Lou Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Originally posted by Belle Thanks DaB for your answer Again I make no judgement and merely pose the question Is it cowardly to kill yourself, or does it require bravery? A very close, very dear friend of mine killed herself in 1995 in a room in my house You will know that I suffered from guilt, remorse and extreme anger, all at once Is that the easy way out? I dont think I could ever bring myself to do it Could you do it? I dont know, I only seek to understand I'm sorry to hear about your friend that must have been truly dreadful. 2 years ago almost to the day, a married couple who were friends of my parents committed suicide. I went through a range of emotions afterwards and still do when I think about it. I'm not sure on the cowardly or bravery part... It kind of takes guts to actually do it, but I think it can be harsh to call it cowardly in some cases. I think every situation is slightly different depending on what's happening in that person's life at the time. For example, someone who commits suicide may be suffering from such bad depression that they just can't see anyway out. I don't think that's cowardly, I think it's just being in a really horrible place in life where you don't think there's any help available or no hope. But I don't think it's necessarily brave either. Perhaps it's just taken as a "solution" (albeit a horribly tragic one) to a situation where no other option seems available without knowing that someone/something COULD actually help? Of course one of the many horrible things about suicide is the person is no longer around to ask why they did it. It leaves the family and friends in a very sad place with little or no answers. I think the psychological reasons behind taking your own life are too complex to either call it "brave" or "cowardly". In Shipman's case maybe the thought of facing life in prison seem too cr*p to endure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abdul Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Originally posted by max As to his actual death, I think it's a shame that he will not be available as a guinea pig for studies into the human psyche and genetic build up. Keeping such as Shipman alive might allow future geneticists, perhaps, to determine whether there was a genetic fingerprint which could identify serious personality disorders. Interesting point max, but why do you think the problem was genetic? Didn't he have a major trauma early in life when his mother died and he ran down the road screaming (or something like that)? If we follow your strategy through, then where will it end? IMO, genetic fingerprinting is exciting and lucrative for psychologists, psychiatrists and pharmaceutical (sp?) companies to explore, but probably not much real world use for others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Originally posted by Abdul Interesting point max, but why do you think the problem was genetic? Didn't he have a major trauma early in life when his mother died and he ran down the road screaming (or something like that)? If we follow your strategy through, then where will it end? IMO, genetic fingerprinting is exciting and lucrative for psychologists, psychiatrists and pharmaceutical (sp?) companies to explore, but probably not much real world use for others. It was only a for instance suggestion Abdul as a reason to mourn his death. The more live serial killers we have under observation, either by geneticists or other -ists, the more we will discover about thier motivation/defects/needs and, hopefully, the more we can identify them sooner. If you read as many psychological thrillers as I, if fact you may, I don't know, you would read about the profile work done on serial killers in an effort to identify them as quickly as possible. The more data available the higher the chance of a correct profile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abdul Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Fair point, max Psychological profiling I do understand. Perhaps I took the words genetic fingerprining a little too literally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidla Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 I think the problem with serial killers is normally psychological which is why I can't stand the press reporting the death of serial killers with jubilation. I think serial killers should be getting our sympathy more than our hatred, because there is no doubt serial killers are mentally ill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaBouncer Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 There are different types of serial killers. All usually have a psychological problem if you go by our standards however not all are a resulted from childhood traumas or brain defects at birth. There is a new breed of serial killer which has been seen in recent years in the states, celebrity serial killers. It has been suggested that due to the status being given to high profile serial killers that certain new breed serial killers aren't doing it because they have been abused as children or norn with brain defects.... it's becuase they want the so called 'glory' that the serial killer status brings. The thrill of the chase by the police and when they're finally caught the media attention. I have several books on profiling serials killers, talking with serial killers, why some killers leav a tell tale signature on purpose and what creates a serial killer. It's interesting when you try to get in to the mind of these people and why they do what they do. However I'd never pity a serial killer! Never! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidla Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Originally posted by DaBouncer It has been suggested that due to the status being given to high profile serial killers that certain new breed serial killers aren't doing it because they have been abused as children or norn with brain defects.... it's becuase they want the so called 'glory' that the serial killer status brings. The thrill of the chase by the police and when they're finally caught the media attention. That's still a pshcological disorder though, you can't tell me that anyone in their right mind would want to become a serial killer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaBouncer Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Please see the first part of my post: By DB There are different types of serial killers. All usually have a psychological problem if you go by our standards Also who's to say what's the 'right mind' to want to become a serial killer. The fact is they WANT the limelight. They know they aint gonna get it in the movies... what's easier... what doesn't require training and luck of the draw? I know, killing people! That's how some these glory killers now think! Whether or not that should be pittied... well it's up to the individual. I wouldn't pity them though. Study em YES, pity... no! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidla Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 It's quite a tragic world when people don't have pity for the sick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Originally posted by Sidla It's quite a tragic world when people don't have pity for the sick. Was Shipman sick or just plain EVIL? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.