Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2.fluke 9/24/84; site vax2.fluke.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!fluke!entropy
From: entropy@fluke.UUCP (Terrence J. Mason)
Newsgroups: net.suicide
Subject: finding purpose in chaos
Message-ID: <902@vax2.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 20-Aug-85 13:59:40 EDT
Article-I.D.: vax2.902
Posted: Tue Aug 20 13:59:40 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 24-Aug-85 01:23:46 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
Lines: 21

Isn't it the Hemlock Society that supports the right to commit suicide?

I wonder if it is possible to find a legitimate purpose for this newsgroup
other than the occasional, whimsical posting...

I have a friend who is suicidal from time to time and my ignorance of this
aspect of human behavior limits my desire to help to such things as being
available to 'talk it over' and recommending counseling.  Not so curiously,
the suggestion for counseling is not well received since suicidal tendencies
probably do not completely displace an individual's sense of identity and
desire to preserve the ego (although not the body).

Can we, in a delicate but sincere manner, discuss suicide.  I mean the
motivations for it, its relation (or lack of one) to mental or physical
disorders, how friends have or should deal with the situation.  I'm not
looking for textbook lectures; clinical dogma changes with time and I can get
that from a library.  I'm looking for personal experience, anecdotes and just
plain thoughts, from those who know people who are or were suicidal, or those
who themselves are like this.

Terry Mason