Discussion CTB is Only Good When Depicted “Aspirationally”

[Unsure and Useless]

So, as a chronically online chud, I was browsing TikTok and saw that several people were discussing the "penguin mountain edit" and how it changed their lives. Considering I'm in a time of my life where that sort of reconstruction is needed, I checked it out myself and found this:



It perplexed me. What is aspirational about this? This penguin, despite human intervention, is literally going out of its way to CTB, yet people see this as "motivational" because it's heading towards a mountain? Repeatedly, I saw other people claiming that this penguin is a symbol of perseverance, and there are even some using it (or just penguins in general) as their screensaver to remind them to "Be the Penguin"

It made me wonder if CTB even is "bad". This penguin is choosing to end its life, yet because there's an epic narration, everyone wants to be it. Whether or not they realize it, these people aspire to CTB

So, really, the only "problem" with CTB is the fact that it's portrayed as giving up. Slap inspirational, cinematic music and some deep narration, and suddenly, it's alright

"You're refusing help" —> "You're choosing your own path"

"You're stubbornly choosing to quit" —> "You're pursuing a path few has ever had the bravery of choosing despite all its hardships"

Etc etc

Seems like even CTB isn't spared from the effects of human perception

 

[moonlightbeach]

I'm chronically online too and over the past decade there's just been a surge in productivity and self-help that affected everyone on the internet, whether it be scoring a job, going to gym or meeting a partner or whatever. Some mental health too. With that i also see less people talk about their HOBBIES, in fact i personally started to feel guilty at some point after the hospital where i felt i "wasn't doing enough" even though i was just resting after the attempt. The "way to the top" is respected, and i think it's perceived as cool to go and die trying. Society is just very toxic now

Edit: "Whether or not they realize it, these people aspire to CTB" - yep. So many know it but can never talk about those feelings because of the way suicidality is treated as an illness.

 

[Scythe]

There's a lot of ways to take this, you can interpret it as suicide, you can interpret as self destructing for a goal or dream. Or giving your life everything you got. Or maybe being so focused on a goal you don't realize it's destroying you, and when you finally reach your goal, you would realize that you have ruined yourself in doing so.
Or you can just see it for what it is surface level, penguin mental illness.

Personally, I see it as self destructing for a goal, not just suicide. I think it's the factor that there was a goal that makes everyone see it as inspirational. To willingly have the courage to chase a dream that you know will destroy you because of greed, idealism, hope, or whatever. People will think it's foolish, but it's something that matters to you.

(Ps. It also reminds me of Banana Fish, the leopard that was found at the top of the mountain, nobody knew why it was trying to climb the mountain or how it got there in the place.)