I feel a little odd commenting for the first time in this thread when it's gone so far, like I'm shouting into a crowd or over the sound of a helicopter or somethin!
I also thought it was odd that I didn't comment immediately. I was online when the thread was made and have been reading the thread regularly since then. If there was any single thought, a theme that runs through my life, it would be suicide, but I still never had any thoughts when I came to this thread!
Until now, apparently!
When I think back to when I was suicidal, truly and totally consumed by the possibility, often the planning, of my impending next attempt, I remember what I felt, the thought processes that dominated my life, and my automatic responses to the world--and when I remember that state, I imagine that if I were to make this thread in those desperate, empty times, and I received these comments, the majority of them would make me want to throw up over and over again in great retching heaves.
I don't mean that to be insulting! Which might make you think, "How could something so insulting not be intended as insulting???" You'd ask it with three question marks!!
The problem, in my opinion, is the advice of a person who never seriously contemplated suicide or never made a serious attempt, is going to automatically be missing any quality beyond "caring". It's nice. It's thoughtful. It's appreciated and loving.
But is it useful?
I don't mean to sound harsh, but I think not.
Now, his original post is short and specific. The first thing I did was consider it separate from him as an individual.
If someone has no friends or family that care about him, is suicide acceptable?
The hackneyed response to suicide is typically, "Think of all the people you will hurt."
He's removed that from the equation. What now prevents him from committing suicide?
The intrinsic value of life? Is that a thing?
A God? Does he believe in God?
Because it will get better? It will? Or will it get worse? Even if it were guaranteed to get better, is that reason enough to live? When will it get better? In a decade? How much better? How long will it be better for before it gets worse again? Is the purpose of life to experience joy? And so he's obligated to continue existing until that happens?
Is death really nothingness?
Is anything really known?
Do we exist?
The concept that suicide is cowardly reminds me of an army sergeant. To me, this idea implies that life is this thing you're trying to win. There's fighting, because we're in a war. Life is a struggle and suicide is giving up. Where did this come from? Capitalism, perhaps? You coward, you stopped fighting!
Is suicide brave? The courage to leave? Have you ever stood atop a building with the intention to jump? Have you ever taken several handfuls of pills as you continue to take more, just to be sure? Your throat is closing off, the water is dripping, but you don't think that's enough to die. Cram them down, maybe your tears can assist in the lubrication!
Suicide is not cowardly.
Abuse is cowardly. Drug abuse is cowardly. Many things are cowardly, but not suicide.
The majority live by virtue of ignorance. Is that bravery?
Is suicide objectively wrong? What if the entire human race were to commit suicide? Would that be objectively bad?
So in the end, what's hopeful about any of this? Why haven't I killed myself? I've tried countless times. Why have I stopped trying?
My reason is, "I don't know."
It's not my answer, it's my reason. I'm not saying I don't know. I choose to live because how of little I know.
He said in his original post something about "if every day is going to be the same." Predictions like this seem so obvious. I've made the same prediction so many times. I was never right.
I can't say for certain that we won't all suddenly vanish into nothingness at any moment, or that this isn't a test to get into "Heaven," or if everything isn't meaningless beyond the meaning we invent, or if everything hasn't already occurred simultaneously and our minds are perceiving it linearly in slow-motion, or if we're in a snow-globe held by another race and when they shake it we have natural disasters, or... anything.
We don't know anything! God IS Unknown.
Can anything be known?
I don't know! Why do you think there are so many question marks in this post? Questions are all I've got!
But back to your question, "If no friends or family, should we kill ourselves?" Because it really is "we," it's a philosophical question that applies to everyone.
When suicidal, people used to tell me, "Think of how that will affect this person or that person," and I always thought of THEM as selfish. So I have to live for them? My existence is to prevent them from experiencing pain?
I think that whether or not we have people who care about us isn't relevant to whether or not we should commit suicide. It could certainly be a contributing factor to the feeling, but as a philosophical point, I'd argue that they're unrelated.
As to whether or not you specifically should commit suicide, I don't know. I don't believe anyone should tell people what they should or should not do, no matter the subject.
Obviously, I'd prefer if you didn't. Suicide makes me sad, and we both have tattoos, and you seem really nice and nice people are my favorite.
But why should my opinion matter? Is it to guilt you into not doing it?
I don't know.
I don't know anything!
How long have I been typing? Was any of this potentially helpful? Did I make any sense? Will anyone be offended? These are questions for myself now.
I imagine the world as a void and the places I go to that I've never been, the things I learn I never knew, the people I meet I had never known, light up this void with sparkles of tiny lights. Everyday the void grows brighter, and one day it will probably blind me, and maybe that's what Heaven is!
Someone mentioned medication.
I find it fascinating the impact the chemicals in our brains have on our thoughts, our beliefs, our conclusions, everything.
I used to entertain myself by observing my thoughts when sober compared to when high.
When sober, I logically constructed sets of nihilistic beliefs that led to self-harm and suicide as the inevitable conclusion.
Then I'd take a drug and logically construct sets of positive beliefs that led to loving all and loving myself as the inevitable conclusion.
And each set of conclusions was equally real, equally valid, and equally consuming, as far as I could tell.
I think that's all I have to say, or maybe I just got tired.
I hope you feel something better soon, if you haven't already!
Bye!