Discussion [Article] If life was voluntary and not imposed or forced, people may be less inclined to want to CTB

[TAW122]

When reflecting on my life so far (as well as my future CTB), I had a realization... This realization is that "if being alive and living was not mandatory, but optional, then that would greatly help the health of society as well as humankind on a larger scale." Again, this may be preaching to the choir as usual, but I have some examples throughout my experiences in my own (personal) life and perhaps people may be able to make sense of what I'm about to explain in this thread. So why is this the case? Well, if people want to do something because they truly enjoy doing so, then they will be more enthusiastic about said activity. However, if they are compelled to do something because some force, pressure, or external factor (government, society, peers, family, and other humans, etc.) pushes them to do so, then they would only at best comply (for fear of consequences) and only to some extent (until suffering outweighs complicity, in which then they rebel and revolt against the order). In other words, if life and existence wasn't forced upon each human being like the way it currently is in our reality, but instead, was made optional, people would be more willing to perhaps live life or at least not feel so trapped and rebel out of desperation.

For example, go back in time to adolescence or childhood. Remember when parents often tell their children to do something and there was no talk back, no argument, no objections, lest they face punishment (groundings, corporal punishment, etc.) for disobedience or not following directions? Most minors follow directions and comply because fear of punishment and other uncomfortable consequences. In this example, we will assume the parents are authoritarian parents who don't allow dating, playing video games, or doing an activity that a child likes (not harmful, but parents' just don't like it). Without over-complicating things, I'll just presume (for this example) that the parents aren't religious, but just strict and dictatorial. Of course, the child will feel pressured and compelled to do things and not enjoy their experience (until they are an adult, unless they have narcissistic parents - but that's another issue altogether and again, for simplicity's sake, I won't get into that.). As a result of not being able to do the things they want, aka the forbidden fruits, or taboos, it will just result in some children rebelling and acting out, regardless of the consequences (punishments that one may face). There comes a point where suffering (the strict and dictatorial, authoritarian parenting) from all the stress outweighs the consequences that will befall the child. When that point comes, even the consequences stop mattering. (This is also similar to why sometimes harsher penalties will NOT stop all criminals and in fact, some criminals still commit certain crimes because after a certain point, deterrence, punishment, and suffering becomes less than the suffering that one is willing to endure the consequences for some small gain, small amount of control over the situation.)

Another example is prohibition, such as alcohol and what not. I know I may have used this example as well as another one before in another thread, but I think it applies to this situation as well.

Similar to the prohibition on alcohol (perhaps this is why prolifers are also termed and synonymous with 'prohibitionists' but that's beside the point), it just never works in the long term. Sure, you only punish honest people when it comes to prohibition of alcohol (which also contributed or led to the rise of organized crime and the black market for alcohol at the time), people will still find a way to consume alcohol, though just illegally and oftenly more dangerously (not regulated, no quality control, higher risks of poor production and quality leading to other secondary health issues and possibly even death). People who want it will not stop even if they technically did ban all alcohol and similar products but only merely resorted to illicit means to acquire them at the time (1920's and 1930's).

Also the example of war on drugs:

Another similar example is the war on drugs. Sure, unfettered access to dangerous drugs and not knowing the effects and lack of education on various substances will lead to harm, but with the war on drugs (not advocating for illicit drug use nor getting into another can of worms regarding the politics of the drug issue in the US and what not), but again just limiting and ever-tightening grip on substances (especially ones that can provide a peaceful, dignified exit, and/or reliably with little discomfort) will only lead to other problems. I personally believe that we should not ban drugs outright, but we should educate people on it and also allow some form of freedom (albeit regulated to prevent abuse or misuse) in the recreational sense. How does this relate to the prohibition on CTB? It is a similar issue as prohibiting the access towards a peaceful, dignified CTB only results in people choosing desperate (less reliable), and more dangerous routes to do so, leading to collateral damage and/or permanent damage (such as disabilities, permanent disfigurement, etc.).

To further supplement my examples and push my point through, @existentialgoof wrote a thread (on Reddit) a while back and this quote really drives the point home.

existentialgoof's quote:

If I don't have a legal guarantee that I cannot be kept alive in a severely disabled condition, then that is forcing me to live, because I can't just pretend that the risk doesn't exist. If you're blocking the exit from my prison cell, then you're forcing me to remain in the cell, even if you haven't physically pinned me to the wall (although physical force IS used all the time to prevent suicide, as well). I'm glad you agree that there should be a system, though. I'm not asking any individual, or even any group to facilitate my suicide. I'm asking society as a whole to stop impeding me from getting what I need to complete the suicide myself. For those who are severely disabled, that might also include direct assistance from someone who is able bodied.

So in conclusion, as long as humans are compelled to live at all costs, regardless of whether they "WANT" to be around, and of course denying them the freedom to go on their own terms, then there will always be people who try to leave on their own, oftenly suffering immensely during the process, whether it is failure, undignified exit, and/or harm to others (collateral damage, both unintended and intended, depending on the situation). If we as a society provided the legal avenue, a legal process, and/or (an effective, guaranteed) right to die, then people may be more inclined to stick around knowing the option to leave is there and is accessible (not just limited to those who are terminally ill and/or severely ill, or otherwise with poor prognosis). Also, if the notion that life is optional and that one is not obligated to live for others and can leave on their own terms, for any reason (or lack thereof), then that alone would be relief. For those who want to leave regardless of conditions and/or suffering badly, then they would be afforded an effective, peaceful and dignified exit with (little or) no mess, able to say their goodbyes and limit the trauma caused to others. Overall, it is a win-win situation as it prevents those who wish to go to go through extreme measures, desperate means, and/or possibly causing unnecessary harm to others, plus it incentivizes society to create conditions that will improve quality of life so that people who wish to be around will WANT to be around, not feel pressured or compelled to participate in society or life.

 

[FuneralCry]

I certainly believe that it would make existing more bearable for people if staying here was viewed as a choice rather than an obligation and that is exactly the way that life should be seen as, nobody should have to struggle to leave this life behind and plan methods in secrecy if they want to die, instead their decision should be accepted. People deserve to have the choice as after all, there is simply no limit as to how horrible existing can get and anyway we are all destined for death anyway, so people should be able to control when that happens. Just having the knowledge of a reliable way to exit I believe would comfort people and maybe make them feel calmer.