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I don't judge those who commit suicide. I figure most people who commit suicide have reached the point where they are in such psychological pain -- and sometimes physical pain -- that death seems like the right option. They aren't trying to hurt anyone; they are trying to relieve their own pain. And/or they think the rest of the world would be better off if they were dead.
A close family member committed suicide. I know the effects suicide has on a family. But I don't blame him or judge him or think he was a "coward" or any of that. I grieve him and wish he were still alive. That's all.
Same here. Sister at 18. Your words are exactly right.
How dare anyone judge another's pain and suffering. That professor is a heartless bastard.
I can see both sides. I do believe that some people commit suicide for very good reasons, but sometimes I think some people are just not mentally strong enough to cope with their problems, and in those cases, I think those people are weak, but not necessarily cowards. (I do make exception for murderers who then take their own lives rather than face the consequences; I think those people ARE cowards in addition to being human scum.)
For people who are truly mentally ill, though, I don't think they can or should be blamed at all for committing suicide.
Last edited by katharsis; 01-07-2019 at 10:10 AM..
To me, living isn't an act of bravery. We're biological wired to survive and avoid death at all cost. If anything, suicide is a giant middle finger to hundreds of years of human evolution. One could say it's a true act of free will, but I'm still debating with myself on this.
Regardless, your professor sounds ignorant. I hope someone close to him never has suicidal ideation. He's the last person to go to for support.
I agree. Muddling through life, depressed and waiting for old age to kill you is not bravery, it's just a decision one makes because that's what they are wired to do. When I'm at a tall height looking down, I honestly can't fathom having the guts to jump like many suicides do. I also think it takes courage to put a gun to your head a pull the trigger, I could never do that either - what if I didn't die but ended up lying there in agony for hours? Then there's the whole thing about going to hell - it's unlikely, but what if it's true? no way to find out for sure until after you've done it.
I don't see suicides as cowards at all, in fact it's too bad so many of these suicidal mass murderers didn't have the guts to do it before their shooting sprees. I think they are truly worthy of the label cowards, because they kill unarmed people.
I hope this professor isn’t a practicing psychologist or psychiatrist. The reason for suicide is varied and each should be judged individually and objectively.
cow·ard
/ˈkou(ə)rd/ noun
noun: coward; plural noun: cowards
1. a person who lacks the courage to do or endure dangerous or unpleasant things.
Suicide is a dangerous and unpleasant thing, therefore by this definition it is not being a coward.
Is being bullied to the point of suicide lacking courage? Is being terminally ill to the point of suicide lacking courage? The professor sounds like an ignoramus because it seems no stock is put into the dynamic of the persons brain. Chemical imbalance? Any sort of neurological misfire? Such comments to me shows the lack of knowledge and no admittance of the unknown of the brain when it goes awry. Mass murders just have a different way to communicate their imbalance putting harm to others before themselves. Who knows? Maybe suicide to those who commit it could be deemed courageous as it could be protecting harm to others?
Bottom line is does anyone really know what a troubled mind is?
Last edited by metalmancpa; 01-07-2019 at 12:05 PM..
If I were the op, I'd visit his office and have a debate with him on this. After I got my grade, of course - since we already know he's an a$$hole, he's probably the type to give a crap grade to those who disagree with him. I might even have a conversation with the dean about how innapropriate and appallingly insensitive (not to mention totally untrue) I found such a comment. I have had a couple friends and a relative die by suicide, and some jackass telling me they are cowards would cause me to stand up and walk the f out of that classroom.
Where did this happen, OP? Many US universities aren't back from winter break yet, and most college professors have had enough diversity training that they would know better than to make that kind of blanket statement in class. If this is true, it's highly unprofessional.
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