Quote:
Originally posted by johnny:
Where in my post did you see me use the word "cowards" ? I never said that they are cowards, i said they are selfish. There's a difference. If you really really really wanna kill yourself, by all means... go right ahead. Just make sure you leave noone behind who actually cares about you. It's not just your own life you end when that's the case.
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This raises and interesting point as to whom our responsibility lies - to ourselves first and foremost, or to others? If you believe truly with no doubt that your life is not worth living, and that to continue on would be so painful it hurts even to think about it, how much consideration should you, morally give other people? I imagine people who are suicidal do think about their loved ones; it is probably one of the things that holds them back as long as they do, and the thing that stops some people from attempting it in the first place, or attempting it again. I think that is often the mentality behind the suicide note - to try to ease people's pain and guilt that they've left behind. Surely to not do what you think is absolutely the only thing that will end your pain and suffering just for the consideration of others is the ultimate sacrifice - should they have to make that sacrifice?
Another thing I will say is that we don't understand what is going through the minds of people who suicide, so to say that they are 'selfish' and only thinking of themselves along the same lines as someone is selfish because they ate all the cake and didn't leave any for anyone else is a little foolish. I've never been so consumed by despair to even imagine what it must be like. Considering also that a common thought that people who are severely depressed have is that they are worthless and no use to anyone it follows that people probably wouldn't miss them that much anyway, or would be better off without them.
There are also cases where people simply aren't in a sane state of mind. People suffering from schizophrenia or other disorders that involve hallucinations and delusions often are told by the voices that if they don't do something, often self-harm or worse, their loved ones will be harmed or killed.