Sports Writer Blogs his own suicide

[pylon]

An interesting look into the mind of someone leading up to their planned demise.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/23/tech/w...html?hpt=hp_c2

Here is the website that he coded to go live minutes after he pulled the trigger.

http://martinmanley.org/home_page/re...of_rights.html

Sad and strange story, but he genuinely seemed like a decent man that just felt he'd lived long enough.

Edit: Another neat part of the story, he tricked everyone into believing he buried a hidden treasure, only having the map lead to a beautiful Arboretum. Unfortunately, I am pretty sure the message would be lost on the people that chased it.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ried-gold.html

[JohnnyB]

Very interesting. Strange. Sad?

[Delthefunky]

Doesn't deserve my time.

[Gravitykillr]

it's interesting, how well he planned this out and how much time and effort he put into it...while I don't agree on suicide it's definitely something that was really important to him.

[Dion]

Suicide by blogging seems to a sad and disturbing way to get your message out. Other than selfish motives I don't see the benefits of comitting suicide this way.

[calgarywinning]

I found it a fascinating and honest atonement with his life. It was kind of Jack Kerouac. Interesting read.

[The Goon]

I read this a week ago. He insisted that he wasn't depressed but it seems fairly obvious that he was.

[dissentowner]

Kind of a dick move by Yahoo to take down the original site given what this man was trying to leave behind.

[missdpuck]

Interesting. I don't think suicide is necessarily selfish.

[ranchlandsselling]

I read the article - have no interest in reading/viewing the site. Waste of time.

Sadly (IMO) this just provides justification for off'ing oneself which is the last thing we need more of. Pretty irresponsible "legacy" to leave. Given how tough some kids and people have it these days, letting them know putting a bullet through your head is okay because "heck, you're doing to die anyway and at least now it's done under your own control".

Should have just disappeared.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by ranchlandsselling

I read the article - have no interest in reading/viewing the site. Waste of time.

Sadly (IMO) this just provides justification for off'ing oneself which is the last thing we need more of. Pretty irresponsible "legacy" to leave. Given how tough some kids and people have it these days, letting them know putting a bullet through your head is okay because "heck, you're doing to die anyway and at least now it's done under your own control".

Should have just disappeared.

I disagree. This man had nobody left. He had two siblings that pretty much ignored him, and everyone else that meant anything to him was dead. I have thought about it in the past, and if I am still alone when my parents die, I will do the same thing he did. To be honest, the only reason I haven't already is because I don't want my parents to lose any more children, I have lived through the pain of losing someone to suicide and it sucks.

The only relationships I seem to have in my life anymore are professional ones, and the only reason anyone gives a flying anything about me is because I make them fist fulls of money. I don't really care if their feelings would be hurt for a day or two if I was gone. So I can get where this guy was coming from. Nobody wants to live in a world where they are alone, and un wanted by anyone. That is not necessarily depression. It is simply a cold hard look at reality. On a positive note, someone will get an awesome promotion out of the deal.

[kn]

Originally Posted by pylon

The only relationships I seem to have in my life anymore are professional ones, and the only reason anyone gives a flying anything about me is because I make them fist fulls of money. I don't really care if their feelings would be hurt for a day or two if I was gone. So I can get where this guy was coming from. Nobody wants to live in a world where they are alone, and un wanted by anyone. That is not necessarily depression. It is simply a cold hard look at reality. On a positive note, someone will get an awesome promotion out of the deal.

<sigh> Unfortunately, I can relate all too well. I'm sure we're not alone with this sentiment. I've wondered whether this justifies suicide but the line between "cold, hard realism" and depression is not super clear. This article did make me think but if one is unwanted by anyone, I'm not sure how leaving an electronic legacy serves any purpose.

[PeteLFan]

Hmmm I think you should seek some help man, that's not a cool way to go about things. Contemplating killing yourself, and saying you will do it after your parents pass on isn't right.

There is lots to live for, not just relationships with others. If you felt hurt and betrayed, think how the people you leave behind will feel.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by pylon

I disagree. This man had nobody left. He had two siblings that pretty much ignored him, and everyone else that meant anything to him was dead. I have thought about it in the past, and if I am still alone when my parents die, I will do the same thing he did. To be honest, the only reason I haven't already is because I don't want my parents to lose any more children, I have lived through the pain of losing someone to suicide and it sucks.

The only relationships I seem to have in my life anymore are professional ones, and the only reason anyone gives a flying anything about me is because I make them fist fulls of money. I don't really care if their feelings would be hurt for a day or two if I was gone. So I can get where this guy was coming from. Nobody wants to live in a world where they are alone, and un wanted by anyone. That is not necessarily depression. It is simply a cold hard look at reality. On a positive note, someone will get an awesome promotion out of the deal.

WTF....or you could actually get out into the world and try to establish some meaningful relationships with people. You have a choice in how you want to approach life.

As for the sports writer I don't really see anything interesting or special about what he did. He basically threw away some potentially productive, healthy and joyful years for nothing. And he had to be an attention whore about it.

[ClubFlames]

Originally Posted by pylon

I disagree. This man had nobody left. He had two siblings that pretty much ignored him, and everyone else that meant anything to him was dead. I have thought about it in the past, and if I am still alone when my parents die, I will do the same thing he did. To be honest, the only reason I haven't already is because I don't want my parents to lose any more children, I have lived through the pain of losing someone to suicide and it sucks.

