Venting “Lets all change language from ‘committed suicide’ to ‘died by suicide’”

[madbananas]

I get it. I really do.
But in all honesty seems like another tactic to come across like they are making a difference when it comes to suicide, when in actuality they are not making any difference.
I probably sound very anti-suicide right now but I'm someone who would be anti-suicide if people's individual inequalities and stigma etc were actually tackled and not leaving people with no choice but to die. Until then, people are living in torture and the privileged (ironically) are the ones who are listened to about what should and shouldn't go when it comes to suicide.

 

[DyingAlf]

Actually I agree with that.
It really winds me up when people talk about someone "committing" suicide unless they are from a country where the law still considers it a crime.
When I kill myself/die by suicide/catch the bus/whatever I will NOT be committing suicide because it is no longer a crime in my country!

 

[marcusuk63]

"died Earlier than expected "

In English common law, suicide was a felony punishable by burial in the public highway with a stake driven through the body and forfeiture of all one's goods to the Crown.

In the minority of American jurisdictions that continue to recognize common law crimes, suicide is in theory a criminal offense; but in practice no penalty has ever been applied in the United States for a successful suicide. Penalties may, however, be imposed for attempting suicide

 

[cyberlordsumit]

Whatever they wanna say, after i go, they can say. it won't matter to me anyway.. I'd be at peace and have lost faith that anything will ever get any better

 

[madbananas]

Actually I agree with that.
It really winds me up when people talk about someone "committing" suicide unless they are from a country where the law still considers it a crime.
When I kill myself/die by suicide/catch the bus/whatever I will NOT be committing suicide because it is no longer a crime in my country!

Exactly. I'm not saying it isn't true because it is.

"died Earlier than expected "

In English common law, suicide was a felony punishable by burial in the public highway with a stake driven through the body and forfeiture of all one's goods to the Crown.

In the minority of American jurisdictions that continue to recognize common law crimes, suicide is in theory a criminal offense; but in practice no penalty has ever been applied in the United States for a successful suicide. Penalties may, however, be imposed for attempting suicide

I'm uk. We won't be jailed for attempting but will be put in hospital. Shocked to hear that some people are still criminalised for this.

 

[marcusuk63]

Exactly. I'm not saying it isn't true because it is.

I'm uk. We won't be jailed for attempting but will be put in hospital. Shocked to hear that some people are still criminalised for this.

i know but this is why it`s called "committing" as it was an offence so you are commiting a crime

 

[madbananas]

i know but this is why it`s called "committing" as it was an offence so you are commiting a crime

Yeah I am aware

 

[BitterlyAlive]

I say this because saying someone committed suicide is just...not very good language. It makes it sound like it's a crime.

 

[madbananas]

I say this because saying someone committed suicide is just...not very good language. It makes it sound like it's a crime.

No, I absolutely agree! And I never use the term "committing" suicide. Ever. Sadly from what I'm hearing is some places it is still a crime which is absolutely disgraceful.

 

[BitterlyAlive]

No, I absolutely agree! And I never use the term "committing" suicide. Ever. Sadly from what I'm hearing is some places it is still a crime which is absolutely disgraceful.

I used to until I read online about "died by suicide". Language is powerful and shapes our world whether we realize it or not. And it's such a shame that there are places that still view it as an actual crime. What a sad world we live in.

 

[DyingAlf]

I'm uk. We won't be jailed for attempting but will be put in hospital.

Sometimes, & probably too often in some cases, but not always.

 

[nitroautnz]

I am not a native english speaker, so I never really pay much attention to it, but I like that died by suicide.

 

[madbananas]

Sometimes, & probably too often in some cases, but not always.

Yup. If you have BPD and are suicidal they will avoid it even more than someone without BPD because of positive risk taking.

I am not a native english speaker, so I never really pay much attention to it, but I like that died by suicide.

Yes, I also use "died by suicide". I'm genuinely not saying language isn't important.

 

[woxihuanni]

Changing the lingo won't change the fact that they despise us and hold us guilty.

 

[JSRF]

You can word it however you like, but a suicide will always be a suicide. People will still judge the deed by their own measures and values despite them knowing Jack shit about the persons backgroundand motives.

 

[Misfit72]

I loathe the term 'die by suicide', but Abraham Lincoln used it in a speech so it's hardly new - 'completed suicide', on the other hand, is just ridiculous, like people saying 'fudge' instead of 'fuck'. I'd prefer to say 'died in a suicide' or 'died of a suicide', like 'died in a shooting' or 'died of a heart attack'.

When a Samaritans volunteer asked me if my Mum 'died by suicide', I was angry because it was such a loaded question, and if he had used 'committed - he should have asked me how she died. For the record, she died of cancer, not 'by' cancer.

You can commit an error as well as a crime or a sin - words have more meanings than we think. However, we rarely ever say 'commit homicide' or 'commit genocide', even though both are criminal and sinful, we just use the terms 'homicide' and 'genocide' on their own, so we can do the same with 'suicide'. I would use 'suicide' to refer to the cause of death, and 'take one's own life' to refer to the action itself.

As long as the police can intervene and break into your home if they think you're going to end your life, it might as well still be criminal.

 

[Wayfaerer]

I see it as you would be "committed" as in commitment to something else. I am committed to suicide, so I commit suicide.