Is suicide a cowardly act or a brave act?

Answer 1

I agree it is merely an act of desperation, neither brave nor cowardly. People who say it is cowardly are insensitive and shallow, not to mention ignorant. The best way to view suicide is as a permanent solution to temporary problem. I'm in my 40s and have been depressed and at the end of my rope a number of times, but more importantly, I have been happy since then. If I had died, I wouldn't have enjoyed the adventures and excitement I've gone on to have. If you are contemplating suicide, all I can say is simply don't do it. Take a nap instead. Remember, sleep puts bookends around all events, and gives you a little distance on them. You're a slightly different person today than you were yesterday, and will be a different person tomorrow, too.

From a practical standpoint, suicide is an inconsiderate solution, too, because someone has to find the body and clean up the mess.

Answer 2

I personally don't think either word is fair to describe suicide. I think of suicide as a desperate act. A person would have to be at the end of a very thin thread of existance to come to that, so it wouldn't be right to call them cowardly. And to call it brave would be misguided -- although it would take a lot of guts to do. That's not the same thing.

Answer 3

It's never that cut and dried. There are so many variations. It's mostly a cruel or vicious act. Designed to inflict suffering on others who'll mourn and feel guilty over the fool who does it.
It is sweetest gift to a person who is suffering from incurable, intractable pain. Or to save one self from the pain of a terminal illness. Wonderful to know that you can pull your own plug rather than be a helpless inert mess for months.
When we sign a Do Not Resuscitate form we are , in a way, opting for suicide, because we do not want to live in a certain way.
So there are many kinds of dying, suicide isn't always the worst way.

Answer 4

I don't think it is either. If you are so lost that you are in a position where you want to do it, your misery is far greater than any bravery needed to do it. Equally, it's not cowardly. It's a really difficult choice. Maybe it's cowardly if you are facing life in prison for killing people and such, but otherwise, you are ending your life, you aren't gaining anything. It's wrong if you are leaving people behind who love you and will be devestated by your death.

Answer 5

Neither.

It clearly isn't cowardly, because what's more scary than death?

And it clear isn't brave, because it's actually a form of escape.

No, suicide cannot be accurately characterized in such simplistic terms. Most of the time, it's an act of desperation - suicide is for when death is less painful than life(be thankful if you've never experienced that).

When someone kills themselves, it's a time to be sad, not a time to condemn them or a time to praise them. When someone kills themselves, there was clearly something very wrong in their life, be it real or in their head. That it got to the point of suicide is something to be sad about.

And then, some of the time, it's an act of lunacy - like when you strap bombs to yourself to blow up a stadium, or something. But again, that's not a matter of cowardice or bravery - it's a matter of lunacy.

Answer 6

It's an incredibly unimaginable pain. That doesn't subside. Neither brave nor cowardly.
Usually caused by the hateful & selfish world in which we have to live. The only escape from the pain is to exit this existance. If you've never been close to the edge, it's hard to see the view.

Answer 7

Its a coward and selfish act. When a person does that they don't care about those who will suffer because they have done it. Their is nothing brave about giving up, you are brave when you rise above what you are going through and live.

Answer 8

Personally, I believe it to be a cowardly act, because what you are saying is that you are no longer strong enough to fight what it is that life brings you...and that you are no longer willing to try and change your situation and make it better. Killing yourself should NEVER be an option...although I'm sure that at one time or another...we've all been there....

Answer 9

Depends on the circumstances.If I were being held hostage and knew I were going to be tortured to death, then yeah, I'd strangle myself with my shoelaces.If I was some teenager who had a shitty life, and wanted to off myself, then that's a cowardly act.

Answer 10

Selfish act because, the people you leave behind that love you, are the ones that have the pain and grief,You don't feel a thing cause you aren't there any more.