Robin Williams / Fast suicide vs. slow suicide

[Villages PL]

It comes as a surprise when someone takes their own life - suicide by asphyxia. It seems drastic and we can't help but think that it might have been prevented with proper treatment for depression.

What I wonder is: How different is it from other slower forms of suicide like diabetes, heart disease and cancer? In other words, we are talking about preventable degenerative diseases that slowly culminate in death brought about by poor lifestyle choices. Degenerative diseases are largely preventable and to ignore common sense healthy-lifestyle-rules amounts to "a slower form of suicide."

Difference: The cause of death stated on the death certificate: I have seen people die as a result of their poor lifestyle choices and the cause of death is usually stated as something other than suicide. That's to be expected of course because that's just the way it is. It's the immediate cause of death that counts, not the poor lifestyle that led up to it. The result: Everyone is off the hook for contributing to it.

Note: Of course, as was said many times before, we all have to die sooner or later of some cause, but isn't there a value judgement that goes along with that statement? That death at one age is more acceptable than death at another age. For example, death at age 80 might more acceptable than death at age 50. Where would you draw the line? Should there be any line drawn at all?

My question: Why is the slower form of suicide so much more acceptable and why are so many people in denial that it is a form of suicide?

[CFrance]

Let's just mourn Robin Williams and not turn this sad event into a lecture.

[JB in TV]

Let's just mourn Robin Williams and not turn this sad event into a lecture.

Agreed. Thank you for saying this.

[Villages PL]

Let's just mourn Robin Williams and not turn this sad event into a lecture.

I disagree. I'm not in mourning and there might be many others who are not mourning either. And for those who are in mourning, I think it's possible to still think and form conclusions. After all, the Talk of The Villages boards have not been shut down so there must not be too much mourning going on.

What better way to honor someone's memory than to use the event as a springboard for an important discussion.

[Villages PL]

Agreed. Thank you for saying this.

This discussion is not about Robin Williams.

[graciegirl]

Let's just mourn Robin Williams and not turn this sad event into a lecture.

I couldn't have said it better. I grow tired of talk of diet . Everyone has free choice and no amount of pointing out the ills of fat will change most of us.

I very much dislike having Robin Williams death connected to this subject.

I do mourn him. I feel worse than I have over any other well known person passing that I can think of.. Maybe because he managed somehow to connect with all of us a bit and we felt his pain and understood his battles. And felt good about his kindness.

I respectfully ask this thread be closed.

We all must live and assuredly must die. It is what we do while living that matters, not the manner of death.

[Mikeod]

I couldn't have said it better. I grow tired of talk of diet . Everyone has free choice and no amount of pointing out the ills of fat will change most of us.

I very much dislike having Robin Williams death connected to this subject.

I do mourn him. I feel worse than I have over any other well known person passing that I can think of.. Maybe because he managed somehow to connect with all of us a bit and we felt his pain and understood his battles. And felt good about his kindness.

I respectfully ask this thread be closed.

We all must live and assuredly must die. It is what we do while living that matters, not the manner of death.

:agree:

[pooh]

No matter WHAT you do in this life, you will eventually die. Who says that disease is all caused by our actions? And with that, I've had my say.

[Mikeod]

This discussion is not about Robin Williams.

It became that as soon as you included death by asphyxiation. I object to your using this unfortunate occurrence to get back on your podium to lecture all us ignorant people about how you want us to live.

[gerryann]

It comes as a surprise when someone takes their own life - suicide by asphyxia. It seems drastic and we can't help but think that it might have been prevented with proper treatment for depression.

What I wonder is: How different is it from other slower forms of suicide like diabetes, heart disease and cancer? In other words, we are talking about preventable degenerative diseases that slowly culminate in death brought about by poor lifestyle choices. Degenerative diseases are largely preventable and to ignore common sense healthy-lifestyle-rules amounts to "a slower form of suicide."

Difference: The cause of death stated on the death certificate: I have seen people die as a result of their poor lifestyle choices and the cause of death is usually stated as something other than suicide. That's to be expected of course because that's just the way it is. It's the immediate cause of death that counts, not the poor lifestyle that led up to it. The result: Everyone is off the hook for contributing to it.

Note: Of course, as was said many times before, we all have to die sooner or later of some cause, but isn't there a value judgement that goes along with that statement? That death at one age is more acceptable than death at another age. For example, death at age 80 might more acceptable than death at age 50. Where would you draw the line? Should there be any line drawn at all?

My question: Why is the slower form of suicide so much more acceptable and why are so many people in denial that it is a form of suicide?

Such a crock of bologna!

RIP Robin Williams.

[Madelaine Amee]

Rather than allowing this poster to annoy with his beliefs, just put him on your BLOCKED list and presto, no more lecturing!

[Moderator]

This might be an appropriate discussion at another time. The unexpected and tragic loss of a loved personality has been felt by so many. Many are grieving for Robin, for his family and for their own family, friends, or even themselves, who might be impacted by emotional difficulties.

Thread will be closed.

Moderator