Been thinking about death a bit lately, watched a video on YouTube where a woman killed herself. I think I would want a natural death, where the body just gives up on its own, not an unnatural demise. Somehow death seems more acceptable when it occurs in the natural progression of things rather than having it forced. I understand that most natural deaths end in pain, but still, it seems better than an unnatural end. I'm certain we have touched this topic before, but I thought I would revisit it. Does your mortality bother you? If not is there a preferred end that you wish for?
I have no problem with an unnatural life: vaccinations, vitamins, dentistry, radiation treatments.... So why should i balk at an unnatural death? Preferably by my own hand, rather than a terrorist's, but if they're efficient, i'd be okay with that. Or a vulcano.
What is unnatural? We are killed by cars, trains, bombs, knives, bullets, someone choking us, falling debris from buildings, pollution and on and on. So what is unnatural I ask? Taking our own life, if we are in great pain or living with the aid of a life support machine, wouldn't it be a natural way to go if we did commit suicide? :shrug:
My mortality only concerns me in the sense that I would prefer to live for an indefinite period of time with my health, and my wits, intact. And I am certainly afraid of a painful death. What I'm not afraid of, at least not anymore, is death itself. Not in terms of the philosophical questions that surround it, anyway.
It is one thing to accept one's mortality on logical and philosophical grounds, as many of us do in time. Yet another thing when we are confronted with the actual doing, in my observation, as the physical autonomous systems have been programmed to resist death to the bitter end. I rather like the way that Rav has stated the case and for myself, I hope that death comes quickly and unexpected, preferably with minimal pain or at least a very short interval of pain awareness or that I pass in my sleep, completely (presumably) unaware.
The Buddha said of death: Life is a journey. Death is a return to earth. The universe is like an inn. The passing years are like dust. Regard this phantom world As a star at dawn, a bubble in a stream, A flash of lightning in a summer cloud, A flickering lamp - a phantom - and a dream.
I want to go out guns blazing so to speak. If there is work to be done it needs to be done. No stone left un turn. I want knowledge before my faithful passage from life.
No, just life each day the best way you can and there's no need to worry about death. I believe that we're all here to learn a certain set of lessons, and if that means I have to endure a prolonged or painful death then that's okay with me because if I can make it through then I have accomplished one of the goals I came here to do.
I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather.. not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.
Indeed. Before long this thread will be co-opted by one more argument about right-to-die issues. I guess not. I don't give it much thought. Frankly, as I approach my 69th birthday, I'm beginning to understand what many of my own elders said: "I don't enjoy the world as much the way it is now." This is not to say that it's getting worse instead of better. It's just that some of the little things that can make us so happy slowly disappear in the fog of progress. I have too much social conscience to not recycle, but geeze I miss the days when I could walk into a supermarket without having to remember to grab a handful of plastic bags out of their receptacle on the backseat or pay 5c each for new ones. I loved the flavor of calcium cyclamate in my diet soda, and I feel a guilty sadness that I'm now drinking something that is less carcinogenic but doesn't taste as good. I hate the fact that I can't let the neighbor kids into my yard to play with my dogs. If they don't concoct a wild story about pedophilia their parents will make one up about my dog biting them and blackmail me either way. I can't understand where our government is headed, or why the citizens are so blase about it--or alternately becoming even goofier than the government itself with crazy stuff like the "Tea Party." I feel like I'll be lucky to die while the USA is still recognizable. And on the other hand, where I expected progress there is none, or at least not enough. When we carried those picket signs in the 1960s we were positive that in two generations racism would be behind us. Yet today people are queueing up to donate money to a white guy who stalked, accosted and murdered (he was the stalker so it was not "his ground to stand") a black child because of the way he looked. So it's not death that I'm worried about. It's what I may witness before that happens. Sure. In my sleep would be just perfect. I suppose since I'm still a pretty good swimmer I might have a chance to die a hero while rescuing a child who falls into a raging river. Or take a bullet for somebody like Gabrielle Giffords. What I don't want is to be hooked up to a bunch of tubes, keeping me "alive" so a nursing home or a hospital can suck up all the money I wanted to leave to my family, friends and favorite charities. I also don't want to be forced to endure the indignity of losing "me" as my brain fades away while my body is kept alive artificially, which is what happened to my mother and we were powerless to halt it. Some people accomplish things that make their memories live on for many generations. Why do you think that none of these nice bright people you're talking to couldn't be one of them? Kind of a rude attitude toward your colleagues if you ask me. I'm fairly sure that I won't be remembered by name, but I've done a bunch of good things that enriched civilization and that makes me proud. I was recently chatting with a friend at work about old times and mentioned that I had launched the data security program for a rather large organization--about 40 years ago. He looked at me and said, "That was you? I did some consulting for that outfit about ten years ago. They're famous for having one of the best data security programs in America, and they say the reason is that it was set up so well from the start." My wife and I have made many families happy by providing them with some really sweet puppies, since we breed for health and temperament instead of looks. I've made many people happy for a night with my music. When my time is up I'll be able to say, "I've done okay." Remember, all that really matters is that you try to leave this place a little better than you found it.
Yes. Is it moral to kill a rapist? Is it moral to test someone as such before they act? It can not be moral to let a rapist act. The type most be identified before they can act on their predator trait. Its frightening rapist are still in existence, it can not be moral to let them be at odds with us. I am not afraid to segregate a man for something like Ignorance, and deception. Could a good man act like that, to rape? How can you judge a man to his basic state of emotion? The first emotion he ever displayed. We need to be able to pose a series of question to identify a liar and a murderer at a young age. Why bring a child into the world with the odds of being abducted and raped? It is foolish to study rockets with the state of the world. Those who desire dominance need not reply, those who seek happiness, and the process of science need reply with a theory of morality towards a future rapist.
But the percentages are very low, like 99.9 percent, who don't ever become famous enough to be remembered after 100 years after they die. Even those who publish a few books aren't remembered for the newer authors are being read more so than older ones. I'm not trying to be antagonistic nor rude toward anyone but just relating facts that are part of life. That's why , for the majority of humans, they really won't have much impact upon the world as an individual but will have as a community that pollutes itself to extinction.
Awesome post, Fraggle. I have wondered why this forum didn't have a 'Thank you' button or some other recognition feature for some of the exceptional pieces that get posted on occasion. :worship: You'll just have to settle for a bow. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
I agree with you and also thank him for his very good comments.Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
One cool way is to "go" when you :shake: but I may want to "go" in my sleep the same time as my wife. But I am not afrAid of death I have faced him an laughed.
