If someone wants to kill themselves, why do we as society not allow it?

Question

If a perfectly rational person wants to take his or her own life should this not be allowed?

Answer 1

Because suicidal tendencies are prima facia evidence of mental illness. They need help.

Answer 2

While I am for assisted-suicide when a person is facing a terminal illness, I think a person who is suicidal, as I once was, is really asking for help. I was depressed and kept a journal, planning to kill myself when my daughter graduated from high school, One word reverberated from that journal - HELP! Somewhere, deep inside, there is a little flame of existence that does not want to be extinguished. We fight for life from the first breath we draw as a newborn. LIFE is important - hard perhaps, but important. We each have something to offer that we may not even realize: a willing ear to listen when a friend needs to talk; the ability to change a tire in a snowstorm for an elderly driver (my son did); the chance to smile at a stranger and perhaps brighten their day. There are so many things we do each day that affect so many others and we often don't realize our importance and we become depressed. Depression can be treated. Mine was - 30 years ago. Suicide isn't a personal thing - it affects so many around you, family, friends - even strangers you may never see again. You are valuable - and society treasures value. That's why we frown on suicide.

Answer 3

Defining rational is like defining normal. . .there really is no such thing. All rationality really entails is a sound use of logic. It is perfectly rational to think that death might be better than let's say. . .suffering for years with an untreatable and debilitating disease that will kill you in the end anyways.

However, the vast majority of people who want to commit suicide fall into the depserate attention-seeking category. They want to do it out of desperation-- they claim they can see no other way out of whatever situation they are in.

The problem with that is, many times, these people have been presented with options and they choose not to take them. They say "I won't" or "I can't" do that. And that is patentenly different from saying "I am unable." They view death as the easy way out because it takes less work than trying to change.

By saying "I won't" or "I can't", one is exercising their will. They are actively choosing not to find a constructive and productive solution to their problem. They are effectively saying that death is easier then doing anything else. They are unwilling (not unable. . but UNWILLING) to make changes or force changes that will make thier lives better. And most people are not genuinely helpless to make changes. Some are. Most aren't.

The fact of the matter is that most people who try suicide and fail are actually relieved that they failed once they accept that they failed. This occurs because they are FORCED to take an active role in changing their circumstances and things actually do get better for them because they worked to make them better.

The people I just described are using suicide threats to cry for help or to get others to do for them what they will not do for themselves.

There is another class of suicidal people beyond the terminally ill or the "I won't/can't" crowd. These people are truly mentally ill-- meaning they are buried deep in depression. These people need medical help.

But, why don't we let people kill themselves? Because we're all self-righteous pricks, at heart. We have a government that punishes us for doing stupid things. We have religions that tell us human life is the most valuable thing in the universe. And it's all bull. The government wants us alive to tax the hell out of us and the churches want us alive to line thier coffers.

It's all about money. Time is money. Life is time. Life is money. Simple logic. And perfectly rational-- if you're as jaded as I am.

Answer 4

This is a very good question. I think a people should be allowed to kill themselves as they are to live. There can be a procedure for this: A complex psychological analysis made by various professionals can show whether a person has disorders. If a person doesn't have any psychological disorders and still doesn't want to live, there should be no rules against it.

"Life sucks and I hate myself." This person needs help.
"OK, I have lived enough, I don't want to have a family and I'm getting old. I want to die before I suffer the pains of illness of old age." After psychological examination, this person should be free to do what she/he wants.

Answer 5

because as a lot as society sucks deep down all of us have wish that issues receives more desirable proper for ourselves and others. i exploit to be depressed even as i replaced into youthful, yet killing myself might want to have reason a series reaction. i don't know if my mom might want to were in a position to stay. truly society wouldn't have a say, yet i'd not do it highly when you're lower than 50 and likewise if there's a minimum of one million human being who loves you. young children typically harm so undesirable and do not understand issues receives more desirable proper. also, killing your self is the perfect selfish ingredient to do. with the help of how no one is totally rational.

Answer 6

Historical Puritan influence, we got rid of that daft law against suicide in the 60's in the UK. We are still fighting to become fully civilized and bring in legalized euthanasia like the Dutch. How any State can use religious doctrine to enable people to suffer to death while we put dogs to 'sleep' to avoid suffering will always be beyond my comprehension, (fortunately).

Answer 7

If they are perfectly rational, then they would not want to kill themselves in the first place.

Answer 8

Because the government is overly pateralistic and maternalistic, and believes that people should not be able to make important decisions about their own lives.

The govt assumes that people could never rationally choose to end their lives, and thus assumes (without valid reason) that they must therefore protect people against themselves.

Answer 9

Do you want to work 2 or 3 jobs. If we let people kill themselves we will have to work more than one job because they cannot work if they are dead. Also, it is better to stop them and have them join the ,ilitary so they can get killed ina war abroad. Lots of practical reasons.

Answer 10

It needs to be illegal in order for law enforcement to be authorized to intervene.

People are not put in jail for attempting suicide. We want it to be illegal because there are clearly times when a person is not mentally right and needs to be protected from themselves. In a sense, you're committing a serious crime against your future self who may not agree with your present actions.

Answer 11

Because that person could be helped, if we just let anyone kill themselves we would get suicidal 13 years olds just because a boy in school dumped them. Its a question of where do you draw the line not why don't we let them!