Is it selfish to prevent people from commiting suicide?

[Nikolaz72]

Guilty-tripping people into being depressed because you felt bad aint fair either. Tough luck for those left behind. Its not like they can tell him that after he died.

Huh? Could you explain what you mean?

Just did. Forgive me for the edit. I find it that being depressed usually means you think you are not getting enough attention. Doesnt matter if you are or if you arent, either way you are gonna feel like you arent getting any attention. And if people dont care enough about you to get attention killing yourself is sure a way to get at least some attention (Too bad you die) In ninety percent of the cases with depression. When the subjects dont succeed at killing themself they usually regret trying in the first place and get on with their lives. So getting on with your life 'before' you risk fatal injuries or death. Is a very good idea, Psycologists can help you with this. As Depression is a sickness and cannot just be toughed out (Most sensible people know this)

 

[Swny Nerdgasm]

Hey if someone wants to kill themselves, don't expect me to give them a second thought.

 

[Nihilism_Is_Bliss]

Just did. Forgive me for the edit. I find it that being depressed usually means you think you are not getting enough attention. Doesnt matter if you are or if you arent, either way you are gonna feel like you arent getting any attention. And if people dont care enough about you to get attention killing yourself is sure a way to get at least some attention (Too bad you die)

You're making some pretty gross assumptions and generalisations. But still, sure, people can be depressed for stupid reasons but it's hardly relevant.
My views are very focused on the self, so you'll never catch me committing suicide because I'm a burden on society (I could rant a lot about society, but I won't digress too much) but telling me it is selfish to commit suicide regardless of circumstance, because there will be people left behind, then I'm just not going to agree.
Surely we should all live our own lives. If people expect me to put up with a long and tortured life just so they don't have to deal with my death, then sorry, they're being more selfish. Even if the circumstances mean troubling others, I maintain the belief I should be able to die if I so choose. I should have that right. In many circumstances it is fair to be a little selfish.

 

[Nikolaz72]

Just did. Forgive me for the edit. I find it that being depressed usually means you think you are not getting enough attention. Doesnt matter if you are or if you arent, either way you are gonna feel like you arent getting any attention. And if people dont care enough about you to get attention killing yourself is sure a way to get at least some attention (Too bad you die)

You're making some pretty gross assumptions and generalisations. But still, sure, people can be depressed for stupid reasons but it's hardly relevant.
My views are very focused on the self, so you'll never catch me committing suicide because I'm a burden on society (I could rant a lot about society, but I won't digress too much) but telling me it is selfish to commit suicide regardless of circumstance, because there will be people left behind, then I'm just not going to agree.
Surely we should all live our own lives, if people expect me to put up with a long and tortured life just so they don't have to deal with my death, then sorry, they're being more selfish. Even if the circumstances mean troubling others, I maintain the belief I should be able to die if I so choose. I should have that right. In many circumstances it is fair to be a little selfish.

Being selfish is bringing pain upon others to end your own pain. Being selfless is causing yourself pain without causing others pain. In this scenario.

In theese cases you say bringing pain upon others so you dont have to live with pain yourself is selfless while demanding them not to do so is selfish. Thats the point im lost at. As I said, there are different cases. Some more justified than others, but in the end the best thing is if you have a depression get help, dont commit suicide. If you lost everything, get help. Dont commit suicide. Suicide is not some kind of glorified end, it is honestly pathetic, if not just sad. Someone is bound to be affected negatively, if you gotta end it, be sure to think it over. A lot. And make sure nobody is left behind, and yea. Im gonna disagree with you on that, I think leaving someone behind, be it wife, mother, or son. Making them depressed so you can end your own depression. Not gonna gain much respect. From anyone, maybe apart from the Emo's and the Cultists.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

Not at all because killing yourself is the ultimate selfish decision. Anyone who tells you otherwise has no idea what they are talking about.

 

[Sparcrypt]

No, it's not.

No matter what your life is like this second, no matter how much you think it could never get better.. while you are alive there is still hope things can improve. If you are dead, there is none. Ever again.

People who want to kill themselves don't realise it, but many who are prevented are able to turn things around later on in life. I don't think it selfish to want to stop someone throwing that chance away, regardless of it being their choice or not.

One of my friends a few years ago had clinical depression - he wanted to kill himself and very nearly did. In the end the people who cared about him helped him and 5 years later he is happy, has a kid and can't believe he ever thought those problems back then mattered to him so much that he would want to do something so stupid.

