Should I Go To My Cousin's Funeral? (guilty, person, member)
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A few weeks ago a suicide prevention sign went up in our neighborhood and it was a point of discussion among our family. I made some comment about how with high unemployment and dwindling natural resources, people should be encouraged to kill themselves. A few days later my cousin killed himself. His funeral is in a few days and I feel very conspicuous if not necessarily guilty.
wow. Just wow. Sorry, but has a person who has had a few people in my life kill themselves, your joke was in horrible taste. There is never a reason that suicide is a joke.
Of course you should go - and please, learn from this and never, ever make such a crass and insensitive comment again. It's not a joke, it's not funny, it's incredibly cruel...as perhaps you are now realizing.
I am so sorry for your family's loss. Please be especially kind to your cousin's immediate family in the days and months and years to come...
Go to the funeral as that is time to be with family and reflect on your cousins life.
The words you said were in very poor taste and since you brought it up on this forum you have already determined that and hopefully won't say something like that again.
But keep in mind that the words you said weren't the trigger for your cousin, he had already had these thoughts and took that action which is sad but not your fault.
A few weeks ago a suicide prevention sign went up in our neighborhood and it was a point of discussion among our family. I made some comment about how with high unemployment and dwindling natural resources, people should be encouraged to kill themselves. A few days later my cousin killed himself. His funeral is in a few days and I feel very conspicuous if not necessarily guilty.
Should I go?
Your post was unclear whether or not you joked about encouraging suicide in front of your late cousin or among other family members. Either way, I hope that you realize how truly inappropriate it was.
It is never right to joke about suicide. After my daughter's best friend killed himself it greatly affected her, and others, for years. Several close friends of his became seriously depressed and one even needed to be hospitalized. It will continue to be painful for his friends and family forever. Encouraging someone to murder (kill) themselves is not something to laugh and joke about.
I sincerely hope that you never joke about something so serious again.
Well, I don't think you need berating - obviously, you are kicking yourself for your attempt at humor.
You had nothing to do with your cousin's suicide.
Your family may remember you said this (has anyone mentioned it???) but I would be surprised if anyone mentioned it or in any way connected that statement to your cousin's death.
If anyone mentions it to you, you should explain that it is a horrible feeling being out of work and not seeing a future and you were trying to relay how hopeless that could feel but it came out all wrong . . . and that you are sorry for saying something in poor taste.
Surely you don't think there is some connection between your saying what you did and your cousin's suicide? That would be quite a powerful thing - to simply make a statement and the other person take it as a directive. In other words - no - that didn't happen.
Your cousin's decision to kill himself was his decision, however misguided, and doubtless occurred after a long struggle with depression, addiction, or some other internal problem.
Go to the funeral. It would be much more conspicuous for you NOT to go.
You did not cause your cousin's death but what a coincidence and lesson learned about ''foot in mouth'' disease.
GO...funerals are for the living. Support your family but DO NOT mention your past comment or in any way make reference to it.
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Go to the funeral
