Should suicide be legal?

[NismoDrifts]

WTF?! oooops................

ok sorry about that guys

[fritz_269]

I'm a spy. I have information on my own country's troop movements. I'm caught by the enemy. If I'm tortured, I may talk, and thousands of my own people will be killed. I have a cyanide capsule in my teeth. I commit suicide with rational and clear intent; no mental illness or impulsive behavior. See "The Value of Life" thread.

Although this is an extreme case, it does show that you cannot rule out "rational decision" a priori. It is not by definition a catch-22 or tied up with impulsiveness or mental illness in any way.

There are circumstances where someone can be very rational (and even moral!) about their own suicide.

[taranaki]

Originally posted by fritz_269
I'm a spy. I have information on my own country's troop movements. I'm caught by the enemy. If I'm tortured, I may talk, and thousands of my own people will be killed. I have a cyanide capsule in my teeth. I commit suicide with rational and clear intent; no mental illness or impulsive behavior. See "The Value of Life" thread.

Although this is an extreme case, it does show that you cannot rule out "rational decision" a priori. It is not by definition a catch-22 or tied up with impulsiveness or mental illness in any way.

There are circumstances where someone can be very rational (and even moral!) about their own suicide.

Fair call,but a very rare practice in real life.This scenario could also be applied to the 7/11 hijackers,I suppose,or at least some of them.I still wonder whether all of the terrorists were actually aware that they were on a suicide mission.....

[fritz_269]

Originally posted by taranaki
This scenario could also be applied to the 7/11 hijackers,I suppose,or at least some of them.

Could also be said of the people who fought back on United flight #93.

[taranaki]

Originally posted by fritz_269

Could also be said of the people who fought back on United flight #93.

Don't think so.No disrespect to them,but their intended plan was probably to regain full control of the aircraft,thereby saving their own lives,not simply to force it down in the wrong location.Either way,it takes a lot of balls to take on a hijack team.

[fritz_269]

Originally posted by taranaki
Don't think so.No disrespect to them,but their intended plan was probably to regain full control of the aircraft,thereby saving their own lives,not simply to force it down in the wrong location.Either way,it takes a lot of balls to take on a hijack team.

Possible. But hard to say. I'm sure they had a pretty good idea what would probably happen. Probably not the best example of my point.

I was just trying to make it clear that there are at least some circumstances where one can make a rational decision to commit suicide.

[AEstud]

it should stay as a crime becuase you have the right to live but not the right to kill yourself. It's killing someone and that yourself and then again killing or murder, if you will, is a crime. All of this with the right to live right to die thing is morals and views and the morals and views of one person should not jeprodize the lives of other people(which suicide can), also suicide is selfish. You're only thinking about yourself when committing or thinking about committing the act and that act hurts your friends, family and the economic system(especially if you have money and no one after you spends it).

[fritz_269]

Originally posted by AEstud
...also suicide is selfish. You're only thinking about yourself when committing or thinking about committing the act and that act hurts your friends, family and the economic system(especially if you have money and no one after you spends it).

Don't you dare try to take away my right to be selfish!

It's one of the founding principles of this country! Do you remember something about "pursuit of happiness"?

PS> If you have money - someone will spend it. Most probably the state. Money is like energy, it doesn't just disappear.

[Jimster]

Well I am agreeable on attempted suiciders being put away for a while so they can get a grip on life and then come back and face thier demons.

Euthenasia on the other hand is a touchy subject people should not be feeling pain these days there are drugs that can stop you from doing that.

However if you are a lonely 85 year old and your wife of 65 years has died and you have no kids an the life insurance fell through-then I can only agree with thier intentions