These days, there's much talk of suicide, and while I personally think of it as a terrible thing and decision, I consider it to be a person's right. They should be allowed to take their own life if they really want to. However, many people see fit to stop other people from committing suicide, and I think that this is a form of oppression. So what do all of you think, is suicide a right? Should people be allowed to commit suicide unobstructed?

Most people who committ suicide are suffering from severe mental illnesses. That being said, I believe suicide should be legal in a controlled environment just so these people can be outed and offered social services to help them in case they are unsure.

Wow.

Erm....Suicide?

Well, maybe it should only be allowed if one's quality of life is so terrible that it's less painful to end one's life than it is to keep on going.

That said, many people, like Theif stated, are suffering from severe mental illness. I think that mental illness should be treated before anyone has the right to ask for suicide (mental illness can make people think and say things that they'd never think otherwise- a person in the throes of severe depression, for example, might feel that there's no reason to live in the entire world, even if that's not what that person would think with a healthy mind).

Suicide. I don't get the laws for it, they lock you up for trying to kill yourself, kind of prolonging the inevitable. But seriously, I think if someone wants to take their own life, they should, but there should be special buildings for them to do it in. Or else the world could become a grim place, just walking under a bridge, and flattened by a falling jumper.

If you were in the right state of mind and said "Yep. I just want the needle to go in my arm." Then I think that is fine but people who are depressed should probably be attended to before they make the decision.

No, suicide usually takes place in mentally diseased people and can be stopped. Euthanasia on the other hand, i believe should be legal. I would rather be able to die peacefully than live for another month of horrible pain.....wouldn't you?

Like I always say, Who cares?
But seriously, You really really needn't care about suicide unless you or a friend/loved one are thinking about it. For everyone else let them deal with it

One big opposition to suicide comes from religion. In Christianity, suicide is like throwing away a gift that someone had given you. God gave you life, and it's not your right to take it away. That said, I'm not religious. I think that the ONLY time it should be allowed is when someone has a terminal disease/condition. Or possibly something that can't be treated and causes excruciating pain.

I believe in the "Right to Die" but people who are comitting suicide because they have undiagnosed clinical depression (like my Roomate who tried to kill herself) really need to be helped.

Suicide, the only crime you can get away with.

This is a REALLY tough one. I am an absolute freedom fanatic. I really believe that people should be the ultimate masters of their own destiny. At the same time... wtf... what is it that life has done that makes you want to go against every single instinct in your body and kill yourself? Maybe we should start asking about why developed countries, where people have so much, are suffering from a suicide epidemic right now.

There is the criminality aspect of it too. If someone dives under a train, that is something that is going to stay with the driver for a very long time. Pretty shitty thing to do to another human being.

I once heard that attempted suicide carried the death penalty in a certain place.

gmer412:
I once heard that attempted suicide carried the death penalty in a certain place.

The Land of Irony

gmer412:
One big opposition to suicide comes from religion. In Christianity, suicide is like throwing away a gift that someone had given you. God gave you life, and it's not your right to take it away. That said, I'm not religious. I think that the ONLY time it should be allowed is when someone has a terminal disease/condition. Or possibly something that can't be treated and causes excruciating pain.

I know you are not pressing the christian perspective as you're own but I'll bite anyways.

Christians are already christian, they don't need to kill themselves if they think it's wrong. However, there is no need to have a law imposing their perspective on non-christians.

needausername:
Suicide. I don't get the laws for it, they lock you up for trying to kill yourself, kind of prolonging the inevitable.

I think in Victorian Britain & still in some other countries today, (attempted) suicide was punishable by death.

If only other crimes were like that, like the punishment for stealing a loaf of bread was a sandwich.

I think it's perfectly okay, but I guess my depression and desires for it might be clouding my judgment in the matter.

If you have thought it through long and hard, sought medical and psychological help and still feel the need to shuffle off your mortal coil then I think a person should be allowed to waste their life if they wish. It is theirs to do with what they will.