The only relationships I seem to have in my life anymore are professional ones, and the only reason anyone gives a flying anything about me is because I make them fist fulls of money. I don't really care if their feelings would be hurt for a day or two if I was gone. So I can get where this guy was coming from. Nobody wants to live in a world where they are alone, and un wanted by anyone. That is not necessarily depression. It is simply a cold hard look at reality. On a positive note, someone will get an awesome promotion out of the deal.

Wow. That is just messed up. Maybe use those fistful of dollars to seek some professional help so you can live a happy life. Get away from people who use you for those fistful of dollars and seek someone who wants to be in a relationship with you and not with your money. Seems like you have made the wrong choice yourself by being in a relationship with these kind of people and the only thing you can think of is "I can't wait till my parents die so I can commit suicide so I can get away from them"

Get help seriously.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by ClubFlames

Wow. That is just messed up. Maybe use those fistful of dollars to seek some professional help so you can live a happy life. Get away from people who use you for those fistful of dollars and seek someone who wants to be in a relationship with you and not with your money. Seems like you have made the wrong choice yourself by being in a relationship with these kind of people and the only thing you can think of is "I can't wait till my parents die so I can commit suicide so I can get away from them"

Get help seriously.

LOL, it's not like that at all.

My point is, in 10-20 something years when my folks are gone, and if I am still alone, I will have nobody left in my life that gives a crap on a personal level. I really don't see the point of living a miserable lonely life if I have nobody left. The most important thing about being human, is having those relationships, without them, you aren't living, you are just existing. I can't seem to ever make them work, and I work to much and am too tired when I am done to seek out new ones. The only thing I really enjoy anymore, is my work, which is sadly, what has cost me any chance of finding anyone. And to be honest, most people have become so narcissistic, I don't really feel I am missing out on much anymore.

I think there is a big difference between being depressed, and not wanting to live past your usefulness. I am not happy, but I am also not depressed. I don't want to die, but I don't want live a life without any companionship.

It seems messed up, I know. But I am content in existing for now, but I can totally see where this guy is coming from. He wore out his usefulness and purpose, and felt he would be better off in the recycle bin. I find something strangely poetic about it.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by pylon

I disagree. This man had nobody left. He had two siblings that pretty much ignored him, and everyone else that meant anything to him was dead. I have thought about it in the past, and if I am still alone when my parents die, I will do the same thing he did. To be honest, the only reason I haven't already is because I don't want my parents to lose any more children, I have lived through the pain of losing someone to suicide and it sucks.

The only relationships I seem to have in my life anymore are professional ones, and the only reason anyone gives a flying anything about me is because I make them fist fulls of money. I don't really care if their feelings would be hurt for a day or two if I was gone. So I can get where this guy was coming from. Nobody wants to live in a world where they are alone, and un wanted by anyone. That is not necessarily depression. It is simply a cold hard look at reality. On a positive note, someone will get an awesome promotion out of the deal.

Life is what you make of it. You can sit around feeling sorry for yourself and how life has dealt you a bad hand or you can get off your duff and make something of your life. You and others like the guy in that blog are alone because you choose to be alone.

I used to think the way you did until I made a serious effort to circulate myself. I have made some friendships on this forum and in my own community and the golf club I joined a few years ago. I haven't had much success in the relationship field but that lack of success doesn't define me as a person. Just because i'm not married does not make me a lesser person.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by pylon

LOL, it's not like that at all.

My point is, in 10-20 something years when my folks are gone, and if I am still alone, I will have nobody left in my life that gives a crap on a personal level. I really don't see the point of living a miserable lonely life if I have nobody left. The most important thing about being human, is having those relationships, without them, you aren't living, you are just existing. I can't seem to ever make them work, and I work to much and am too tired when I am done to seek out new ones. The only thing I really enjoy anymore, is my work, which is sadly, what has cost me any chance of finding anyone. And to be honest, most people have become so narcissistic, I don't really feel I am missing out on much anymore.

I think there is a big difference between being depressed, and not wanting to live past your usefulness. I am not happy, but I am also not depressed. I don't want to die, but I don't want live a life without any companionship.

It seems messed up, I know. But I am content in existing for now, but I can totally see where this guy is coming from. He wore out his usefulness and purpose, and felt he would be better off in the recycle bin. I find something strangely poetic about it.

He wore out his usefulness because he chose to think that way. He was far from being someone who should be in a recycle bin. His line of thinking was totaly messed up and some good conselling would have gotten him to see that.

There is nothing redeeming about what he did and the way he did it. His selfish acts of blogging his suicide risks spawning a legion of suicide bloggers who think this is an acceptabe way to leave this world.

The police and paramedics i'm sure didn't enjoy scraping the remains of the bloggers head off the pavement. I used to know someone who was a paramedic who dreaded calls like that and the long lasting memories that he had to endure.

[pylon]

I am not for a second feeling sorry for myself. My life is what it is. I made my bed, and I have to sleep in it. I also don't necessarily agree with the fanfare this guy went out in, I simply found it interesting getting an unclouded look into the mind and the reasonong of someone who made this decision. Not in a snap, emotional sense. But a methodically thought out way. It is obvious that nobody truly cared about this guy, as he planned this through for an entire year, and nobody had so much as a clue how he felt.

[schteve_d]

I've been kind of fascinated reading his website. I do think, despite his claims, that he did feel lonely.

I'm really surprised that he chose a bullet to the head as the method - it's seems like such a chaotic way to end such an organized and well thought-out plan. It doesn't seem to fit with his personality.