Discussion Would you prefer to die or never have existed?

[JeiJie]

There have undoubtably been many cool things I have come across and experienced. But if I never existed, my family and I wouldn't have to deal with the fear and pain of me killing myself. I don't deserve the heartache.

 

[Graham.N]

This is a loaded question and more of a trick question. Obviously never existing is the more practical answer. Never existing would immediately eliminate these horrific feelings, but that also means the terrifying feeling would be completely invalidated. That would mean that if I simply stopped caring that maybe these feelings would go away. Never existing also means that the harm of my death would not impact anyone, so it makes it the least "selfish" option, and these invalidations are the most utilitarian and Kantian approach, so for me it instantly pass the ethical litmus test. Instant death is the best option though because it is practical and a realistic expectation. Practicality and realism is better than a fantasy expectation.

 

[gardenoflonely]

Not existing at all would've saved everyone so much down the line, I never felt like I was supposed to exist anyway if the existence is so unbearably painful like maybe someone else was meant to be here in my place and I got pulled down on accident somehow. But idk, maybe I would prefer to die then, I'm already here and I can't change that. At least I have some peace in knowing it might have a snowball affect and pull things back together for my family.

 

[The Eternal One]

Probably an unhelpful reply on my part, for which I apologize, but personally I'm completely fine with both.
Whether it be death or non-existence, I welcome either of them with open arms, which makes it impossible to choose one over the other.

 

[Bishop]

I would probably say to never have existed. Mostly because I don't have the capacity to end things, at least at this point in time.

 

[squiddedoutt]

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[Spite]

I wish I never existed.

 

[burninghill]

To die

 

[soullessnes]

I wish I never existed. I would've never experienced this pain and suffering. And wouldn't need to go search ao hard for a way out when it's my turn.
My father should've never had kids, worst father one can wish for with bad genes. I just feel so sorry for my mom. She deserved a much better life.

 

[Defenestration]

I recommend reading David Benatar's book, *Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence*.

 

[RoachClassified]

dying & never existing are two different things. of course i prefer never existing. dying means that i once existed as a person, while never existing means a total absence of me as a person, no legacy, no memories, no experiences and no feelings. i wouldn't even know life exists if i never existed

 

[logar]

I would prefer death honestly. I'm really glad that I was able to have some amazing experiences in life, and with everything going on now, I think it would be great to let it end there.

 

[wine is fine but]

part of me wants to feel my death

the timescale after consuming sn is very exciting to me - while this is a too simplistic way to look at it, just fading away sounds awesome; the reality could and most certainly will be totally different. it may be the best way to depart this earth, but when you are in your last 15 minutes of consciousness ever, the mind will react differently than you believe it will beforehand

i had always wanted to be tied to an execution post and have multiple rounds fired into my heart. that second or three where i was in the living dead stage. i was alive, but death was guaranteed, seems awesome. as the bullets enter, my body would tense up, and then almost instantly start to relax as my legs started to collapse beneath me, my body would slump as far forward as it could go, and my head would be facing the ground with my open eyes seeing nothing. then they would lift my head, look into my eyes, check for a pulse, and then a heartbeat and cut me down. my body would fall face first onto the ground, they would put a stretcher beside me, and roll me onto it. of course, i would almost certainly know nothing of the last part, so that part of the fantasy is useless for me, and perhaps the rest would be so horrible, and even just lasting a handful of seconds might feel like minutes or even hours

so to answer your question, sort of both, but if there was a button to hit to just not exist, i have no doubts i would hit it. even if i was too hesitant, i would trick myself into hitting it, which is surprisingly simple to do. there are many ways i have fantasised about dying, but obviously, many times in life, the fantasy does not live up to expectations - not the first time anyway, and when it comes to death, the first time is the only one that matters