BallPtPenTheif:

gmer412:
One big opposition to suicide comes from religion. In Christianity, suicide is like throwing away a gift that someone had given you. God gave you life, and it's not your right to take it away. That said, I'm not religious. I think that the ONLY time it should be allowed is when someone has a terminal disease/condition. Or possibly something that can't be treated and causes excruciating pain.

I know you are not pressing the christian perspective as you're own but I'll bite anyways.

Christians are already christian, they don't need to kill themselves if they think it's wrong. However, there is no need to have a law imposing their perspective on non-christians.

I don't think that it's really a conscious decision. It's just become part of the accepted culture of the world and the laws reflect that. Also, remember that religions love to force their views on everyone else.

EDIT: Aside from the church, that is.

Jamash:

needausername:
Suicide. I don't get the laws for it, they lock you up for trying to kill yourself, kind of prolonging the inevitable.

I think in Victorian Britain & still in some other countries today, (attempted) suicide was punishable by death.

If only other crimes were like that, like the punishment for stealing a loaf of bread was a sandwich.

Well the punishment for watching films, you aren't old enough to see, is to be bombarded with 18's.

needausername:

Jamash:

needausername:
Suicide. I don't get the laws for it, they lock you up for trying to kill yourself, kind of prolonging the inevitable.

I think in Victorian Britain & still in some other countries today, (attempted) suicide was punishable by death.

If only other crimes were like that, like the punishment for stealing a loaf of bread was a sandwich.

Well the punishment for watching films, you aren't old enough to see, is to be bombarded with 18's.

These all follow the logic of "Live or I'll kill you!"

gmer412:

BallPtPenTheif:

gmer412:
One big opposition to suicide comes from religion. In Christianity, suicide is like throwing away a gift that someone had given you. God gave you life, and it's not your right to take it away. That said, I'm not religious. I think that the ONLY time it should be allowed is when someone has a terminal disease/condition. Or possibly something that can't be treated and causes excruciating pain.

I know you are not pressing the christian perspective as you're own but I'll bite anyways.

Christians are already christian, they don't need to kill themselves if they think it's wrong. However, there is no need to have a law imposing their perspective on non-christians.

I don't think that it's really a conscious decision. It's just become part of the accepted culture of the world and the laws reflect that.

EDIT: Aside from the church, that is.

I definitely agree with you but at some point we need to start asking why things are the way they are.

This is yet another religious and political clash. The problem is, killing yourself does harm people, just not physically. It harms your family and the people that depend on you. I will say, if you are going to die a painful death, and there is no preventing it, then yes, you should have a right to physician-assisted suicide. However, killing yourself due to depression is not a solution to your problems. But making it illegal isn't going to stop people from doing it.

Someone should be able to end their own suffering. If they don't want to live anymore, fine, it's their choice, not ours.
However, if this person is trying to kill him/herself in a way that it would inflict damage upon other people, it's completely wrong. You can jump in front of a train, that's horrifying to everyone on that train. Same as you can't just go and throw yourself into traffic. Other people could get hurt, and that's not acceptable. Also the clean up would take a lot of paperwork for the police and whatnot.

Also suicide for attention is a no-go. You wanna die? Fine, but tdon't make people try and talk you over into not doing it or inflicting mental pain unto others while you virtually 'pretend' you want to commit suicide. Usually these people just want attention. They're mentally ill and need treatment. It's not as much suicide as it is a cry for help.

So yeah, suicide in controlled environment, preferrably a hospital with lethal injection, or your own home with medical supervision.

fluffylandmine:

gmer412:
I once heard that attempted suicide carried the death penalty in a certain place.

The Land of Irony

Bizarro World?

I tried twice to commit suicide (drowning and hanging), like a dumbass... I see now that it was a terrible mistake and that with enough work or time you can get over anything. People have no right to take a life, even their own, because it puts everyone they were close to into depression, and the cycle continues. Don't kill yourself, kill a kitten!

xitel:
This is yet another religious and political clash. The problem is, killing yourself does harm people, just not physically. It harms your family and the people that depend on you. I will say, if you are going to die a painful death, and there is no preventing it, then yes, you should have a right to physician-assisted suicide. However, killing yourself due to depression is not a solution to your problems. But making it illegal isn't going to stop people from doing it.

