Is suicide really selfish?

[Sheilbh]

Yes.

[barkdreg]

Selfish? Might be.
Egocentric? Certainly.

[Martinus]

But he had three kids and a wife who by all accounts miss their dad terribly.  It is they who have forever lost their father or husband, and because of them it is a selfish act.

It was obvious that he had had enough.  And that was his call to make.

Yeah, besides it's not like he left them struggling or young and unable to fend for themselves. He was 60-something when he committed suicide - that's the age people already die from natural causes.

[CountDeMoney]

It was obvious that he had had enough.  And that was his call to make.

No, it was obvious he was having a bad day, and made a bad decision in a moment of pain.

Spoken like somebody who doesn't have a single clue about the sheer, brutal and debilitating weight that is chronic depression.

And toss early onset Parkinson's on top of it? Check, please.

[Martinus]

It was obvious that he had had enough.  And that was his call to make.

No, it was obvious he was having a bad day, and made a bad decision in a moment of pain.

So, according to you, is suicide always a bad decision?

[Barrister]

But he had three kids and a wife who by all accounts miss their dad terribly.  It is they who have forever lost their father or husband, and because of them it is a selfish act.

It was obvious that he had had enough.  And that was his call to make.

Yeah, besides it's not like he left them struggling or young and unable to fend for themselves. He was 60-something when he committed suicide - that's the age people already die from natural causes.

My dad's 65.  I'd still miss him terribly if he died tomorrow.

[Viking]

Suicide when you are facing a debilitating disease like Parkinsons is not selfish.

[Viking]

It was obvious that he had had enough.  And that was his call to make.

No, it was obvious he was having a bad day, and made a bad decision in a moment of pain.

No it's not obvious. This may have been a thought through decision.

[The Brain]

Obviously I will live on even in constant excruciating pain if me dying would be terribly inconvenient for my friends and family.

[Martinus]

It was obvious that he had had enough.  And that was his call to make.

No, it was obvious he was having a bad day, and made a bad decision in a moment of pain.

Spoken like somebody who doesn't have a single clue about the sheer, brutal and debilitating weight that is chronic depression.

And toss early onset Parkinson's on top of it? Check, please.

Yeah. We cheer on people who quit jobs, or move to a different city or break up long term relationships - if they get out of an unbearable situation that way. Why can't people quit life in the same way?

Again, Robin Williams is a great example - we are not talking about a moody teenager who is uncertain how he feels. We are talking about an adult man who is fulfilled both professionally and personally. Why can't he at some point legitimately decide that what is ahead of him is more pain than fun and call it a day?

[Grey Fox]

Yes & no

but it is cowardly.

[CountDeMoney]

Fun factoid:  adults ages 45 to 64 now account for the largest number of suicides and have the fastest-growing suicide rate in the US among all demographics.

2nd place is apparently unarmed black teens.

[Martinus]

But he had three kids and a wife who by all accounts miss their dad terribly.  It is they who have forever lost their father or husband, and because of them it is a selfish act.

It was obvious that he had had enough.  And that was his call to make.

Yeah, besides it's not like he left them struggling or young and unable to fend for themselves. He was 60-something when he committed suicide - that's the age people already die from natural causes.

My dad's 65.  I'd still miss him terribly if he died tomorrow.

Of course. That does not address my point though.

[Barrister]

It was obvious that he had had enough.  And that was his call to make.

No, it was obvious he was having a bad day, and made a bad decision in a moment of pain.

So, according to you, is suicide always a bad decision?

Not always.  I can imagine situations were it'd be okay with it - usually involving someone already suffering from a terminal illness, but maybe other situations.

[Martinus]

Obviously I will live on even in constant excruciating pain if me dying would be terribly inconvenient for my friends and family.