# Why stay alive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 10, 2016, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317 "2016-08-10T06:03:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/21 "2016-08-10T12:04:55Z")
Chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/22 "2016-08-10T12:14:22Z")
The Bee Gees ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/23 "2016-08-10T12:22:01Z")
My wife. Beer. Writing. And the need to find out what happens in Game of Thrones. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/24 "2016-08-10T12:27:44Z")
**A Ballade of Suicide** The gallows in my garden, people say, Is new and neat and adequately tall; I tie the noose on in a knowing way As one that knots his necktie for a ball; But just as all the neighbours–on the wall– Are drawing a long breath to shout “Hurray!” The strangest whim has seized me. . . . After all I think I will not hang myself to-day. To-morrow is the time I get my pay– My uncle’s sword is hanging in the hall– I see a little cloud all pink and grey– Perhaps the rector’s mother will not call– I fancy that I heard from Mr. Gall That mushrooms could be cooked another way– I never read the works of Juvenal– I think I will not hang myself to-day. The world will have another washing-day; The decadents decay; the pedants pall; And H.G. Wells has found that children play, And Bernard Shaw discovered that they squall, Rationalists are growing rational– And through thick woods one finds a stream astray So secret that the very sky seems small– I think I will not hang myself to-day. ENVOI Prince, I can hear the trumpet of Germinal, The tumbrils toiling up the terrible way; Even to-day your royal head may fall, I think I will not hang myself to-day. - G.K. Chesterton ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/25 "2016-08-10T13:23:51Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Why not? Yeah. I got nothing better to do. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/26 "2016-08-10T13:26:31Z")
Why live? Because the act of dying looks extremely uncomfortable, even painful. I’d rather avoid it as long as I can. If and when there come a time when living is equally painful or uncomfortable I may well reconsider. But certainly not until then. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/27 "2016-08-10T13:28:13Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I don’t think he’s really looking for reasons to live. It’s like his threads on “Are pets slaves?” or “Does music have negative effects?” where he’s only asking questions. Incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/28 "2016-08-10T13:29:25Z")
I stay alive so they don’t win. I don’t know who they is, I don’t care, I’m not going to give them the satisfaction. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/29 "2016-08-10T13:30:01Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Why live? Because the act of dying looks extremely uncomfortable, even painful. I’d rather avoid it as long as I can. If and when there come a time when living is equally painful or uncomfortable I may well reconsider. But certainly not until then. That’s a subjective opinion. If there was a painless way to die then it wouldn’t be an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/30 "2016-08-10T13:32:21Z")
> [@ultimate11](#): > > Why stay alive? I’m only 21, there are things in life I haven’t done yet, and things in life I need to experience, whether I haven’t already or I have already. There’s no deep dish pizza in heaven, nor Vienna Beef® hotdogs in hell, and don’t get me started with Ricobene’s breaded steak sandwiches in limbo! > > Also once it’s over, it’s over. That’s why I’m living life to the fullest. There is no reason to believe you will live long enough to do any of those things. And pleasure is still not a sufficient reason to keep on existing, it’s just a physiological response, automatic. People seem to only stick around because other people want them to, which is very selfish. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/31 "2016-08-10T13:32:23Z")
I still do not believe I have a handle on Theodore Roosevelt’s inner life and thought processes. So far, everything I have read shows him to be almost entirely action and no introspection. ---
**Author:** ![Vicsage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/32 "2016-08-10T13:39:12Z")
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIIqYqtR1lY](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIIqYqtR1lY) ---
**Author:** ![Chihuahua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/33 "2016-08-10T13:40:08Z")
I am absolutely certain I will die by suicide. Really the only reason I am still alive is for my kids. I often think death will be a relief… Like, “Thank God it’s finally over.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/34 "2016-08-10T13:40:38Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > Bacon. Sex… Absolutely no kidding, I almost posted that exact wording in that order. Or: Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n Roll!! ---
**Author:** ![Latro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Latro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latro)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/35 "2016-08-10T13:47:35Z")
> [@Chihuahua](#): > > I am absolutely certain I will die by suicide. Really the only reason I am still alive is for my kids. I often think death will be a relief… Like, “Thank God it’s finally over.” Relief from what? If you don’t mind me asking. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/36 "2016-08-10T13:50:13Z")
I live to see the raise of the San Francisco Forty-Niners from the ashes of ruin, like the Phoenix Bird who was born to fly … ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/37 "2016-08-10T13:52:09Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > There is no reason to believe you will live long enough to do any of those things. And pleasure is still not a sufficient reason to keep on existing, it’s just a physiological response, automatic. People seem to only stick around because other people want them to, which is very selfish. People are telling you why they stick around – why don’t you believe them? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/38 "2016-08-10T13:55:42Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > Simply put, why not just die? Why keep on living? Love. (In any or all of its senses: agape, eros, philia, storge) > [@](#): > > There doesn’t seem to be any rational reason behind continuing to exist. Why does the reason have to be rational? If you don’t currently have a reason for living, make _that_—discovering what your life is good for—your reason for living. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/39 "2016-08-10T13:56:47Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Why not? This. The OP has failed to explain why we need a reason to stay alive. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317/40 "2016-08-10T13:59:49Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > > [@aldiboronti](#): > > > > Why live? Because the act of dying looks extremely uncomfortable, even painful. I’d rather avoid it as long as I can. If and when there come a time when living is equally painful or uncomfortable I may well reconsider. But certainly not until then. > > That’s a subjective opinion. If there was a painless way to die then it wouldn’t be an issue. What are you looking for? An objective opinion? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-stay-alive/762317.md?page=3)