Unreal
I saw this news article and just found myself speechless. What was further amazing was the description of this as a "horrible accident". Horrible, yes, but hardly an accident. Is there any way to grasp such a lack of appreciation for life---one's own and that of an unsuspecting, innocent victim? Did this girl think that no one would be driving the other car? Did it not matter at all who was in it? Did she really think that there was some magical guarantee that the other person was going to come out of this unhurt, unscathed? It boggles the mind to consider such utter selfishness. I know that we can be in the depths of despair at times. It happens. But it's something else entirely to be so callous and selfish about the solution.
My heart hurts to think of that little family and even to think of the parents of this girl. What a waste.
posted by jay are at 6:46 PM
16 Comments:
They say suicide is a selfish act, which I've never really understood. But in this case, I can't think of a better description.
8:09 PM, October 22, 2006
Suicide is also called the 'ultimate insanity' but this seemed very planned and not an act of an insane person; just a selfish person.
9:08 PM, October 22, 2006
what a waste.
8:06 AM, October 23, 2006
I confess to feeling irrational amts of anger toward this girl I don't even know.
It's tempting to view this as a simple case of a rich, pampered, self-absorbed teenager thinking only of herself. On the other hand...
To quote Tevye, "There is no other hand."
9:18 AM, October 23, 2006
PS. I think suicide *is* often a selfish act. But I don't think it's always insane/irrational.
I read a novel one time in which a character was battling mental illness. Her emotional and mental state were such that her hallucinations and feelings were -- in my opinion -- simply unsupportable. When she finally killed herself, it seemed to me an utterly sane, rational act.
Not that I'm recommending it.
I think 99% of the time it's a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
9:23 AM, October 23, 2006
what a terrible story. and of course, SHE is still living, while the innocent woman isn't...
11:09 AM, October 23, 2006
bryan, that novel sounds interesting and vaguely familiar. And to me, the "selfish" aspect of suicide is the devestation you leave behind you, the burdens of guilt and regret you leave with those closest to you. Of course, every situation is so different, and maybe in lots of them, suicide might well seem the only solution. It's hard to imagine--like was said, it's a permanent solution to something that most likely is temporary. Horrible, all the way around.
1:58 PM, October 23, 2006
A very tragic read...What a mess of devastation...one wonders at the lesson one could learn from this? But it just makes my heart hurt to think of every side of it..
Say what do you think that will do to the car insurance of the girl who was trying to commit suicide...
bet that is going to be HUGE!!Not that she will need insurance if she gets a life sentense...sort of hope she doesn't...wow...so hard!
Tough jury to sit on..eh? Susie
3:17 PM, October 23, 2006
And speaking of temporary problems... to think this girl's reason was that someone she desired wouldn't have sex with her. If we all took that approach, all the males in the world would be dead by age 13.
3:20 PM, October 23, 2006
You know what is bizarre? I worked on the Suicide Hotline for four years and now I'm a counselor, and I have heard this SOOO many times. It seems like running into another car is a very common fantasy when it comes to fantasizing about how you would want to commit suicide. I think it's because many suicidal people want so badly to get attention -- to get someone to see them...what better way to "make an impact" than to crash into someone? I know it sounds weird, but I think it actually makes sense as a fantasy. It's just that most people don't DO it.
When I worked on the hotline and people would tell me this fantasy, I would say "And what about the people in the other car?" To a person, not one of them had even thought about that aspect of it. So sad.
5:47 PM, October 23, 2006
Wow, I can't believe this is a common suicide option. What a horrible thing, to think of crashing your car into another car. Maybe crashing into a tree or a wall (they all sound too horrible for words to me. I would pick overdosing maybe. I've heard that most men pick shooting themselves. Is this true?? What a terrible subject anyhow). Well, sorry to have brought up something so morbid, but it's fascinating to me that this is a common "fantasy". Terrible.
6:24 PM, October 23, 2006
A cowardly way out.....suicide.
10:26 PM, October 23, 2006
I think if you're in, like, a Cooper Mini, and you run into a Freightliner coming the other way, you don't have to worry as much about the other guy. He might not even notice, actually.
As to other methods: I've heard many more men than women shoot themselves, but not sure if it's the method of choice for men.
It does make sense that men would leave a big mess behind, tho.
I've heard of teenage girls OD'ing after carefully choosing their going-away outfit, etc, not realizing that the effect will be spoiled by a corpse's lack of continence. Not that anyone wanted to know that...
11:41 PM, October 23, 2006
yeah, I don't suppose a whole lot of thought goes into the "after" of suicide. And I'd have to agree with you there, bryan, on the mess part. Typical. :) heh.
9:04 AM, October 24, 2006
My brother's co-worker committed suicide the day before my brother's baby was born. This guy had been depressed for a while, and he had lost a lot of people a lot of money. Most of his friends were disgusted with his selfishness, including my brother, but often, what many people don't realize, is that the person who commits suicide really believes that what they are doing is best for their family. I don't know what this guy was thinking, we never do. As far as this girl, it's tragic because whether its selfishness or selfpity or mental illness, she killed herself that day, too, even though she's still breathing. For my brother, his baby brought joy into a workplace devastated by one loss, and relieved to celebrate the beginning of another's life.
9:24 AM, October 28, 2006
you make some excellent points, Andi. Thanks for sharing.
1:51 AM, October 29, 2006
Post a Comment
<< Home