Do you think that more people would kill themselves if there weren't a taboo surrounding suicide?

Question

There are plenty of people in the world who lead irresolvably miserable lives, yet they keep going. Perhaps many of them find a way to keep hope alive, but we know that not all of them do. In many (if not most) societies, there is a taboo that surrounds suicide. Some religions warn us that if we kill ourselves we'll either go to hell or that we'll have the same lessons in misery in the next life, because we didn't learn everything we were supposed to in this one. Societies also often teach us that suicide is selfish and unacceptable, no matter what the circumstances are. If there weren't a taboo surrounding suicide, would more people put themselves out of their own misery?

Answer 1

No whether or not a taboo surrounded suicide doesn't really deter someone who's intent on committing suicide. Its a pity that people commit suicide without first trying to seek mental health professional's help; but instead choose to suffer in silence.

♪♫Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum♪♫

Answer 2

It depends. For people suffering from depression or some type of mental illness, there's a struggle between the psychological urge to die and the biological urge to live. And their bodies may "stop" them from going through with a suicide.

As for someone suffering from a terminal illness, I think it is the taboo against suicide that keeps them from ending their suffering when it has gotten too great and they're existing, not living.

Answer 3

They most definitely probably would. Now, if I knew a friend of mine wanted to commit suicide, I would not want them to, I don't want my friends to die. I think most all of us feel this way. This is the reason it is taboo, perhaps it is we who are being selfish.

The future is so unpredictable that to think that by killing oneself you would 'put yourself out of your misery is wrong'. You might feel miserable now, but you simply do not know what the future holds. All of us have probably felt this miserable once, and most all of us reach a point where we look back on how we felt then and consider the consequences had we 'put ourself out of our misery'. In hindsight, we would think we were crazy then.

Consider that amongst insurgents and terrorists, and the kamikazes of Japan, suicide under certain circumstances (i.e. for 'the cause') was not only acceptable, but revered and honored and the person that committed suicide would usually achieve martyrdom status.

Answer 4

I really do not think it is the busines of the state or it's representives to tell me what I can and can not do when it comes to ending my own life

I think it suspicous that the state still beliieves it has the right to dictate moral based on what god's apparent will is and that is all the suicide debate is about

Is it right or is it wrong

That is my decison and all other views are as they should be only binding upon the holder of those views

Answer 5

Old people mostly. Those whose quality of life is in the pits and just have to wait it out. I've known many many old people like this. Its so sad to see them suffer to the end. Then there was Dr. Death with assisted suicide which I thought was great but the courts disagree.

Answer 6

Truth is behnd the HELL myth is only priests go to hell if they commit suicide, because of all the people that count on them.Written in Fraxi's forbiden books of the Bible. Yes I think knowing this most likley there would be more suicide.

Answer 7

I think that yes if their was not a taboo on suicide that mean of mean people whould put themselves out of their misery. I know for a fact two people that whould have killed themselves long ago if not for the taboo. Me and my girlfriend. And as for my girlfriend the first night I meet her I asked her out and found out many months later that that next day she was planning on killing herself and the only reason she did not was because of me.