Dude kills himself going wrong way on deerfoot

[Dion]

To those who don't get it or say these people are selffish, consider this....

Suicide is not a matter of choice. The profound depression that motivates most suicides is a disease. This disease causes a level of pain so profound that it twists one's abaility to asess risk, to make good choices, to maintain a sense of future possibilities. When people act out of this depression they are not exercising free choice. They are falling victim to a disease. Tis disease is not about logic or self interest. It is about an immediate desire to be dead.

[Slava]

Well I have a friend who is dealing with the recent death of her husband by suicide...I'm pretty sure that she would use the word selfish. Without getting into the details here, she has a million pieces to pick-up. I recognize that there were illness issues and things like that ahead of time, but still he knew what situation he was leaving in her in...

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Every time I hear about gruesome suicide attempts, I can't help but think of this post from Reaper in a previous thread:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showpos...5&postcount=12

Yep, once I heard the story from my brother I always recall it whenever I hear the term "blow his head off."

[Dion]

Originally Posted by fotze

I know selfish sounds like not the correct word but if there is a word for 'selfish' without the negative connotation if that is possible. Maybe it isn't the right word.

The act itself is selfish because said person is cheating life. Now, if said person was in a rational frame of mine, then yes, you could consider the person selfish. Problem is, rational minded people don't choose to kill themselves as they always choose life.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Dion

Problem is, rational minded people don't choose to kill themselves as they always choose life.

From your perspective.

I would suggest there are perfectly rational people who by means of extenuating circumstance have come to the decision not to live. For example the recent euthenasia case from France that has been all over the news.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Dan02

From your perspective.

I would suggest there are perfectly rational people who by means of extenuating circumstance have come to the decision not to live. For example the recent euthenasia case from France that has been all over the news.

Most euthenasia cases are the end result of some terminal illness. There's no hope left with people deciding how they want to end their life. If thier illness was not terminal, would they still choose to end their life? I highly doubt it.

[kn]

Originally Posted by Dion

To those who don't get it or say these people are selffish, consider this....

Suicide is not a matter of choice. The profound depression that motivates most suicides is a disease. This disease causes a level of pain so profound that it twists one's abaility to asess risk, to make good choices, to maintain a sense of future possibilities. When people act out of this depression they are not exercising free choice. They are falling victim to a disease. Tis disease is not about logic or self interest. It is about an immediate desire to be dead.

Well said. When there is no hope, death is a logical option. Outsiders can comment and reassess all they want but really have no understanding or feeling of the torment going on inside that person.

[transplant99]

My wife and I found her best friend hanging at the end of a rope 2 years ago. The only reason we went looking for her was she failed to show up for dinner at our house, and she knew we would come out wondering what was wrong.

Suicide is most definately the MOST selfish act one can commit. It's over for them but leaves a trail of hurt and bewilderment for years after for a lot of people. She had so many other options than what she chose. And she had i planned out long in advance as the neat stack of letters to us and family members, and cheques to pay her bills, along with instructions on what to do with her animals (that she had taken to a kennel the day before) would testify too.

She was completely rational when she was taking care of all these things, therefore she was completely rational when she chose to end her life in a most horrific way.

We miss her a bunch and will always wonder what the hell happened, but I also will always have feelings of contempt for what she put my wife through.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by transplant99

My wife and I found her best friend hanging at the end of a rope 2 years ago. The only reason we went looking for her was she failed to show up for dinner at our house, and she knew we would come out wondering what was wrong.

Suicide is most definately the MOST selfish act one can commit. It's over for them but leaves a trail of hurt and bewilderment for years after for a lot of people. She had so many other options than what she chose. And she had i planned out long in advance as the neat stack of letters to us and family members, and cheques to pay her bills, along with instructions on what to do with her animals (that she had taken to a kennel the day before) would testify too.

She was completely rational when she was taking care of all these things, therefore she was completely rational when she chose to end her life in a most horrific way.

We miss her a bunch and will always wonder what the hell happened, but I also will always have feelings of contempt for what she put my wife through.

Good post, I agree that it is a selfish act.

[Ozy_Flame]

Can't it be selfish and beyond rational choice?

Depression is far more serious than I think some people are taking it. Yes, with suicide, the concept of it is selfish, especially when it leaves that trail of hurt and bewilderment behind, but it is more of a degenerative disease if it is not treated. Even the simplest things can afflict the most rational of people, moreso than most of us cannot understand. I only have to think about the Virginia Tech Massacre, where Cho Seung-hui became increasingly volatile, and was under medication for severe depression. His suicide notes are more than enough proof to suggest that it is a disease that slowly eats away at someone's intelligent behavior. Years of isolationism, depression, and spite turned him into the monster that he had become.

For some people, depression is an overarching problem, and suicide (and potentially homicide) is the latent risk. They need to be treated and monitored with the best of care if they can get it.

[CaramonLS]

I'd argue that the person who is committing suicide instead generally feels the opposite of selfish. They feel as if they are a burden to those around them and that the world in general would be a better place without them around.

And T-99, without knowing the details of what your wife's friend went through, Irrational thoughts/ideas can still lead to rational decision making (however, using irrational thoughts/ideas as a flawed based to work from). A lot of people who commit/attempt suicide have a myriad of mental problems going on with them.

[troutman]

In Germany, we would hear almost daily traffic reports of people driving the wrong way on the autobahn. I'm told most of these are suicide attempts.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I'd argue that the person who is committing suicide instead generally feels the opposite of selfish. They feel as if they are a burden to those around them and that the world in general would be a better place without them around.

That is exactly how it does feel, at least in my case. It's also an extremely difficult hole to get out of, because the longer it goes unnoticed and untreated, the harder it is to recover from. When you are on the other side, it certainly does feel selfish, and in a lot of ways, it is. But honestly, I would liken it to how you would feel if someone you knew died from a drug overdose. A problem, left untreated too long, will lead to death. It is a tragedy any way you shape it.

[Flames_Gimp]

where did my pic go?

[Dion]

nm

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by Burninator

I could see that commotion from my office. I was wondering what happened and thought it would be on the news, but it wasn't. I think the news doesn't report suicides.

They don't. Its probably a good thing. Some of the suicide stories I've been exposed to through work that have happened in Calgary are sick, perverted, and no one should ever have to hear about it or experience it.

[Displaced Flames fan]

A kid I went to high school with did something similar here in Kansas a few years back. I couldn't stand the guy in high school and he was a year behind me. Anyway, one day I'm working at Boeing (had been for a few years) and there he is....so I go over and talk to him and of course after 6 or 7 years he was a lot less of a prick than I thought he was. It wasn't two weeks later he decided to drive his car the wrong way down the Kansas Turnpike (I-35). Tox reports came back negative for all substances so pretty much determined that it was suicide...he had recently divorced.

Horribly selfish thing...he hurt some people in the process.

[Displaced Flames fan]

I'm sorry, but not all suicides are the result of depression.

Not even close.

[Buzzard]

One of my Uncles trucks was hit by a suicide driver. His driver was okay but the guy killed himself, his wife and his 2 kids. Terrible thing to have to live with. It was Christmas day to boot.

[Flash Walken]

Oh sure, someone mentions a dead body who shows up? A Buzzard.