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

Saw a documentary just now that my parents had on tape from a while back, about Kevin Carter, the photographer for "Time" magazine, who killed himself because he couldn't deal with what he was photographing, and why he was doing it. It affected me really deeply, that someone could feel so strongly about something, and could be so affected by something, that he'd even go so far as to kill himself. I can't stop thinking about it.

There's a Manic Street Preachers song that springs to mind:

"The Elephant is so ugly
He sleeps his head machetes his bed
Kevin Carter, Kaffir lover forever

Click-click-click-click-click, click himself under..."

That's what I'm thinking about, at this ungodly hour. I don't think I'll sleep much tonight. "Too much to drink, too much to say..."
Don't you just love quoting song lyrics?

I have contemplated suicide too many times to count. But you know what kept me alive?

What if this is it? What if this life is all you get and there is nothing more? Would you really want to throw it all away just because things aren't going right at the moment? If so, WHAT A COP-OUT!!(and probably a stupid and permanent mistake)

I just want to know how my life will turn out. Good things have been happening lately; eg. H2G2, impending new job, so I'm optimistic about the future. If someone wants to end their life, so it be. They are probably not someone I could hold much respect for, no matter what they accomplished in their life.(eg. Kurt Cobain)

In terms of someone like Kurt Cobain, I agree - here's a guy who overlooked his priveleged position, his talent and everything else, refused to sort himself out, and topped himself. I know that's it's probably more complex than that, but I always think that no matter how bad things get, at least you're not a starving kid in East Africa or a Yamonami Indian watching the rainforest being taken away from you.
But then there's a difference between him and Kevin Carter. Kevin Carter seemed like he had a genuine reason for doing what he did, and a genuine horror that as a photographer he was powerless to change what he was seeing. I don't know, I still think suicide is wrong, but I have more respect for Kevin than for Kurt.

Anyway, on a lighter note, I'm glad you're happy! Life certainly is good.

I'm off to bed now, but I'll chat later.

Well, comparing those two is like comparing shit to Shinola. No one has the right to say that another does not have the right to do as he pleases, as long as it doesn't harm another. What I am ultimately trying to say is, no great loss. If Kevin Carter couldn't handle what he was doing, he should have stopped. If he put the welfare of those starving people ahead of his own, then he should have spent the rest of his life trying to help them. "No man is powerless until he is self-defeated" (I just said that, I looked in Bartlett's, nothing close). I just don't see any reason to mourn people who hold so little respect for life, that they would throw it away. If Mr. Carter felt so bad about the situation, then he should have tried harder to remedy it. He copped out.

Well, I agree that suicide is stupid, and a loser thing to do. I do think that he deserves to be remembered, though.

Anyway, this is kind of a depressing topic (I know I brought it up - shut it) so let's change it.

What's your favourite type of rock - sandstone, limestone or marble?