moral/political discussion

[Grimlin]

i was wondering what the take here was on the legal status of suicide.
as most of you know, suicide is against the law in the US, this has always puzzeled me, if someone wants to make the choice, regardless of how it affects others, it is that persons choice, is it not?
all views welcome, just let me know your thoughts on this subject




*i am not in any way suicidal, i just think it would make for an interesting discussion

 

[Rob Henderson]

Murder is murder, wether its to another, or oneself.

 

[philam15]

I really wouldn't consider it murder, because you are taking your own life, I see murder as endangering others, not yourself.

 

[Rob Henderson]

Murder is the taking of a life...Suicide coming from the latin roots sui(self) and cide(kill) is killing.

 

[philam15]

yes, but you have to take in the consideration of what we imply murder to mean, when you think of murder do you think of someone going around cutting their wrists? Or do you think of it as Cho gunning everyone down in Virgina Tech?

 

[Rob Henderson]

Murder...My definition...The taking of a life.

 

[philam15]

a murderer, and someone who has, or tried to commit suicide have completely different mind sets. You can't just lump them together

 

[Rob Henderson]

They both tried to take a life...

 

[philam15]

See- there you go, you're lumping. Yes they both tried to take a life, but their minds, their intentions, are different.

 

[Grimlin]

thought i might throw this in there
take it how you want to
this is according to modern law

murder-
the killing of a human being by a sane person, with intent, malice aforethought (prior intention to kill the particular victim or anyone who gets in the way) and with no legal excuse or authority. In those clear circumstances, this is first degree murder.

 

[Rob Henderson]

Suicidals- Sane...Intent obviously, prior intent(again, obviously), and there is no legal excuse.

 

[philam15]

Suicidal people are extremely disturbed or depressed

 

[Grimlin]

thats true that one could argue the sanity of a suicidal person

 

[philam15]

What sane person has committed, or tried to committ suicide?

 

[Rob Henderson]

Someone who felt that it was the only way out...The only solution...Sanity is relative.

 

[Grimlin]

well it all depends on perspective, what is truly sane?
i mean, if you think about it, is anyone sane?

 

[Rob Henderson]

Exactly my point...It's like the value of the dollar...It's only worth as much as we say it is...

 

[Grimlin]

Exactly my point...It's like the value of the dollar...It's only worth as much as we say it is...

so your saying that depending on societys veiws this whole conversation can go both ways

 

[Rob Henderson]

Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying. I think it was Einstein who said "Everything is relative."

 

[philam15]

ok so suicidal people can be sane...but what about emotionally disturbed, or what about peer pressure, does that play a factor in this?