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