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Saturday, February 26, 2005

Trying To Stop Suicide

Earlier I did a post about Hunter Thompson's suicide questioning some of reactions to his decision to kill himself. I wondered why we spend so much time trying to stop people from killing themselves when they so obviously want to die.

Here's an example of what I was talking about.

Sky News - A woman with a history of suicide attempts has been banned from multi-storey car parks, bridges and rivers.

The anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) was taken out by magistrates to stop the woman killing herself - and to prevent the chaos her failed suicide bids cause.

Magistrates in Bath were told that Kim Sutton, 23, was rescued three times from the River Avon by bystanders and caused chaos on the railways when she was pulled off the parapet of a railway bridge.

Train services had to be halted while she was rescued.

The Asbo stops Sutton from "going into rivers, canals or any open water in England and Wales," venturing on to railways lines or loitering on bridges.

She can only go to multi-storey car parks if accompanied.

Sutton could be jailed if she breaks the two-year order.


I guess I just have a hard time getting all broken up about someone who wants to die by killing themselves. If it were a relative or a friend of mine, sure I'd be upset. I wouldn't want them to go. But from a stranger's, and the government's, perspective"what's it to them?

Comments

Avatar for Marc

I’m reminded of a Naked Gun episode (don’t recall which flic) where Nielson was stopped in traffic. Getting out and walking up the line of cars he asked the cop at the scene what the problem was. Upon hearing a man was attempting to jump to his death from a high building he pulled his gun, shot the man, and started to clear traffic.

Of course I would advocate the same, buy the same token I damm sure wouldn’t go out of my way to stop someone.

Marc on February 26, 2005 at 03:02 pm
Avatar for Marc

Oops… that should be “wouldn’t advocate,”

Marc on February 26, 2005 at 03:02 pm
Avatar for Gary Gunnels

Marc,

You forget Marc that we must be protected from ourselves.  Its part of the “guard rails” justification that Republican and Democratic socialists live by.

_________________________________

Such acts are likely generally for the right reasons and if it alleviates suffering surely that is the best possible decision an individual can make.  Death is an end to everthing after all.

Gary Gunnels on February 26, 2005 at 11:03 pm
Avatar for Carol

Murder is a crime.  Suicide is simply the murder of oneself.

Carol on February 28, 2005 at 03:02 pm
Avatar for Mandy

How can you say that suicide is SIMPLY the murder of ones self. If it were your son or daughter would you say the same thing. Suicide is not SIMPLY ANYTHING.
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To Rob: You sure do have a lot to say about everything. Have you ever been in a situation where one of your love ones comitted suicide? If you had then you probably wouldn’t have the view on it that you do. You say that if it were a stranger then you wouldn’t care but if it were a family member than you would. Well what if it was your daughter and someone else knew, didn’t care and just simply let her murder herself? Would you still say oh well that’s what she wanted? If it was just an act of impulse or emotion and someone could help wouldn’t you appreciate the fact that they did? Wouldn’t you appreciate the fact that they kept you daughter off of high rises so that you could have her even if only for another 2 years.

Mandy on August 19, 2005 at 11:08 am
Avatar for likwidshoe

Rob asked, I guess I just have a hard time getting all broken up about someone who wants to die by killing themselves. If it were a relative or a friend of mine, sure I’d be upset. I wouldn’t want them to go. But from a stranger’s, and the government’s, perspective”what’s it to them?

If these selfish assholes kill themselves by jumping off of a bridge or building, then “a stranger” and the government are the ones who are going to have to fish out the body or scrape it off of the ground.

Mandy said, If it were your son or daughter would you say the same thing. Suicide is not SIMPLY ANYTHING.

You are bringing emotion into a topic where people are using logic.

Wouldn’t you appreciate the fact that they kept you daughter off of high rises so that you could have her even if only for another 2 years.

Appreciate it: yes.  But also realizing that it is not their job to babysit her.

likwidshoe on August 19, 2005 at 11:09 am
Rob
Rob
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To Rob: You sure do have a lot to say about everything. Have you ever been in a situation where one of your love ones comitted suicide?

Yes, actually.  One of my close friends in high school comitted suicide.  He was found by another friend of mine.

It was hard.  Terribly hard.  I wish he hadn’t felt like he had to do that.  I just don’t see where the government has perogative to step in.


The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is… legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay … If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.

Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

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Rob on August 21, 2005 at 04:08 pm
Avatar for upasana

You might be right when you say that the government should not be involved. But you know who should be involved ? Us, people, society, people who have seen how much pain and suffering a momentary lack of self-confidence can cause. I just lost a young friend of mine and am rattled with why she took that step...It boggles my mind no end...So I feel its empathy and guidance that people with suicidal tendencies need, not physical boundaries and government regulations…

upasana on September 6, 2005 at 10:10 pm
Avatar for l

As someone who once tried to commit suicide, I am very glad I did NOT!

One can go through a stage where life is very tough and they are struggling to cope and decide to end it. However, one must acknowledge that situations can change.

One doesn’t want to die, it’s just life gets so hard. What they really want is for things to improve, but they loose hope. But they shouldn’t just be allowed to kill themselves. I am very pleased today to be alive!

 My life is far more poistive now, and I am sure my family are pleased I am alive, as are my new friends. Suicide is not the answer.

l on April 9, 2006 at 02:15 pm
Avatar for jenna

ok, well my friend wants to commite suicide and i dont want him to, but i dont know what to say…

jenna on August 13, 2006 at 11:26 am
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