Wouldn't that be a selfish attitude on the part of the family? Sure, they would be hurt if the depressive committed suicide, but asking someone to go on living in pain, whether mental or physical, merely because it makes someone else feel better is pretty selfish in itself.

gmer412:
I once heard that attempted suicide carried the death penalty in a certain place.

In Ohio or something the penalty for jumping off a building is death.
http://www.dumblaws.com/

fluffylandmine:

gmer412:
I once heard that attempted suicide carried the death penalty in a certain place.

The Land of Irony

WTF!? Anyway. Everyone has the right to choose if they want to commit suicide. I'm not for it, but I can't stop someone if they're at the point.

John Tacos:
I tried twice to commit suicide (drowning and hanging), like a dumbass... I see now that it was a terrible mistake and that with enough work or time you can get over anything. People have no right to take a life, even their own, because it puts everyone they were close to into depression, and the cycle continues. Don't kill yourself, kill a kitten!

Damn, you are !@*%&^# up.

xitel:
This is yet another religious and political clash. The problem is, killing yourself does harm people, just not physically.

Well, that physical harm is really as far as we can go legally. We can't start arresting people for making each other sad.

gmer412:
One big opposition to suicide comes from religion. In Christianity, suicide is like throwing away a gift that someone had given you. God gave you life, and it's not your right to take it away. That said, I'm not religious. I think that the ONLY time it should be allowed is when someone has a terminal disease/condition. Or possibly something that can't be treated and causes excruciating pain.

Not necessarily. If you look at Hinduism for example you have Sati, which is suicide (although it is not commonly practiced these days). Among old Asatru you had guys charging into conflicts they could not possibly win, actually hoping to be killed so they could get into Valhalla. Religion only takes any stance on suicide because it religion has a complex relationship with death, it is less about the morality aspect of it.

John Tacos:
I tried twice to commit suicide (drowning and hanging), like a dumbass... I see now that it was a terrible mistake and that with enough work or time you can get over anything. People have no right to take a life, even their own, because it puts everyone they were close to into depression, and the cycle continues. Don't kill yourself, kill a kitten!

If you don't mind me asking... why drowning? I mean... jeez that's got to be one of the worst ways to go out.

fluffylandmine:

John Tacos:
I tried twice to commit suicide (drowning and hanging), like a dumbass... I see now that it was a terrible mistake and that with enough work or time you can get over anything. People have no right to take a life, even their own, because it puts everyone they were close to into depression, and the cycle continues. Don't kill yourself, kill a kitten!

Damn, you are !@*%&^# up.

Yes, I was. But now I know It was stupid, and I'm wiser for it.

I was once considering suicide as a long term solution, just a form of logic that I'm still rather fond of, although the reasons are gone. I just sorta figured that life is a game. Like in a game, the point is to have fun, although there are way to many people out there who take it to seriously. But when the game stops being fun and you have to work a lot, why not just stop playing and quit while you're ahead? I'm lazy, and the concept of death doesn't scare me, so I had a solution ready. Now, the vast increase in fun and human connection in my life has made it more than useless, even if if it sucks a lot more than anticipated, I'll at least try to shoot for riches before exploding.

I don't see why such a suicide should ever be restricted, and I don't like restrictions in general, so just let people do what they want.

cuddly_tomato:

If you don't mind me asking... why drowning? I mean... jeez that's got to be one of the worst ways to go out.

Actually, I heard one theory that the afterlife experience might just be a hallucination that occurs when the brain degrades or deteorates at the rate of the golden ratio. Theoretically it could create an expansive hallucination that could seem to last for an eternity if not a very long time.

So drowning, bleeding to death, etc... would be ideal ways to go if you bought into that theory.

What if suicide was only legal for people found to be of sound mind? I think this would be a great solution.