# RO: So many better ways to kill yourself... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 11, 2013, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115 "2013-12-11T23:29:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/21 "2013-12-12T20:34:24Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > And something like that [here in 2005](http://www.prosoundnetwork.com/article/Drivers-Suicide-Attempt-Kills-Three-Shure-Employees/3238). Three of my friend’s co-workers were killed. The suicidee survived with only a leg injury. > > ETA: [You can read more here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanette_Sliwinski). She was paroled in late 2008. That’s the case I was coming here to discuss. One of the guys killed was my friend’s brother. 8 years later, she is still suffering. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/22 "2013-12-12T21:04:57Z")
In discussing people who kill others while offing themselves, it’s probably useful to make a distinction: Depressed (or otherwise suicidal) people who do something horribly reckless and get a bunch of other people killed, versus People with some serious-shit anger problem who _deliberately, intentionally_ take out as many other people as they can (or perhaps just selected other people they are angry at, like an ex or former boss). ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/23 "2013-12-12T21:22:38Z")
I can’t wait for the \*Futurama \*suicide booths. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/24 "2013-12-12T23:12:40Z")
> [@bup](#): > > I can’t wait for the \*Futurama \*suicide booths. Can I borrow a quarter? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/25 "2013-12-13T01:31:33Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Yeah, because vigilantism is the highest form of justice, huh? Monty, there is no emoticon for what I would have felt if the dead in that incident had been someone I cared for. It’s what I would have fantasized about, but would not have done. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/26 "2013-12-13T02:15:55Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > You do realize that suicide is a mental health issue and that someone committing suicide (or attempting such) isn’t exactly in their right mind, don’t you? Do you know New Hampshire? Open a couple of those links. What do you see in the background? We call them “trees”. Take your car out, and hit one of them at a buck-ten\*. No, this person’s claim of a suicidal impulse is not inspiring compassion. I think the bastard’s lying. - Do NOT do that; it will probably be fatal. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/27 "2013-12-13T05:23:55Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Your point? Should we feel sorry for Adam Lanza because he wasn’t in his right mind when he killed children during his suicide? No. My point is that supposedly sane people–like, say, you–don’t stay stupid shit like, “The non-sane person should have rationally considered a way to off himself.” You know that’s not going to happen because the dude’s not in his right mind. Well, it may happen for some people who aren’t as far gone, but, obviously, there are people who are so far gone that they don’t succumb to rational ideas of checking out, so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/28 "2013-12-13T05:26:52Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Monty, there is no emoticon for what I would have felt if the dead in that incident had been someone I cared for. It’s what I would have fantasized about, but would not have done. Your post said that’s what you would have done, not what you would have fantasized about. I’ll take you at your word because I think you’re honest and stipulate that you meant to post that was a fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![Myrnalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@Myrnalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrnalene)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/29 "2013-12-13T12:31:57Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > No. My point is that supposedly sane people–like, say, you–don’t stay stupid shit like, “The non-sane person should have rationally considered a way to off himself.” You know that’s not going to happen because the dude’s not in his right mind. Well, it may happen for some people who aren’t as far gone, but, obviously, there are people who are so far gone that they don’t succumb to rational ideas of checking out, so to speak. Monty, how much experience do you have with clinical depression? While it can seriously distort your thought patterns, it is not psychosis. Someone who chooses to take out other people in their suicide attempt has something else wrong with them - either they have another mental disorder or, just as likely, they happen to be a total dick. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/30 "2013-12-13T13:57:26Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Yeah, I remember that from the thread arguing whether freeway jumpers were assholes. I thought surely we’d have permission to call THIS guy a bag of dicks, but I guess he’s exempt from criticism too. **Vinyl Turnip** , what exactly do you lose by refraining from calling this man a bag of dicks? I’m asking in all sincerity. Do you need the rest of us to join in your hate so you feel better doing it? Do you feel more righteous snarking at us when we don’t? Have you proved that you care more about the people killed than we do by pointing at the culprit and yelling “BAG OF DICKS!”? I mean, I’m sorry we’re not living up to your standards of vitriol over this. You may have a cogent point here. The world may indeed be a better place if we stop wasting time trying to understand what forces of biology and neurochemistry might drive someone to commit such an act and instead focus on anonymous public condemnation. After all, it _feels_ so much better, and that’s what’s really important here. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/31 "2013-12-13T14:26:21Z")
