Pluto
Meowing to go out
- Dec 27, 2020
- 4,123
People with a legitimate need for end-of-life solutions (assisted suicide, etc.) are a 'problem' that won't go away.
People are living far longer than has ever been natural, and not everyone aspires to a slow decline in health. I also have the impression that average people are becoming poorer as the cost of basic housing becomes ever harder to achieve; this in turn gives rise to countless secondary dysfunctions (crime, violence, substandard working conditions, compromised health, drug abuse, trauma, etc.) which can all lead to suicidal ideation.
The most forward-thinking societies are already deeply engaged in debate around right-to-die laws for physically or even mentally challenged people. Each step forward multiplies the availability of euthanasia for a wider swath of the population, as well as the likelihood of less advanced societies beginning their own march towards liberal euthanasia laws.
And yet, in much of the world, authorities are still striving to conveniently hide the issue of suicide via censorship of discussion.
There is a parallel here to the LGBT community's historical struggle.
Much like other demonised minorities of the past, such as LGBT people in Alan Turing's time, the only way forward is ultimately going to be integration, acceptance and respect.
LGBT people were historically attacked on religious or pseudointellectual grounds, or defamed as scary predators.
Suicidal communities today are attacked on religious or pseudointellectual grounds, or defamed as scary predators.
Just as it is no longer widely acceptable in Western societies to attack LGBT people, at some point we will have to accept the reality of the suicidal as fellow humans, not scary little gremlins to lock up.
The media's contradictory narrative cannot sustain.
The media presents a confused mess of perspectives on this issue. Often the rule is to outright censor the topic for fear of initiating a suicide contagion. This concept has been well researched.
And yet, one day the media will invite compassion by interviewing an elderly or disabled euthanasia campaigner. They will acknowledge the complicated issues faced and perhaps include a token acknowledgement of the counterpoint perspective of fundamentalist groups, whose position is that every human should be kept alive, regardless of suffering, for as long as technology and medicine will permit.
Then, the next time, they will denounce the unequivocal evil of sources which offer suicide resources or communities which tolerate uncensored discussion on the subject. All members, they suggest, are thinly-veiled killers, shamelessly handing death on a platter to defenseless, vulnerable, depressed individuals, who just happen to be the exact same people.
Each widely publicised media attack on suicide forums brings thousands of new members. The absurdity of trying to censor something by exposing it to millions of people may be lost on these journalists. Or perhaps the clickbait factor is so irresistible that ethics goes out the window.
The complexity of the topic defies simple right-wrong narratives.
Some people are actually saved by online communities or music that gives free expression to the otherwise taboo topic of suicide, allowing them to process and overcome their feelings. Yet others may get sucked into the black hole of an echo chamber with a flippant attitude towards human life. Some suicidal people are desperately fighting to survive. Others are actively battling their own impulse to live.
Some people on suicide forums have shown predatory intentions. Yet most are among the most pure-hearted people I've seen. A bit like how Jeffrey Dahmer, a dark character, is not representative of the gay community at large. It seems to take time for humanity to learn this sort of nuance and overcome the tribal tendency to dehumanise misunderstood minority groups.
Yes, death is an emotionally-charged topic. Even more so when it involves younger people. Humans are generally drawn to simple right-wrong narratives, especially when emotions are triggered. Yet there is no simple narrative here.
What remains is a difficult topic that society has ran away from - or worse, submitted to the whims of religious fanatics - for far too long.
Quality conversations, open dialogues and mature solutions are needed. The hypocrisy of media hit pieces or the venom of pro-life vigilantes can at best delay the inevitable.
For as long as real people are left to rot with physical pain, mental illness, isolation, abuse and poverty, the fantasy of a world without suicide grows increasingly absurd. The 'solution' of censoring discussion and banning peaceful methods will work about as well as America's infamous war of drugs has. At best, useless; at worst, counterproductive.
In the end it is as simple as this: will suicide just go away? I'm afraid not.
People are living far longer than has ever been natural, and not everyone aspires to a slow decline in health. I also have the impression that average people are becoming poorer as the cost of basic housing becomes ever harder to achieve; this in turn gives rise to countless secondary dysfunctions (crime, violence, substandard working conditions, compromised health, drug abuse, trauma, etc.) which can all lead to suicidal ideation.
The most forward-thinking societies are already deeply engaged in debate around right-to-die laws for physically or even mentally challenged people. Each step forward multiplies the availability of euthanasia for a wider swath of the population, as well as the likelihood of less advanced societies beginning their own march towards liberal euthanasia laws.
And yet, in much of the world, authorities are still striving to conveniently hide the issue of suicide via censorship of discussion.
There is a parallel here to the LGBT community's historical struggle.
Much like other demonised minorities of the past, such as LGBT people in Alan Turing's time, the only way forward is ultimately going to be integration, acceptance and respect.
LGBT people were historically attacked on religious or pseudointellectual grounds, or defamed as scary predators.
Suicidal communities today are attacked on religious or pseudointellectual grounds, or defamed as scary predators.
Just as it is no longer widely acceptable in Western societies to attack LGBT people, at some point we will have to accept the reality of the suicidal as fellow humans, not scary little gremlins to lock up.
The media's contradictory narrative cannot sustain.
The media presents a confused mess of perspectives on this issue. Often the rule is to outright censor the topic for fear of initiating a suicide contagion. This concept has been well researched.
And yet, one day the media will invite compassion by interviewing an elderly or disabled euthanasia campaigner. They will acknowledge the complicated issues faced and perhaps include a token acknowledgement of the counterpoint perspective of fundamentalist groups, whose position is that every human should be kept alive, regardless of suffering, for as long as technology and medicine will permit.
Then, the next time, they will denounce the unequivocal evil of sources which offer suicide resources or communities which tolerate uncensored discussion on the subject. All members, they suggest, are thinly-veiled killers, shamelessly handing death on a platter to defenseless, vulnerable, depressed individuals, who just happen to be the exact same people.
Each widely publicised media attack on suicide forums brings thousands of new members. The absurdity of trying to censor something by exposing it to millions of people may be lost on these journalists. Or perhaps the clickbait factor is so irresistible that ethics goes out the window.
The complexity of the topic defies simple right-wrong narratives.
Some people are actually saved by online communities or music that gives free expression to the otherwise taboo topic of suicide, allowing them to process and overcome their feelings. Yet others may get sucked into the black hole of an echo chamber with a flippant attitude towards human life. Some suicidal people are desperately fighting to survive. Others are actively battling their own impulse to live.
Some people on suicide forums have shown predatory intentions. Yet most are among the most pure-hearted people I've seen. A bit like how Jeffrey Dahmer, a dark character, is not representative of the gay community at large. It seems to take time for humanity to learn this sort of nuance and overcome the tribal tendency to dehumanise misunderstood minority groups.
Yes, death is an emotionally-charged topic. Even more so when it involves younger people. Humans are generally drawn to simple right-wrong narratives, especially when emotions are triggered. Yet there is no simple narrative here.
What remains is a difficult topic that society has ran away from - or worse, submitted to the whims of religious fanatics - for far too long.
Quality conversations, open dialogues and mature solutions are needed. The hypocrisy of media hit pieces or the venom of pro-life vigilantes can at best delay the inevitable.
For as long as real people are left to rot with physical pain, mental illness, isolation, abuse and poverty, the fantasy of a world without suicide grows increasingly absurd. The 'solution' of censoring discussion and banning peaceful methods will work about as well as America's infamous war of drugs has. At best, useless; at worst, counterproductive.
In the end it is as simple as this: will suicide just go away? I'm afraid not.
