Suicide?

[chronoguy]

Suicide is something that is frowned upon by all. Suicide is something which people do as a last resort only because they couldnt think of anything else to do with their lives. I wouldn't tell anyone to commit sucide and neither would i agree with anyone commiting suicide. But if you commit suicide then oh well, its you're body and you do what you want with it. Suicide in some religions is considered to be a holy thing. For Some muslims it is thought that if you die for you're country then ou go to heaven.

[Angie]

I think everyone has thought of suicide. At times people do feel like taking their life, but later on they realize that what they were stressing about wasn't worth it. Nothing is worth taking your own life away. No matter how stessed out you can be.

[mssexyslim06]

Suicide is a very sensitive topic..... but i dont believe that i can judge wheter its wrong or not. This is all based on how the individual views life. personally I have never thought about suicide but then again i havent had that hard of a life. I dont think everyone who commits suicide is sick some of them just need a way out.

[jessicaA003]

I believe that suicide is your decision to make. You are the one that is going to live your life and you decie wether you want to live it or not. I do believe that people should try to help you before making such a big decision. In the end though no one can decide if you live or die except you.

[Christa]

I could never take my own life although that seems to be the easiest way out, so it seems. Suicide is NOT a positive outlook on life no matter what any one else says. Life is one big race, one big obstacle that you go through. No one said it would be easy, no one promised that the road would be easy and that you would sail through life with no problems. Although lie at times can seem like hell, it really isn't. Most problems we go through are self inflicted. Taking your life doesn't mean that the "hell" you were going trough here would end. When you take your life to escape problems you just condemned yourself to an eternal hell. Suicide is NEVER the answer to ANY situation.

[Ken Carman]

Quote by: Julio They just want to get rid of all their problems so fast that they dont have the time to think about what they are doing or are about to do.

Take it from someone who wound up in a bed filled with pills many, many years ago, it doesn't happen fast. It's more an accumulation of events, assessments, even "logic" and, with me, the lack of self-knowledge that I was actually serious. I was headed that way, I just didn't realize how dedicated I was to the concept.

[Ken Carman]

Quote by: Fonceai Psychologically speaking, the reason people commit suicide is because they see it as the only way out of their problems. The military takes the position that if someone kills themself, then everyone around them who knew them should be guilty of murder for not spotting the signs. But when you live in a culture where you are trained to kill and face the possibility of death 6 months a year in a deployment you don't believe in, depression and suicide aren't uncommon. The year I left the military they had a record number of suicides and they did all these programs about suicide awareness. I thought it was obvious that people were killing themselves because they really didn't want to deploy and/or fight.

I know there are good and decent reasons to join the military and idealistic reasons for deciding to join a conflict. Yet sometimes I wonder if there are those, no matter how few, who decide to join as a path to suicide. I suspect most are weeded out, but I'm sure there are a few on the battlefield who have fallen because they decided to use the enemy's bullets instead of their own guns.

[Ken Carman]

Quote by: chronoguy Suicide is something that is frowned upon by all.

Kamikazees?

If you accept the official story, Jim Jones?

9/11?

I would counter "most," but not "all." I think this is also a more western perspective. I'm not sure how well it works with other cultures.

[Fonceai]

@Ken Carman

I might be inclined to agree, but the amount of training you have to go through, as well as the stress, seems terribly excessive if the person just wants to end their suffering.

If you're talking about those who were already in that decided to join, it's much more feasible.

[Kuldeep]

All living beings love their bodies the most. Still many reasons have been posted for terming sucide (Killing himself) as logical, one's right, ultimate way out to overcome them arisuing due to variuos problems of life and mental sickness etc. etc.

Before I put forth my view on the topic of suicide one interesting question rose in my mind!!!!

Does any other specie other than Human being commits sucide????????

If Yes!! Which one??? If Not! Just think Why of it!!!!!!!!

:eek: :rolleyes: :confused: :( :)

[Fonceai]

I actually know the answer to this one.

With the development of awareness and intellect comes the ability to override instinctive urges. Every creature fights for life, even the sick and dying, because it's an instinct.

Humans have the ability to act contrary to instinct. It's a defining characteristic of a species with "intelligence." That's why.

Here's a great site with the answer that elaborates on the motivations and circumstances that would lead an animal to "go away and die," effectively committing suicide.

