no longer a use for it... when my breathing and existing causes burdens on others who could best spend their time doing other more fun things... well... I see no reason to keep it anymore.

Oxymoron quote of the day: I just hope I live long enough to die the way I want.