So.. out of just one example there is one happy person and a child that would never have been born.

TLDR: If you are alive things can get better. If you are dead they never will.

 

[Robert Ewing]

Well, I believe a person has a right to chose whether they die or not. I think it should be completely up to them.

But it's like smoking, it's not selfish to want them to stop. But if you manage to get them to stop, then that's great! But suicide can be thought up on a whim, so I dunno. It's awkward if that is the case. Because then you have the argument 'Well you might not want to commit suicide in 6 months time.'

But then again, what if they do? They've just suffered for 6 months, waiting for the release of death. I dunno, I just support all this euthanasia stuff, it just seems right to me. I'd want to die if things ever got so bad, and I'd fully respect my friends and families wishes if they wanted to do so. Hopefully it will be legalized soon.

 

[Vakz]

Selfish really is the wrong word. I do think people have the right to take their own life, but attempting to stop them is NOT a bad thing. I just think you shouldn't think bad of people who take their lives.

 

[Trilaanus]

"Each man is a God, each man is free."

It's only selfish if you just want to keep them alive for selfish and petty reasons(IE they've always let you borrow money when you needed it, they give you gifts all the time, etc.)

As for suicide, yes, it's a pro choice world when it comes to your own life. However, most of society doesn't see it that way(likely because in the Christian faiths, which populate most of the world, it's a grave sin). I hope that some day we will all truly recognize each others freedom to choose for ourselves whether we wish to continue life or accept the change of death.

 

[Nihilism_Is_Bliss]

Being selfish is bringing pain upon others to end your own pain. Being selfless is causing yourself pain without causing others pain. In this scenario.

In theese cases you say bringing pain upon others so you dont have to live with pain yourself is selfless while demanding them not to do so is selfish. Thats the point im lost at. As I said, there are different cases. Some more justified than others, but in the end the best thing is if you have a depression get help, dont commit suicide. If you lost everything, get help. Dont commit suicide. Suicide is not some kind of glorified end, it is honestly pathetic, if not just sad. Someone is bound to be affected negatively, if you gotta end it, be sure to think it over. A lot. And make sure nobody is left behind, and yea. Im gonna disagree with you on that, I think leaving someone behind, be it wife, mother, or son. Making them depressed so you can end your own depression. Not gonna gain much respect. From anyone, maybe apart from the Emo's and the Cultists.

Why should we live for the sake of gaining respect of others? I didn't say it was selfless, but I'd struggle to call it 'selfish'. Even in cases where it could be considered selfish, it can still be justified - and should still be allowed.
I think I've digressed a bit much and probably haven't been very clear, I'm not advocating suicide, and certainly not saying everyone who is depressed should commit suicide, as most depression is treatable, but depending on the circumstances and reason for being depressed, suicide can still be a rational solution, and just passing it off as selfish or stupid under all circumstances is unfair.
A perfectly sane and non-depressed person can also make the philosophical/rational decision to accept death - though virtually nobody would due to human instinct.
Again, we should live and die by our own principles, not those of others.

 

[masterbazza]

mmmmmm.....
if people think that i wouldn't care
i would still stop them and if people call me selfish
i wont care because i am a selfish,asshole of a person

 

[Snotnarok]

I know a family where the father committed suicide, literally no warning signs, just went out on a bright sunny day, got in his boat on the docks with a tube in hand, started it up and laid down inside.

The family is in shambles, one daughter is a coke head/drunk now, in crazy debt and VERY depressed, and she knocked her teeth out from being drunk and high(fell out of a car). The mother thinks everything is okay despite it very much not being okay and is depressed as hell, the other daughter shunned the family and ignores everyone and the son joined the marines to get out of the house from the 'drama'.

No it's not selfish, suicide is selfish unless that person is dying a slow painful death (cancer, paralyzed from the neck down and is GENUINELY suffering) it's selfish on their end because everyone else has to live with their choice.

The only way I'd consider suicide if I was blinded or lost my hands, or ...alzhimers...I will not die the way my grandpa did.

...So um..positive note, my brother got his music CD out made entirely by him. Yay family? *confetti*

 

[RoonMian]

Al right first of all I only read the OP because I don't want to read all through what very well might be a very depressing thread so please excuse me if I' just repeating stuff somebody else said before.