Some people with suicide ideation also have a compulsion to take out other people so they aren’t alone, or because of suppressed aggression issues. It’s really not that uncommon with suicidal depression. It sucks that people suffered and it’s no excuse, so the person with the condition needs proper treatment because as uncomfortable as it may make you feel, the suicidally depressed are victims too. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/32 "2013-12-13T17:52:05Z")
> [@Myrnalene](#): > > Monty, how much experience do you have with clinical depression? While it can seriously distort your thought patterns, it is not psychosis. Someone who chooses to take out other people in their suicide attempt has something else wrong with them - either they have another mental disorder or, just as likely, they happen to be a total dick. Well, you have two choices. 1. Interview them after they’re dead to find out which. 2. Re-read what you just posted and realize that your assertion of “just as likely” is _your_ fantasy of the situation under discussion. My personal experience or lack thereof with any particular medical issue has nothing to do with the issue. ---
**Author:** ![Depakote\_Chopra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@Depakote\_Chopra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Depakote_Chopra)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/33 "2013-12-13T18:22:05Z")
My grandfather died peacefully in his sleep. The passengers of the car he was driving… not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/34 "2013-12-13T18:30:55Z")
I’m okay with such drivers getting the Juan Manuel Álvarez treatment (Alvarez qualifying for Dogshit of the Century) - a consecutive life sentence for each person they killed. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/35 "2013-12-13T18:35:51Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Well, you have two choices. 1. Interview them after they’re dead to find out which. Since this guy survived, we’ll have to see what medical testimony is offered. ---
**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:** [December 13, 2013, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/36 "2013-12-13T18:38:02Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I’m okay with such drivers getting the Juan Manuel Álvarez treatment (Alvarez qualifying for Dogshit of the Century) - a consecutive life sentence for each person they killed. That works for me. I do have some sympathy for a guy being so depressed that he didn’t consider the consequences of his actions, but his actions still had consequences for other people, and they should have consequences for him. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/37 "2013-12-13T18:38:38Z")
Right, in this case. My response to **Myrnalene** above was an “in general” thing, like their comment seemed to be. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/38 "2013-12-13T19:01:36Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > **Vinyl Turnip** , what exactly do you lose by refraining from calling this man a bag of dicks? I’m asking in all sincerity. Do you need the rest of us to join in your hate so you feel better doing it? Do you feel more righteous snarking at us when we don’t? Have you proved that you care more about the people killed than we do by pointing at the culprit and yelling “BAG OF DICKS!”? > > I mean, I’m sorry we’re not living up to your standards of vitriol over this. You may have a cogent point here. The world may indeed be a better place if we stop wasting time trying to understand what forces of biology and neurochemistry might drive someone to commit such an act and instead focus on anonymous public condemnation. After all, it _feels_ so much better, and that’s what’s really important here. If I’ve somehow misled you to believe that I care what you do, then I apologize. In all sincerity. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/39 "2013-12-13T19:29:21Z")
You wanna kill yourself? Do this: Buy a canoe or rowboat or something small that you know how to use on water. Make a good sized home made bomb. Get some Jack Daniels and a cheesesteak from Mr Hero. Go to a huge lake or other body of water large enough that you can’t see the other shore. Put all the stuff in the boat. Row the boat out to the middle of lake, far from everything. Drink the Jack Daniels, eat the cheesesteak. Sit on the bomb. Hit the little red button. You’re gone, the boat is gone, the only thing left to find will be little bitty scraps of metal at the bottom of the lake. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115/40 "2013-12-13T23:40:24Z")
You’re mistake, wok. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-so-many-better-ways-to-kill-yourself/676115.md?page=3)