The definition of 'cringe worthy'

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

EDIT: I'll say this about suicides though... killing one's self is an act that requires incredible amounts of cowardice mixed incredible amounts of bravery. just one way of looking at it

I'd say it depends upon the circumstance. There's an interesting book that touches on the subject called "The Lucifer Principle" by Howard Bloom. In it, he touches on the neurobiological reasons for suicide by equating it with cellular apoptosis, which is when a cell destroys itself because it isn't needed. Bloom's theory is that individuals are like cells in a social superorganism, and when they feel cut off or unwanted, they trigger a kind of biological self-destruct mechanism. He makes a convincing case using examples from the Animal Kingdom as well as a number of human case studies, but I'm not decided on the issue just yet.

Personally, I've always considered suicide to be an act of cowardice and waste. I have no problem with people who sacrifice their lives for others, or for a mission, except when they aren't me; that's Marine brainwashing for you. But when someone ends their own life for no purpose, I see it as selfish and, well, cowardly. Even if you have nothing to live for, you should still have the common courtesy use your life for some kind of constructive end. Now that I think about it, maybe that's why so many desperate people turn to charitable church work.

[Dowly]

'The Bridge' was a good documentary. It's about the Golden Gate bridge and the large-ish amount of suicides that occur there every year.

Trailer:


EDIT: Whole documentary is on YT, part 1 here: (DISTURBING SCENES, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!)


PS. Mods, if you feel this is against the rules feel free to edit my post. I post it as it is an documentary and from my experience, Subsim does allow documentaries to be posted (look the amount of documataries about uboats, tanks and airplanes we got all over the forums).

[geetrue]

The problem with death is that life is never really over.

Life is over in that body for that indvidual ... but at the moment of death that is who you are forever ...

good, bad, grumpy, happy, saved or unsaved.

The body you destroy is not cheating the judge that stands at the door.

It is the soul that is left ... the spirit, the love and the hate you had continues on for eternity in some God forsaken place or perhaps in a heavenly one.

The body is dead without the spirit ....

the spirit wanders till it can be claimed by one side or the other, but then again their is lukewarm and perhaps you'll find yourself on a bar floor room somewhere wondering what the hell happened.

Don't you ever wonder where all of those spooky stories come from about ghost, invisable to the naked eye, many times heard, but not seen.

Spirits of trapped people, desembodied souls, in a world we cannot even begin to understand.

If you want to fear something ... fear your lack of discernment in such matters as suicide.

Take the long way home not the quick way

The problem with death is that life is never really over.

Not really a 'problem' if that is how you see it.

If you believe in a higher power who some call God.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by geetrue

Don't you ever wonder where all of those spooky stories come from about ghost, invisable to the naked eye, many times heard, but not seen.

From the same place that stories about UFO's, USO's, Bigfoot etc. etc. come from. Folklore and peoples' imagination.

I love this thread, nutshot->decapitation->suicide->religion, this has to be somekind of record here!

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

But when someone ends their own life for no purpose, I see it as selfish and, well, cowardly.

I don't think too many people commit suicide for "no purpose". Other people may not understand the purpose, agree with the purpose, or even know of the purpose, but the suicide knew the purpose.

Suicide sometimes proceeds from cowardice, but not always; for cowardice sometimes prevents it; since as many live because they are afraid to die as die because they are afraid to live.

-- Charles Caleb

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by Platapus

I don't think too many people commit suicide for "no purpose". Other people may not understand the purpose, agree with the purpose, or even know of the purpose, but the suicide knew the purpose.

That thought has occured to me, but what I was saying was that one who is suicidal might as well have the decency to use their life to advance the lives of others. Even if someone ever was a completely worthless screw-up, what philosophical reason could they have for destroying themselves without doing some kind of good in the process? I see such a thing as being cowardly and without purpose. If one just kills oneself for no apparent purpose, there might as well not be one.

[krashkart]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

That thought has occured to me, but what I was saying was that one who is suicidal might as well have the decency to use their life to advance the lives of others. Even if someone ever was a completely worthless screw-up, what philosophical reason could they have for destroying themselves without doing some kind of good in the process? I see such a thing as being cowardly and without purpose. If one just kills oneself for no apparent purpose, there might as well not be one.

When they get that far under they are not thinking about how wonderful life could be or what better purpose they can serve. It's more like; "Get me off this rock right now!" (or something close to that) -- and the next thing you know you're attending a funeral and left with so many unanswerable questions. You never forget losing someone to that damned sickness.

Anyway, I do see your point and yes people should certainly strive to do the best they can while they still breathe. But that rationale only works when the person is healthy enough to see fit to continue living. If they're off the deep end and ready to kill themselves, there aren't a whole lot of positive thoughts in the equation.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by krashkart

When they get that far under they are not thinking about how wonderful life could be or what better purpose they can serve. It's more like; "Get me off this rock right now!" (or something close to that) -- and the next thing you know you're attending a funeral and left with so many unanswerable questions. You never forget losing someone to that damned sickness.

Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I didn't know............. oh frack it, anything I say now won't make me any less of an ass. I'm really am sorry, krashkart. I get to thinking about these things and I just sort of get carried away and lose context.

Originally Posted by krashkart

Anyway, I do see your point and yes people should certainly strive to do the best they can while they still breathe. But that rationale only works when the person is healthy enough to see fit to continue living. If they're off the deep end and ready to kill themselves, there aren't a whole lot of positive thoughts in the equation.

I think you're right, and now that you put it like that, it seems really obvious. In fact, that's even in the book I recommended. Color me stupid. Like I said, I tend to get carried away and lose context. I guess what I really meant was that I couldn't kill myself without some purpose. I would consider it an act of cowardice for me to do that, and I just don't understand how it would be okay for anyone else. Yes, I can really be that stupid.

Again, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to slight someone you lost.

[krashkart]

It's all good, Undersea. I didn't see any slight at all in your post, and I certainly did not intend on you feeling like an ass. I just felt the need to speak from experience and help clarify something -- which in turn brought about a further clarification. In a way it worked out quite nicely for the both of us (and hopefully for others, as well).

No hurt feelings here, don't lose any sleep over it.