HN Explorer

We need to stop calling suicide 'selfish'

7 points by feroz1 ↗ HN
Glenn Cooper was on the way to work when someone committed suicide. Commuters vented as to how selfish this person had been in delaying them. In the post below he looks at our attitudes towards suicide and why perhaps we are in fact the selfish ones:

http://www.getinspired365.com/articles/we-need-to-stop-calling-suicide-selfish

4 comments

[ 2.8 ms ] story [ 22.8 ms ] thread
coreyp_1
This is a very good message.
gus_massa
[Note: Self posts have a penalty here, so it's more difficult for them to reach the front age. Next time try submitting the URL without a comment.]
JoeAltmaier
tl;dr: person's train is delayed, thinks deep thoughts about why they weren't more concerned for the dead guy.

All very moral and noble. Except I have this nagging doubt: did the suicide have to do it in such a disruptive way? Did they just step in front of the train impulsively, or did they plan to go out with a bang? Because, that's critical to understanding the OP's point.

timonoko
These disruptive methods of self-termination are protests, of course. Humane society should provide painless and immediate and no-question-asked exit services to people of all ages. It would save zillions. Most of the expensive healthcare is done to the very old, who have little choice, all they can hope is that the expensive operation fails and they die under sedation.