h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This is going to be a controversial standpoint, I know this, but I will voice the argument because it's valid.

The problems that people people encounter that cause them to become depressed are all the result of overpopulation (if you want details, reply and ask and i'll explain).

And i know a lot of depressed people who have been found to lack serotonin, but who is to say that high levels of serotonin are "normal" anyway? All of my friends would rather live depressed and naturally than by pumping a chemical into their system.

I understand that suicide distresses you, and that it seems unnecessary, but why not trust the people who kill themselves? surely if they have a right to life, they must also have the right to die?

I think what I'm trying to say is: Suicide is not the problem, it is the effect. It cannot be stopped directly, and until modern society is made into a safe and welcoming place for all types of individuals, we should respect people in their choice to die, and take it as a signal that something, somewhere is still horribly wrong.

Suicide is perceived as immoral according to most standards. On the other hand moral is a very dynamic, individual thing. So... Whatever.
Suicide is a complicated problem. It's the 'ultima ratio' of the soul. Like war. It happens when everything else failed. I wouldn't want to be the cause for someone commiting suicide. That would have meant that there was a problem and that all communication with that person failed. For the same reason, I would probably never want to commit suicide. There are other ways to send strong signals... But that's just me

Now... Kant sez' about moral: Act like you would want this to be the general rule for everyone. So, if my personal concoctions above should hold for everybody, then I think that I can agree with what you say:

"Suicide is not the problem, it is the effect. It cannot be stopped directly, and until modern society is made into a safe and welcoming place for all types of individuals..."

All these types of individuals must be accepted, tolerated and everyone should at least try to understand eachother. In this ideal world there would be no need for suicide. Suicide would be irrational, and probably immoral...

I knew to people who commited suicide... No-one understood what happened. So their suicide - if it was to convey a message - failed in its purpose. Poor folks.

FF

She is no more.


Today a man knocked at my door.
He told me he was a family member of one of the residents in the block I’m living in (15 apartments).

He asked me if he could inspect the common garage and told me why.
A lady next door had committed suicide last week. And during those days I wasn’t at home, so I heard the news today.

He experimented with a bicycle-key and concluded that one of those
had to be hers.

I gave him my phone number in case he needed someone for practical reasons. I do live here for more then ten years.
“She” lived here for fifteen years.
According to the information of the man, she had studied philosophy.


In all those years I had never met her in the community-garage, while
I do live next door of the garage.
I rarely spoke with her. About one or two times a year.

She had a kind of “silence” in and around herself.

When we met in town, we always looked at each others and said “hello” and she expressed her greeting mainly by widening her eyes in these rare moments.


And now suddenly she is no more. It feels absolute and absurd.
I cannot cope with her sudden death.
What impresses me most during the day, is the long and lonely road that leaded to her final act.

As I see it, this woman (about 35) had the courage to take her life as her only option of a dignified farewell.

I will try to remember her as she was; calm, sensitive, polite, quiet,
Lonely and probably very strong. But “trying” doesn’t make any sense
in these circumstances.

She probably carried her burden for so many, many years. How very strong she must have been.


When I was in town today ,I saw an announcement about an opera from Henry Purcell, “Dido and Aeneas”
It reminds me of the very impressing final song;
“Remember me, but not my fate”.


Farewell, lady next door.



Alfredo,


June 2005