Are you afraid to die?

Mark Twain once said "“I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it.” This sums up rather well how I feel about death, but the idea of nonexistence did used to frighten me. Normally, when people fear death it appears to be because they fear not leaving a legacy or "doing anything" before they die.

So, as people who (presumably) avoid and dislike social interaction/relationships, how do you feel about it?

Aikenhead wrote:Normally, when people fear death it appears to be because they fear not "doing anything" before they die.

This.

No fear of death and I also have no issue with suicide. Just because we can live to a certain age doesn't mean it makes sense. I guess I've done everything I've needed to?

Nope. When I was a kid I had major issues with it. I'd prefer to find out what all could be rather than offing myself though. At the same time things happen where people die early. It sucks especially when it has to be a burden, but the way life/death goes it is what it is.

When it comes to suicide it always seemed like a glitch in life to me. I'm sure the fact that my parents have been off and on suicidal as long as I've known them is what makes me think that way. Neither of them have killed themselves, but I always figured if they/anyone did it would leave a sort of ripple of glitches that slightly eff up things. Too many people sad, distracted, blaming themselves possibly even to the point of killing themselves out of things like guilt of "not being there for their loved one" or whatever.

It annoys me how when death happens the world (whoever is affected really) seems to not just mourn, but become a wallowing and festering form of solidarity (I'd understand if it were those directly affected, but it's often many many more who weren't as well.) Maybe part of it is me not wanting to think about the sadness to move on and get things done. Part is news and sensationalism I'm sure.

For instance I'll sometimes notice when things go oddly quiet on the internet. No one I know is online, emails don't get answered for an incredibly long period of time, things like that. It's frustrating as it really can affect my job since I work from home. I'll step outside and see a flag at half mast and be like "Ah ok, so we can't move on till they get over things again"

I do not fear death.

It could happen any time, to anyone. That's just the nature of it. Death is inevitable.

There was another thread similar to this one a while back.

Most people here had a laissez faire attitude about their own death.

Frustrating as it is, I like being alive. I don't believe in an afterlife. I do believe we move on to other forms of existence, but we don't take out consciousness with us.

I like what goes on in my head most of the time. I don't want to leave it.

*lights another cigarette*

This weeks compulsive obsession: throat cancer.

*takes another drag*

Yeeaahhh, throat cancer.

Holodeck wrote:When it comes to suicide it always seemed like a glitch in life to me. I'm sure the fact that my parents have been off and on suicidal as long as I've known them is what makes me think that way. Neither of them have killed themselves, but I always figured if they/anyone did it would leave a sort of ripple of glitches that slightly eff up things. Too many people sad, distracted, blaming themselves possibly even to the point of killing themselves out of things like guilt of "not being there for their loved one" or whatever.

This is an interesting concept. Do you think this "ripple of glitches" continues for long, or does it eventually fix itself, say, after a sufficient period of mourning?

naps wrote:Frustrating as it is, I like being alive. I don't believe in an afterlife. I do believe we move on to other forms of existence, but we don't take out consciousness with us.

Do you believe in an afterlife, or do you want to believe in one (or both)? Personally, I'm glad I don't believe in an afterlife. The idea of a never ending existence, regardless of the absence of any previous consciousness, sounds very unappealing to me.

Aikenhead wrote:Do you believe in an afterlife, or do you want to believe in one (or both)? Personally, I'm glad I don't believe in an afterlife. The idea of a never ending existence, regardless of the absence of any previous consciousness, sounds very unappealing to me.

I don't believe in an afterlife in the Judeo-Christian sense. As far as 'moving on' to other forms of existence, I think it's possible that the energy that fuels out biology and consciousness continues on, but this in no way suggests we take anything of ourselves with it.

In the case of suicide, everything I wrote previously ceases to apply. But my suicidal tendencies come from depression. They are delusions.

One thing I never understood is when people say "whatever, when you gotta go, you gotta go". Accepting one's mortality is one thing, but phrases like this suggest a passivity that I am willing to guess would quickly become a survival instinct should someone put a knife to your throat.

Aikenhead wrote:This is an interesting concept. Do you think this "ripple of glitches" continues for long, or does it eventually fix itself, say, after a sufficient period of mourning?

That depends on a lot of factors. I think to a very large extent, those directly affected will always be affected. If it's something in the news it might affect people who went through similar experience longer, but most who didn't know the individual will likely put it in the back of their mind after a point and move on.

Either way I feel suicide is a lacking of closure, taboo, situation. It seems like it being that type of situation is what makes a lot of people focus on it more. It makes them more depressed and downward spiral-focused on it. I have suicidal themed OCD issues despite not being suicidal (obviously parental issues). That ripple is a daily constant. I was on meds and it seemed to stop which was nice for those two and a half weeks, but then had to stop due to an allergic reaction from them. Hopefully the new ones will help.

naps wrote:One thing I never understood is when people say "whatever, when you gotta go, you gotta go". Accepting one's mortality is one thing, but phrases like this suggest a passivity that I am willing to guess would quickly become a survival instinct should someone put a knife to your throat.

Agreed.

naps wrote:One thing I never understood is when people say "whatever, when you gotta go, you gotta go". Accepting one's mortality is one thing, but phrases like this suggest a passivity that I am willing to guess would quickly become a survival instinct should someone put a knife to your throat.

I'm sure a select few would willingly allow their life to end without a fight, but I can't quite imagine what someones state of mind would have to be to allow it. I've never been depressed or suicidal, so it's difficult for me to imagine what it's like to be willing to die.

Holodeck wrote:Either way I feel suicide is a lacking of closure, taboo, situation. It seems like it being that type of situation is what makes a lot of people focus on it more. It makes them more depressed and downward spiral-focused on it. I have suicidal themed OCD issues despite not being suicidal (obviously parental issues). That ripple is a daily constant. I was on meds and it seemed to stop which was nice for those two and a half weeks, but then had to stop due to an allergic reaction from them. Hopefully the new ones will help.

Excuse my ignorance, but what do you mean by suicidal themed OCD issues despite not being suicidal?