I find this discussion fascinating. I was reading Weer'd's blog and clicked the link to A Day In The Life Of An Ambulance Driver's blog. The discussion started here.
I have written half a dozen responses to the posts, but never posted them. I can't seem to articulate what I am thinking and I probably couldn't add any substance to the discussion anyway.
Clearly the values and ideals being discussed have application to more than just to people who want to or threaten to end their life.
I think in a way it's a defense mechanism for some people. (maybe if you feel sorry for me you'll stop yelling at me)
ReplyDeleteALI think for some people the threat to kill themselves, is just that a way out of the situation they are in, but your right, not necessarily meaning actually killing themselves.
DeleteWell...I know somwone who has back problems....had surgery, etc. and the problem only became worse. So...he sees the Doc again, this time the Doc tells him he can fix it with another operation. Hah! My friend then tells the damm Doc that the Doc might as well shoot him and get it over with. Know what? Yup. The POS Doc had him placed on a suicide watch...took damm near an act of congress to get him off it. The way I see it, I don't trust doctors...any doctors...I'm 73 years old...and in all that time I only ran across two or three docs that I trusted. Kind of strange....we as a people have "settled" this country, while doing so a lot of folks died or were taken ill, and in a great majority of cases they either cured themselves or died. Yup, died. So what do we have today? A society that "needs" to be "protected". Bunch of Grade A BS, if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteYes, that would stink. An overreaction for sure. Sorry for your friend!
DeleteI read an article or book or something awhile back, regarding suicides....those who are vocal and teary about it, usually are just looking for attention. The ones who are serious, you'll never know until you notice that odd smell coming out of their room a week later. Is this whole "someone look at me" suicide attempt thing related to the "me" generation of entitlement and fluffy bunnies and crap? I'd be interested in seeing the numbers, to see if the number of suicide threats has gone up over the years. In my personal opinion (from a guy who's been to the point where he didn't care if he lived or died, but wasn't stupid enough to do anything drastic himself), life is tough. Get used to it. When life hits you with something, you grab a bigger club and hit back. Or grab something and hang on for the ride. Taking the suicide route is the easy way, the coward's solution. But that's just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot to say on the subject, too much for the comments, but I will say there isn't one suicidal profile. There are many different reasons why one might threaten and then not follow through. I have never been suicidal myself, but my brother did kill himself, so I guess I feel I have some, understanding isn't the right word, knowledge I guess. I do agree that suicide is the easy way out. Of course it is. It is hard and painful and scary to fight through depression or trauma.
DeleteWelcome.
ReplyDeleteYarrr. I agree suicide is an easy way out.
ReplyDeleteBut is it in the end not the only real right you have? Is it moral to prevent someone's deathwish? Too long an issue to discuss here... probably anywhere.
What I will say is that if I one day realise that I need to remove myself from society for whatever reason, I will try to do it in a way which minimises suffering all around.
Anyway, more cheery topic: go read AD from the beginning. When he's on a roll he writes really really well.
Yes, it is too long to discuss, probably anywhere, which is why I never left a comment. It is complicated.
DeleteI do not want to take any one's right to end their life away. I will say that if a person isn't suffering from some kind of terminal illness and they chose to take their life, the burden left on those still alive, is great.
I have often thought that both my brother and I gave into the bad guy. Me in a parking lot and him in a motel room.
Anyway, I will try to go back and read some AD's other posts. Thank you!