Basically, what the OP asked is a philosophical question that has been around for literally thousands of years and in my language is even reflected in the words used for it. Those words make the distinction very clear. The first, more common one is "Selbstmord" (which would translate to 'self-murder' or 'sui[self]cide[murder]' as in 'genocide' or 'regicide') and it desribes taking oneselves life as a violent and wrong act of killing. The other, more fancy one is "Freitod" (which would translate to 'free-death') and that one describes the act as the ultimate act of freedom, independently deciding how you end your own life at your choosing. I'm not sure if there is such a word in the english language too so that might be an indication for what the consensus on that older-than-dirt-question might be in the anglo-american culture.

My personal opinion though is: Noone wants to die. The instinct to survive is the strongest instinct any person, any living creature actually, has. Even stronger than the instinct to procreate. A sane, healthy person doesn't even think about overcoming this strong, deeply rooted instinct. Usually, you have suffer from depression or other diseases to actually be able to overcome this instinct. Just like for example the disease lung cancer can have the symptom of lung failure which results in death, depressions can have the symptom of suicidal tendencies which can result in death. Basically, that's the same thing. If you suffer from an illness, you have the right to be helped. Besides, if you want to kill yourself you don't do it because you want to die. You do it because you don't want to live. You do it out of desperation and not because you think "Hey, being dead is gonna be so awesome" (grey areas like wanting to get at 72 virgins not included). Aspects of yourself wanting to live you're killing of in the process. So in my opinion 'self-murder' is the right term. And murder in general is only very seldomly the right thing to do or something you shouldn't interfere in if it's happening right in front of you.

 

[Nouw]

I think the person trying to commit suicide is the selfish one.

I whole-heartedly agree. What makes that person so special that they can cause suffering for the people around him/her?

 

[RobfromtheGulag]

Yes, but then if someone really wants to die they'll find a way with or without others trying to stop them.

 

[Shadesong]

Snip

I don't think I've ever agreed with anyone more than I do with this fellow.

To all of you imbe- 'fine' individuals, who are exclaiming, "People who commit suicide are selfish!" I hope you are entirely aware of the hypocrisy.

To all of you moro- 'upstanding' gentlefolk who are yelling, "People who kill themselves are cowards!" I'd ask for you to consider the fact that these people willingly face the unknowns of death, knowing that there is no way back. I'd argue that this is possibly one of the bravest things someone can do.

 

[BlueMage]

I only think it's selfish when they insist on offing themselves in a manner which inconveniences everyone else. Like the train scenario OP mentioned.

 

[BlueMage]

Snip

I don't think I've ever agreed with anyone more than I do with this fellow.

To all of you imbe- 'fine' individuals, who are exclaiming, "People who commit suicide are selfish!" I hope you are entirely aware of the hypocrisy.

To all of you moro- 'upstanding' gentlefolk who are yelling, "People who kill themselves are cowards!" I'd ask for you to consider the fact that these people willingly face the unknowns of death, knowing that there is no way back. I'd argue that this is possibly one of the bravest things someone can do.

It's a permanent solution to what is likely a temporary problem (unless you're Buddhist, in which case it's the other way around) - which means it's neither selfish nor cowardly. It's stupid. It's retarded. It's moronic.

While you live, your enemies can be made to suffer. Die, and all they'll do is rejoice. I refuse to give them the satisfaction.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

If you can stop them, then you should because that is the point of why most commit suicide and let someone know. Its to get attention, either a cry for help....or because they are a needy emo who is pretending. If they really wanted to die, they could kill themselves easily without anyone knowing until its to late. Mostly they just need help to deal with an emotional problem, something they cant deal with themselves or find hard to omit to.

 

[A Gray Phantom]

Mandeville states that every action we commit is inherently selfish. Preventing someone from committing suicide, therefore, is selfish. Syllogism based off of an arguable premise I'll admit, but that's my take on it.

Now, if you do by into that theory of understanding, then you also accept that preventing someone from suicide is no more selfish as any other action you impose on any other person. I work in mental health. The individuals I watch over are incapable of making decisions on their own. Entire teams are called on to decide almost everything: what that person wears, who their friends are, what they watch on TV, or even whether or not they're ever allowed to date.

Someone who's made the decision to end their own life may be suffering from a mental illness that is causing them to make extreme decisions. Suicide is an extremely permanent decision. I've often heard it called "A permanent solution to a temporary problem." There are often many decisions that a suicidal person can make before ending their lives: Medications, therapy, even changes in diet and exercise could be enough. Whether these are obtainable depends on a person to person basis.

Hope this helps answer your question.