Straight Dope Staff Report: Does any animal besides humans commit suicide?

Notice that he mentions what happens when animals lose reproductive capability.

[Ken Carman]

Quote by: Kuldeep All living beings love their bodies the most. Still many reasons have been posted for terming sucide (Killing himself) as logical, one's right, ultimate way out to overcome them arisuing due to variuos problems of life and mental sickness etc. etc. Before I put forth my view on the topic of suicide one interesting question rose in my mind!!!! Does any other specie other than Human being commits sucide???????? If Yes!! Which one??? If Not! Just think Why of it!!!!!!!! :eek: :rolleyes: :confused: :( :)

Actually, I wrote a column on this once. It was a very personal experience.There are those who feel animals don't have the ability to think,claiming it's all instinct. I don't agree, but one of my Science teachers was a big believer in this: claiming it was "the only scientifically valid position to take." (Not a very scientific position premise about anything, I would say.) So therefore the answer to you under those conditions would be, "Only our species commits suicide because only we can rationalize ourselves into what many consider an irrational act."

Don't buy it.

During the 80s my wife and I were headed to Texas so I could be best man at a friend's wedding. A beagle was on the side of the road. He looked left. He looked right. He watched the approaching car. Then, when it was too late to do anything about it, he walked just barely in the path of the car ahead of me and knelt down... closed his eyes. I stopped and held him in my arms as he died.

Fluke?

Maybe.

But I've seen almost the same scenario repeated many times; about four more, since then.

And we also have squirrels. Usually they're just being... squirrely. But sometimes I swear...

Proof positive? Hell, no. But interesting.

Wonder if anyone has ever done a study, or if you could? Deciding a human's true motives is hard enough, despite how many times the pundits, partisans and pols insist that Liberals, or Conservatives, or Ted Kennedy's, or George Bush's, or... "true motives" really are. Actually deciding a cat's true motives many times? Good luck. Sometimes I think they're aliens in feline disquise.


Edit to add...

Fon...I'd be curious what studies "Straight Dope" based that comment on. I'd also love to see the content of those studies. How we can know for sure all "suicidal" animals are sick/defective/acting on instinct in some way... well, I have my doubts. Are they coming to a conclusion by mere assumption or actual strong scientific evidence for their theory?

[Fonceai]

Quote by: Ken Fon...I'd be curious what studies "Straight Dope" based that comment on. I'd also love to see the content of those studies. How we can know for sure all "suicidal" animals are sick/defective/acting on instinct in some way... well, I have my doubts. Are they coming to a conclusion by mere assumption or actual strong scientific evidence for their theory?

I wondered that as well. It's not like they can go back and find out the animal's life history or do an autopsy.

It does make sense that animals who can no longer accomplish certain aspects of their life no longer feel the need to live, but I'd still rather see some kind of study.

It might account for the beagle you smoked.

[Mia]

Quote by: Isherwood I've long considered suicide short-sighted. To presume that tomorrow and the day after that and ... are always going to be the same, nothing will ever improve, is to claim knowledge no one has. The possibility that tomorrow may be the day your fortunes turn around should keep anyone from seriously considering suicide. Now changing identities and just disappearing...there's a temptation.

But what if you are n death row, or you have a terminal illness, or are facing sure life in prison or some other fate that is, in fact known?

I understand what you are saying for the most part, but there are circumstances I can see where suicide would seem a viable option.

Most suicides are from depression. If I remember my reading correctly, bi-polar depression is especially susceptable to this 'remedy'. In these cases, what you say about not knowing what solution to the problem may be in store and I agree that it is a short-sighted act.

Bipolar is phenomenomely difficult to treat, and quite hellish to live with. So is Schizophrenia, but for some reason suicide rates are less for that disorder.

[Ken Carman]

Quote by: Fonceai I wondered that as well. It's not like they can go back and find out the animal's life history or do an autopsy. It does make sense that animals who can no longer accomplish certain aspects of their life no longer feel the need to live, but I'd still rather see some kind of study. It might account for the beagle you smoked.

Actually, I didn't smoke him, but I did see it happen. Besides, pushing Beagle into a pipe or a bong is very, very hard.:)

[Ken Carman]

[quote=Mia;302553]But what if you are n death row, or you have a terminal illness, or are facing sure life in prison or some other fate that is, in fact known?

I understand what you are saying for the most part, but there are circumstances I can see where suicide would seem a viable option.

