Ask HN: No Sanctioned Suicide in America?
Hi HN. When will suicide be considered a recommended option in America for the homeless, out of work, and destitute? It seems a bit cruel to dissuade people from suicide when they've found themselves in an irrecoverable position.
This has to be relevant now since so many in the tech world are out of work and struggling. Hopefully most are prepared, financially, though. But for those who are out of resources and unemployable, why is suicide not a sanctioned option?
Before responding, please consider that I am not seeking help or advice. Just inquiring per above.
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That's... not the groups that "sanctioned" (?) suicide is usually made available to. Unless you're attempting some kind of reddit-esque edginess, and you're trying to ask a different question..?
People will handle this differently. Some love the attention. Others find the presence of cameras on the front of every cell phone unsettling. I find the current state of affairs to be a new form of natural selection, a new filter to see who can adapt to the impending ubiquitous technical surveillance society towards which we're headed.
cf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe%27s_law
For those who are currently unemployable (in a professional setting making a living wage), they are either prepared for this financially, or their survival is threatened.
Are you out of work? What's the longest you've been out of work, in years?
I had some friends who were in serious financial difficulties a number of years ago. They were destitute, but they were nice people, and stayed with friends for free. Creative solutions are often available even in the worst of times for people that are not abusively over-using friends and relatives.
Sadly in America, the homeless are often mentally ill, and in this Liberal's opinion should be provided food and shelter, not a recommendation that they off themselves.
I think our identities are often very tied to what we do at work. So being out of work is extremely painful.
Suicide is strongly coupled to wanting to end pain. Usually emotional pain. Dealing with that pain in other ways should certainly be the first recommendation from any outsider. From the inside, it's IMHO "the right choice", though not an easy road, I admit.