UberBender Posted June 30, 2004 Share Posted June 30, 2004 The debate about assisted suicide has raged for decades and I thought maybe the video game addicted, goat p*rn loving, night creatures of this forum might have powerfull insight into the suicidal psyche. I'll let this debate get a little older before I tell everyone my views on the subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albareth Posted June 30, 2004 Share Posted June 30, 2004 You mean "mercykilling"? Euthanasia? I condone of it if it is done with the absolute consent of the person through a doctor or a qualified medically trained personell of some similar kind. The greatest reason against it would lie in religious territory for most people. Being an atheist, that is not a problem for me. Looking at it purely on the merits of the act against the faults, not going into any deeper moral meaning of it... I condone it. But it cannot, and should not, be done outside of the law - though I can easily relate to people who have done so, and admit I might even do so myself if in the right situation which required it. The human mind can be weak at times of distress and act out of haste and folly to help our loved ones when they need us the most - which is why there needs to be a legal way for people to do this. There's not a doubt in my mind it would easen the lives of many, and give release to the torture that is the life of more still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UberBender Posted June 30, 2004 Author Share Posted June 30, 2004 Scenario: You want to commit suicide. You go to a suicide assister and they help you to make the big desicion. He either: (a) See's you unfit (meaning you have too much to live for or there is no reason) and refuses to help (b) He hears your case and agrees to help you If (a) you can: Get a second opinion or forget about it and try to cope with things If (b) he will give you an as pleasent as possible death: Maybe you can live a month or something before hand, being watched for immprove of attitude (sort of an "lets see if he really wants to go through with it" thing) or he will do it immediately because of some illness or injury that is causing you great pain This is basicly what we are debating about. Whether or not this should be allowed/ Is it ethical. I do think most of the "No it shouldn't" people will be religionists (Thou shalt not kill) but it all depends on your personal feeling and expierence on the subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark0ne Posted June 30, 2004 Share Posted June 30, 2004 There are arguments for both sides which span well past the whole "openly assisting the death of another human" reasoning. Many people, Christians and athiests have come to acknowledge that many people who have wished for a quick, painless death and have been disallowed this priviledge have come to terms with their illness, and managed to live the best days of their lives in the time after this yurning for a painless death - I'm sure we've all been in the situation where we've come to a decision on something, slept on it and then changed our decision. Many people would argue that the mind is not capable of logical reasoning when they haven't come to terms with what has happened. My views are mixed, of course there's the argument that people have the right to choose between life and death - but this is another one of those grey areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Switch Posted June 30, 2004 Share Posted June 30, 2004 I'd be 50/50 on this, really... if someone had a dehibilitating illness that made their life a slow and painful downward spiral towards death, leaving them completely unable to kill themselves, I would, logically, think it would be alright to assist them. But religiously there is that commandment that sort of gets in the way here. :P So I don't know really. I myself could never kill another person no matter what the circumstances anyway... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vandorssen Posted June 30, 2004 Share Posted June 30, 2004 The concept of suicide being immoral or evil is something of a western (not exactly Jewish or Christian) concept. In Japan, perhaps a thousand years before Christ, seppuku was seen as a last and ultimate resort to retain some degree of honor and dignity in ones life; most of the time you would have to receive permission or orders to perform this final act of courage. And, for all intents, it was "assisted", by your "second", who, after you disemboweled yourself (for men) or slit your throat (for women), would relieve you of the pain of life by removing your head. To be the second for another was a place of high honor. Seppuku is one example that shows the high morality of suicide albeit an extreme one. But it also shows that the acceptance of suicide grows less as one travels from the fart east towards the west. In Europe, as a rule, suicide has largely been seen as a mortal sin. Even in ancient times (in Europe) suicide was seen as a foolish and wasteful enterprise. To arbitrarily give up something so precious as life itself (without gain, i.e. a sacrifice or hopeless but valiant endeavor) was, if not evil, an affront to good sense. But I have only skirted around the issue at hand: mercy killing. This is where the clarity of thought that comes with the stoic philosophy really shows its value. I do believe that the option to end one's life when there will be no end to pain and suffering is reasonable, but not to be taken lightly. It should be the last course taken, only when all others have been exhausted. But it may not be suitable for only physical suffering, but emotional as well. It's path should only be pursued with the very best advisement and only after it has been determined that suffering by continued existence will outweigh the possibility of recovery. That said, I believe that the common suicides we read of in the papers or see on TV are a sign of weakness and failure, and it is somewhat disgusting to me. That one would voluntarily end their life as they have lived it over trivial matters is an incomprehensible action to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander the Great Posted June 30, 2004 Share Posted June 30, 2004 Euthanasia a.k.a. mercy killing, was brought out into the modern day mostly by a man known by Dr. Kavorkian. Most saw what he did as murder even after it was known that he did it after the people asked him too. Most of the world saw him as a killer but he stood by his case, and i agree with him. If a person cares enough to have themselves killed then good for them. Thin the population. We have enough people as is. We kill a few thousand people thne we act like china and only let peole have two kids so we have a stable population. This mercy killing thing all adds up to us having a stable population and the world not blowing up on itself. Genius HAHAHA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UberBender Posted June 30, 2004 Author Share Posted June 30, 2004 Ok now that the topic has gained interest I will add my views. I agree with a lot of you. (not Alex) I think that if you want to commit suicide you need someone sound of mind to help you decide. I don't think anyone should but if you want to that is how it should be done. I think that the only time it should be done is in a dehibilitating illness that made their life a slow and painful downward spiral towards death. and I don't think that I would ever be able to "help" someone because of my religion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyjet3 Posted June 30, 2004 Share Posted June 30, 2004 I say if someone has the mind set to kill themselves they probably aren't prepared to do it. It is more of an impulse thing. Impulse are never good. Always think before you do it. I don't see any problem with people wanting to help others end their lives. It is that's person choice. But I do think they should get a second opinion... Suicide is never great to hear about but it happens so we all should just live with it. Hell why not make a profession out of it! I mean a real one... like you get paid by the government and everything! It would certainly help the population growth and help get rid off people that don't want to live any way!! Everyone will be either happy or dead... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brighid Posted July 1, 2004 Share Posted July 1, 2004 Assisted suicide, in the case of fatal, debilitating or progressive debilitating disease is a noble thing. It allows a person to retain their dignity, and spares them becoming delerious, decrepit and in pain. It also spares their loved ones the pain of watching them deteriorate.It must be a personal decision, by someone of sound mind, and families, friends and doctors must be available for consultation. Counselors should evaluate that someone is aware and accepting of their decision, and should also be available to assist family mebers and friends with ther grief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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