QUOTE]


Yes, that has been one of my points. To paraphrase myself...

"Was suicide the most sane thing Hitler ever did?"

I remember an old Twilight Zone, or Outer Limits, where someone suddenly finds themselves inserted into Hitler's body while in the bunker... the last days.:eek: :eek: :eek:

Since no one would ever believe, under those circumstances: damn straight I'd kack myself.

[Kuldeep]

Quote by: Ken Carman Actually, I wrote a column on this once. It was a very personal experience.There are those who feel animals don't have the ability to think,claiming it's all instinct. I don't agree, but one of my Science teachers was a big believer in this: claiming it was "the only scientifically valid position to take." (Not a very scientific position premise about anything, I would say.) So therefore the answer to you under those conditions would be, "Only our species commits suicide because only we can rationalize ourselves into what many consider an irrational act." Don't buy it. During the 80s my wife and I were headed to Texas so I could be best man at a friend's wedding. A beagle was on the side of the road. He looked left. He looked right. He watched the approaching car. Then, when it was too late to do anything about it, he walked just barely in the path of the car ahead of me and knelt down... closed his eyes. I stopped and held him in my arms as he died. Fluke? Maybe. But I've seen almost the same scenario repeated many times; about four more, since then. And we also have squirrels. Usually they're just being... squirrely. But sometimes I swear... Proof positive? Hell, no. But interesting. Wonder if anyone has ever done a study, or if you could? Deciding a human's true motives is hard enough, despite how many times the pundits, partisans and pols insist that Liberals, or Conservatives, or Ted Kennedy's, or George Bush's, or... "true motives" really are. Actually deciding a cat's true motives many times? Good luck. Sometimes I think they're aliens in feline disquise. Edit to add... Fon...I'd be curious what studies "Straight Dope" based that comment on. I'd also love to see the content of those studies. How we can know for sure all "suicidal" animals are sick/defective/acting on instinct in some way... well, I have my doubts. Are they coming to a conclusion by mere assumption or actual strong scientific evidence for their theory?

I fully agree with what you have written and think there are other living beings as well who ispite are healthy and normal do commit suicide. Most of the humen do commit sucide under depression, terminal sickness, unbearable atmosphere, anger and the like. I do not think, any human with normal health, (physical as well as mental ), living with normal social set up, with no hardship etc would ever commit suicide.

But, there are some specific living beings who do commit sucide. It is however very difficult to know if they are mentally normal, physical sickness we may be able to access. True in all the four of your cases (Beagles) might be mentally sick!!!

Now, I would like to draw the attention to one kind of smaller sized butter flies. No sooner candle light is lit in the dark. Many of them start flying round and round the flame till good number gets burnt. I am sure this phenomina must have watched by all, persons from country side in particular. Definitely this case of sucide only.

Then there is a place (name forgotten) in North East India. Some fifteen years back, I read in one of the journals that at that place sparrow sized birds (again name I do not remember) jump into forest fire en mass in hundreds. The mistery about this mass sucide by that specie is not yet solved. Sorry, I do have full detail with me!!!:(

[samsara15]

I once attempted suicide, when I was 15, 49 years ago. What could be more miserable, than being a teenager?

Late in life, when people are in much pain and headed downhill, I can see it again as an option that our society needs to consider. In years to come, we will have more and more older people, in pain, that will only get worse as they continue to age, with shrinking financial resources.

[Ken Carman]

Quote by: samsara15 I once attempted suicide, when I was 15, 49 years ago. What could be more miserable, than being a teenager? Late in life, when people are in much pain and headed downhill, I can see it again as an option that our society needs to consider. In years to come, we will have more and more older people, in pain, that will only get worse as they continue to age, with shrinking financial resources.

I always quote Bart Simpson here, when he stated that depressing a teenager was easier than shooting fish in a barrel.

I was 19.

I'm not sure how "easy" we should make it but in the final years I would think understanding is crucial. As the bumper snicker says... "old age ain't for sisies."

[Kuldeep]

To my mind age has no relation!!! Living beings love to live and live for ever. The circumstances might alter that deep rooted wish that too mommentarily. If some good alternative is provided in time, the moment of sucide commiting feeling would just pass off smoothly.

Come on, just ask 110 year old man having no health or financial problem to die since he has already over lived. See what would be his answer!!!!:)