TAW122
Emissary of the right to die.
- Aug 30, 2018
- 6,949
Disclaimer: As I proceed with this article, I want to mention that while yes, there are people who use the threat of CTB as a means of manipulation or even as a cry for help, that is indeed an valid problem which makes people who are actually wanting to CTB either get treated like criminals or even worse, infantilized. However, this thread is NOT going to be about that. Instead, it will be about how society and the general populace treats those who mention or have any hints of CTB.
With that said, I got inspiration to write this article because this is something that I've observed throughout most of my life when it comes to people who mention or hint at CTB, and not necessarily limited to the virtual space, but also the meat space (in the real world) as well. To start things off, I want to emphasize that the mention of CTB itself is not and should be necessarily an act of manipulation, nor is it necessarily a cry for help. Instead, it is a valid choice by an individual whom has decided that sentience itself is no longer worth enduring and suffering through. Obviously, there are nuances and each situation is not so black and white, when it comes down to such topics. I will give some example scenarios to highlight my points.
Example scenario (not a threat nor act of manipulation, but one of careful, throughout deliberation)
For example, suppose we have a scenario where person A has been through a lot in her life and she has ultimately come to the conclusion that sentience is not worth it (according to her and her experiences – only she knows how bad her life is, nobody else is in her shoes!), and then when A is talking to her friend, B, saying that if things don't improve along with her personal reasons and some external factors (of which were out of her control, but contributed towards her wanting to CTB). A mentions how she considered CTB and that if given further time (another few months) if things either continue to be the same or deteriorates further, she will move forward with CTB. B, obviously being concerned freaks out and starts to interrogate A and assess A's potential to CTB, all the while ignoring A's reasoning and situation, only zeroing in towards the mention of 'CTB' by A. This is one example of where one's mention of CTB is NOT a threat, but a valid choice after exhausting other options and solutions through diligent and meaningful, reasonable action to no avail.
Example scenario (not a cry for help, but one of rational thought and deliberation)
Another example scenario where the person who mentions CTB is not a cry for help, but one made out of careful deliberation and rational thought. Similar to the previous scenario, but different persons, C and D in this example. C mentions that his conditions and predicaments are not getting better and due to his injury and change in quality of life, it is not acceptable for C to continue sentience and he would rather die. Obviously D, being C's friend is against C's wishes because it goes against D's principles (including the sanctity of life), thus D doubles down on his stance and instead downplays C's wishes and infantilizes C. D views C's wanting to CTB as a 'cry for help' instead of a legitimate option for C's unbearable and unacceptable predicament. Thus, in this example, C is someone who has thought long and hard and faced with the reality of his situation, decides that continuing to live is not worth it to C, while D just haphazardly ignores C's circumstances and treats C as someone who is incapable of making their own independent decisions and must be protected against their own choices (tyrannical).
Therefore, in conclusion, the attitude and views towards the act and decision of CTB itself really needs a serious overhaul, especially in how society and the general populace view those who have thoughts about CTB, made the decision to CTB (and especially when one takes further actions, steps to acquire the means and methods to act on it). Most people who end up choosing CTB are not threats nor bad actors (not speaking for those who nefariously manipulate others), nor are they victims of their own choices nor a cry for help (especially those who have carefully and thoughtfully, thoroughly deliberated their choices and arrived at the decision they did). As a result of the way society and the general populace treats ALL people who mention, consider, or take steps towards the furtherance of the act of CTB as either 'threats to be dealt with' or 'victims to save them from themselves', it would only further fuel the stigma and taboo of those who are suffering; which then means those who are suffering greatly will end up acting out or even going unexpectedly, leading to collateral damage and the very problems that society and general populace wanted to prevent!
With that said, I got inspiration to write this article because this is something that I've observed throughout most of my life when it comes to people who mention or hint at CTB, and not necessarily limited to the virtual space, but also the meat space (in the real world) as well. To start things off, I want to emphasize that the mention of CTB itself is not and should be necessarily an act of manipulation, nor is it necessarily a cry for help. Instead, it is a valid choice by an individual whom has decided that sentience itself is no longer worth enduring and suffering through. Obviously, there are nuances and each situation is not so black and white, when it comes down to such topics. I will give some example scenarios to highlight my points.
Example scenario (not a threat nor act of manipulation, but one of careful, throughout deliberation)
For example, suppose we have a scenario where person A has been through a lot in her life and she has ultimately come to the conclusion that sentience is not worth it (according to her and her experiences – only she knows how bad her life is, nobody else is in her shoes!), and then when A is talking to her friend, B, saying that if things don't improve along with her personal reasons and some external factors (of which were out of her control, but contributed towards her wanting to CTB). A mentions how she considered CTB and that if given further time (another few months) if things either continue to be the same or deteriorates further, she will move forward with CTB. B, obviously being concerned freaks out and starts to interrogate A and assess A's potential to CTB, all the while ignoring A's reasoning and situation, only zeroing in towards the mention of 'CTB' by A. This is one example of where one's mention of CTB is NOT a threat, but a valid choice after exhausting other options and solutions through diligent and meaningful, reasonable action to no avail.
Example scenario (not a cry for help, but one of rational thought and deliberation)
Another example scenario where the person who mentions CTB is not a cry for help, but one made out of careful deliberation and rational thought. Similar to the previous scenario, but different persons, C and D in this example. C mentions that his conditions and predicaments are not getting better and due to his injury and change in quality of life, it is not acceptable for C to continue sentience and he would rather die. Obviously D, being C's friend is against C's wishes because it goes against D's principles (including the sanctity of life), thus D doubles down on his stance and instead downplays C's wishes and infantilizes C. D views C's wanting to CTB as a 'cry for help' instead of a legitimate option for C's unbearable and unacceptable predicament. Thus, in this example, C is someone who has thought long and hard and faced with the reality of his situation, decides that continuing to live is not worth it to C, while D just haphazardly ignores C's circumstances and treats C as someone who is incapable of making their own independent decisions and must be protected against their own choices (tyrannical).
Therefore, in conclusion, the attitude and views towards the act and decision of CTB itself really needs a serious overhaul, especially in how society and the general populace view those who have thoughts about CTB, made the decision to CTB (and especially when one takes further actions, steps to acquire the means and methods to act on it). Most people who end up choosing CTB are not threats nor bad actors (not speaking for those who nefariously manipulate others), nor are they victims of their own choices nor a cry for help (especially those who have carefully and thoughtfully, thoroughly deliberated their choices and arrived at the decision they did). As a result of the way society and the general populace treats ALL people who mention, consider, or take steps towards the furtherance of the act of CTB as either 'threats to be dealt with' or 'victims to save them from themselves', it would only further fuel the stigma and taboo of those who are suffering; which then means those who are suffering greatly will end up acting out or even going unexpectedly, leading to collateral damage and the very problems that society and general populace wanted to prevent!
