What does this mean to you?

[HollowCost]

"I have decided that suicide is completely out of the question. I refuse to end the suffering of others... No, I must contemplate homicide and end the suffering of one... ME!!!”   Author Unknown

Do you suppose this was written by an N? Are they talking about two self's...good vs.evil? What do you think?

[Hopalong]

Welcome Hollow,
In my mind, unless a person is terminally ill and in untreatable agonizing pain, suicide often seems like a hostile act to me because of what it does to the survivors. Then again, untreated depression distorts judgment, so it's unfair to paint it that way.

It can seem like suffering and selfishness all at once. Assisted suicide? I just don't know. I have made dark jokes about how I would always reserve that right...

Why do you ask about suicide? Are you feeling suicidal?

Hopalong

[HollowCost]

Thanks for your concerned question, Hops. No, suicide has not been a consideration for me (not yet anyway...you never know??) but the quote made me think and wonder what they meant. It reminded me of something that could have been said by Jekyll and Hyde.

Actually, the subject matter of this quote was making reference more to suffering, rather than suicide. And just to eliminate your doubts, here's another quote on the subject...
"Suffering, once accepted, loses its edge, for the terror of it lessens, and what remains is generally far more manageable than we had imagined.”
Lesley Hazelton
and a drum-roll for the grande finale please.... “I thank everyone that has caused me to suffer, without you I would have no reason to express myself.”

Now, back to my original question...isn't it saying,"

I have decided that suicide is completely out of the question. I refuse to end the suffering of others... No, I must contemplate homicide and end the suffering of one... ME!!!”   Author Unknown

the homicide of one's self to end the suffering of self? And does it speak about no"one" else caring?  What do you think? Anyone?

[petra]

yeah, it sounds very sociopathic/narcissistic to me. Kinda sounds like what i would think are the thoughts of abusive spouses who murder their wife and children when they lose a custody battle (although i am probably projecting a bit here, the quote kinda reminded me of my ex). I really hope that this wasn't written to you....i would be very worried if it was.

[Hopalong]

Hi Hollow,

On another look I think it may be ironic.

Suicide (which many are ambivalent about) is compared to murder (a shocking wrong)...and redefined as murder. Now I think this is what the writer meant:

If I kill myself that's as bad as murder, because in doing so the only person whose suffering I'm caring about is me (so it's a totally selfish act).

Hopalong

[petra]

Hops,
I interpreted that the writer as talking literally about homicide, rather that metaphorically as you have. I think, because of the vagueness of the quote, it is possible to interpret it either way. I once read a quote similar to this in a psych evaluation. How you interpreted it was supposed to show if you were sociopathic or not. I hope this is not one of those also because i think i have interpreted it in the sociopathic way.....damn!!!!

[Ho9llowcCost]

Oh no, Petra! That's interesting, creepy, and... Richard, what do you think?

The only reason I was compelled to post this was because it seemed so blatantly narcissistic to me. But, I am wondering about the meaning behind this. I thought insightful people here might offer some interesting discussion views. I wasn't trying to scare anybody that I was thinking about suicide/homicide or knew any one who was.  I took it in a more metaphorical way. It is interesting to me that you were questioning my need for protection (thanks) since I asked "Are they talking about two self's...good vs.evil?

Well, I'm not sure what this says about me but this is more on my thoughts. I took it to mean the  thoughtful self, if you will, troubled by revealed guilt awareness of real self (selfish and N) imposed on others, would cause suffering and pain to the extent that suicide was comtemplated. And the thought, NO, I shall kill the bad part of myself (homicide), therefore ending my own suffering...and consequently, others too.   Again, what do you think?

Just a footnote. I'm wondering if the painful emotional and physical suffering of my mother's current (near death) situation has something to do with my question?...As I feel my suffering, too.

[reallyME]

Sounds sociopathic and demonically-inspired to me.

[HollowCost]

I'm a little surprised to find these responses to all be so directional. Am I way off in my unidirectional thinking? Anyone else agree or not? Maybe I need to "call a spade a spade"?

[Portia]

Hollowcost, my sympathy for your situation, if you want it. I’m trying to be careful with my assumptions.

I have decided that suicide is completely out of the question.

Real suicide – taking one’s own physical life? That won’t be done then, okay.

I refuse to end the suffering of others...

Is this sentence attached to the first? What is meant by suffering – physical or psychological? If psychological, caused by what?
Through our own (self-imposed?) psychological suffering we learn. Taken like this, to end other’s suffering…how? By killing them? Or by removing their ability to suffer? If I choose to suffer rather than be neurotic, will removing that suffering being doing me a favour?

No, I must contemplate homicide and end the suffering of one... ME!!!

To kill one-self, the self, not the body, will end the suffering?

[mudpuppy]

Well my metaphor maker must be broke cause when I read it I'm afraid I thought the chap was deciding it was better to go off some guy giving him trouble, rather than give the guy satisfaction by killing himself.

Too bad so many nuts, when they're choosing up cides, choose the homi over the sui.

mud