# How often do you wish someone were dead? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 21, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355 "2012-09-21T03:59:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/21 "2012-09-21T17:12:06Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > Never wished someone I knew or interacted with was dead. I often wish injury or minor inconveniences upon them, though. I wish death upon people like Osama bin Laden and serial murderers though. ding ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/22 "2012-09-21T17:16:31Z")
I tend to pity more than hate. When someone is really screwed up it’s usually because they have unresolved issues they don’t know how to deal with. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/23 "2012-09-21T17:21:04Z")
I don’t like to wish people dead so I try not to. However, having some of them exiled to Siberia would make me smile. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/24 "2012-09-21T17:26:00Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > I chose “other” in the poll, because I have often wished for certain people not to exist, but never wished them _dead_. And really, it’s okay if they insist on existing, but I would really prefer a world in which they did their existing outside of my sphere. That’s it exactly - go exist somewhere else, where I don’t have to know about it and it doesn’t affect me. And if your life somewhere else should happen to suck, that’s okay, too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/25 "2012-09-21T18:36:05Z")
I voted never. I can’t recall ever having a thought, even briefly, that things would be better off if someone were dead. I may make some morbid jokes, but a large part of what makes them funny for me is precisely that it’s so contrary to how I actually think. And, sure, there are some people I don’t want in my life, but I’d never wish on them even harm, muchless death. I just don’t want to interact with them. It always seemed odd to me that even the people that have harmed me the most I never wished ill will towards, and yet others feel that sort of thing in my stead. It’s kinda worrying. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/26 "2012-09-21T18:39:36Z")
Every decade or so. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/27 "2012-09-21T19:01:28Z")
I voted “never”, since there’s nobody in my life now that I wish were dead, and that’s been the case for years. When I was in high school there were some people that I wished were dead, but I can’t think of any since I became an adult. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Sniveling\_Mess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b19c9b/32.png) [@A\_Sniveling\_Mess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Sniveling_Mess)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/28 "2012-09-21T19:37:03Z")
> [@Blaster\_Master](#): > > I voted never. I can’t recall ever having a thought, even briefly, that things would be better off if someone were dead. I may make some morbid jokes, but a large part of what makes them funny for me is precisely that it’s so contrary to how I actually think. > > And, sure, there are some people I don’t want in my life, but I’d never wish on them even harm, muchless death. I just don’t want to interact with them. It always seemed odd to me that even the people that have harmed me the most I never wished ill will towards, and yet others feel that sort of thing in my stead. It’s kinda worrying. Well-said! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/29 "2012-09-21T19:48:29Z")
I oversee a hospice. A lot of my patients there just want it all to end, and I concur with them, much of the time. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/30 "2012-09-21T19:55:03Z")
Here’s a ghastly thought: My father has dementia. He’s far gone enough that he can’t drive. He’s paranoid, angry, frightened, and has gotten violent. It’s gotten a little better with medication, but I’m well aware that there is no recovery. He’s only going to get worse, and the toll it takes on my mom will get worse and worse. So . . . I don’t wish him dead. But somedays, I wish for it to be over. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/31 "2012-09-21T20:14:56Z")
I’ve wished maximum ill on a couple of people in my life. In the one case, nothing happened. In the other, first his wife died of exposure in the Mojave; then he and his son died in a plane that he was piloting. I didn’t lose any sleep over it. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/32 "2012-09-21T21:24:33Z")
Well, this is interesting. I can honestly say that I never wished someone would die, but I have comforted myself with the thought that certain older people whom I detested in my youth were most likely dead by now. My childhood doctor foremost among them. When I started an SDMB thread on this subject, Dopers were quick to assure me that they had never had such a thought. Shame on me. So, wishing someone who is alive to be dead is understandable, but feeling glad that an already dead person is dead is terrible? Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/33 "2012-09-21T21:36:30Z")
Does it count when I yell, “EAT SHIT AND DIE!” at the guy who just cut me off in traffic? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/34 "2012-09-21T22:05:49Z")
I honestly can’t think of a single person I wished dead. Maybe if I think hard enough–I mean, terrorists and that sort of thing, sure. But I can’t imagine going through life so high strung and easily pissed off than any transgression causes me to wish even a facetious death on someone. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/35 "2012-09-22T00:36:33Z")
I don’t even wish terrorists dead - I wish they would find a more productive use for their lives. ---
**Author:** ![Sodalite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@Sodalite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sodalite)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/36 "2012-09-22T00:42:40Z")
I picked “other”. I probably wish someone dead and really mean it about twice a week. The same person comes up at least once a week. I got a phone call today warning me not to give that person money if they called. As if I would. The other one is usually a political or religious figure/fanatic whatever you want to call it. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/37 "2012-09-22T01:04:12Z")
Yeah, I’ve wished death on a couple folks. Mostly when I’m stressed and I certainly don’t really mean it. I’d actually be devastated if it actually did happen. Mostly I just wish they’d shut the fuck up. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/38 "2012-09-22T02:07:10Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I stopped wishing people dead after it really worked a few times. I went through a few year period where people that I had long grudges with died tragically (one from a brain tumor, one in a car wreck, a suicide, and an early heart attack). I felt really guilty each time even though it is what I thought I wanted. I don’t think I caused it but it made me be really careful what I wished for after I saw how their families and friends suffered from it. Note to self: don’t piss off Shagnasty. ---
**Author:** ![bathsheba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@bathsheba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bathsheba)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2012, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/39 "2012-09-23T08:35:28Z")
This has been doing my head in for the last day. It’s the lack of a gloat factor that is so bothersome to me. It seems if I wished some-one dead and then they actually went and died it would result in two possible outcomes. In the first scenario, there is an afterlife, they get there first, I get to live the next 40 odd years on this Earth without them and then I join them for eternity. No real possibility of a decent gloat unless you think, “Haha, you’re dead and I am not…for now” is a contender. In the second scenario, there is no afterlife so they are just dead, and I get to live the next 40 years on this Earth without them, then I am just dead. Ditto on the gloat, with a slightly different interpretation of the “for now” part. They are both unsatisfying suggestions. I prefer a raging payback, then spending the next 40 years before death gloating. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355/40 "2012-09-26T14:04:04Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I don’t even wish terrorists dead - I wish they would find a more productive use for their lives. You know, I agree with this. Which makes me wish all the harder for the demise of the single person in this world that taints my spirit with this wish. I don’t particularly want her to suffer, I just want her mean, selfish, judgmental ass out of my life and my kids’ lives for good. I suppose if she were to be kidnapped and taken to The Congo to work in a sock factory or something, that would be ok. But then she’d probably be wishing she was dead, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-wish-someone-were-dead/635355.md?page=3)