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From: mjc@cmu-cs-cad.ARPA (Monica Cellio)
Newsgroups: net.suicide
Subject: Re: Ability to exit life at will.
Message-ID: <223@cmu-cs-cad.ARPA>
Date: Sat, 5-Jan-85 15:19:12 EST
Article-I.D.: cmu-cs-c.223
Posted: Sat Jan  5 15:19:12 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 8-Jan-85 03:05:03 EST
Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University, CS/RI
Lines: 30

From: wa371@sdcc12.UUCP (wa371)
>1. The ability to commit suicide at will at any time is a fundamental
>   freedom.  

I agree with this but seem to have one problem in applying it.  The version
of the rule in my brain is the above, "... except that since I am a greedy
little thing I will interfere with close friends because I don't want to lose
them."  This has been tested (not through any choice of my own) but I haven't
resolved the inconsistency yet.  Maybe the problem is that what has been
sprung on me has been sprung suddenly, rather than being discussed 
'rationally'.

>Therefore, 'committing' suicide could be called a form of taking 
>direct action rather than letting an unhealthy lifestyle or old age
>do the job by default.

I also view the difference as that: suicide is taking a direct action; all
else is euthenasia (pulling the plug), letting nature take its course, etc. 

>As far as methods go, my favorite would be simply to stop eating 
>forever.  

This has the added advantage that you give yourself time to think about it
instead of going home one day, deciding life isn't worth it, and ending it
quickly.  It requires a great deal of patience, though.

						-Dragon
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