Do you wish you were never born?

  • Yes

    Votes: 155 87.6%
  • No

    Votes: 14 7.9%
  • Other

    Votes: 8 4.5%

  • Total voters
    177
Trakehner

Trakehner

Student
Apr 22, 2023
123
Yes. Very much. I resent my parents for having me
 
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Zanmato

Zanmato

Student
Apr 4, 2024
115
Yeah, and I wish that from many years now
 
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T

ThatStateOfMind

Enlightened
Nov 13, 2021
1,211
Yes. Life hasn't been all bad but it feels like the bad outweighed the good.

Plus, I wouldn't be in the position now where- either I struggle on or, I put other people through something upsetting. If I hadn't been born, my death and especially suicide wouldn't affect anyone. But regardless, I don't appreciate having that decision to make.

I also don't like it that no matter how bad things get, it's very difficult to leave this place on our own terms- full stop. Even people in genuinely terrible circumstances (it seems to me,) are sometimes denied assisted suicide. Simply the prospect of being alive somewhere where your situation can be dire and your options to escape it are so risky, you could survive in an even worse state is pretty terrifying.

I don't appreciate most of the things being alive forced on me. I didn't enjoy seeing multiple family members become ill and die. I don't like the pressure of having to wage slave to support myself or be seen as a failure if I don't. I don't enjoy all the constant maintainence life requires. Life basically hasn't seemed worth it. If I'm honest, I spend large portions of each day, deeply resenting having been born.

But then, I suppose- that's what I don't get. If I happen to complain about work, my Dad will go on at length about how he had it worse. How much he hated his job. On average, we (apparently) spend one third of our lives working (I suspect I spend more time working than that- 7 day working weeks most of the time for me), another third asleep. What on earth did he think was going to happen in the remaining third to make it worthwhile? It's like- you've just said you hated huge chunks of your life- so, you'd worked out it was shit! Why knowingly put another being through that? Misery loves company?

I did make a similar poll a while back. It will be interesting to see how they compare... We were up to 77% of people who wish they hadn't been born out of 259 votes.

Thanks for the in-depth reply! Hopefully my poll appears so we can see if there's a considerable difference. Though, I doubt there will be due to the nature of this forum, and the people it draws. That being the suicidal or depressed folks. I know that's not everyone here but I have to presume it's the majority.

Also, sorry about your dad. Seems like a common thing with the older generation. They go on and on about how much harder life was for them, when housing was so affordable and people could get by easily on a normal wage. Also, the 1/3rd thing adds up for most people (8 hours work, 8 hours sleep, 8 hours to yourself = 24 hours). Let's also not forget about how much time you're supposed to have to yourself might be spent commuting, preparing for work, or doing essential life tasks such as eating, relieving yourself, and similar things.

It's weird though, because to a degree, I want a child. I might never have one, even if I live to the age where most people have them. Still, some part of me desires kids and it makes me feel cruel.

That's my take too pretty much lol
Like logically if I was dead I wouldn't have had to experience what I'm experiencing now which is sucky but I've had many experiences that I don't regret.
it's just that now I've had enough ig
I see that point of view. You're grateful for what good things you've experienced, even at the cost of the shitty times but now, you feel like you've experienced enough and are ready to go, I presume?

Once you are born, you are automatically in a race for survival and in need of resources,
food, water and shelter to survive. Which inevitably means you will need to find a job.

To me, this already makes any existence undesirable.
Ah yeah, the eternal rat race in life fucking blows. I'm not fully in it yet, as a college student, but I know I eventually will be if I make it that long.
 
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TAW122

TAW122

Emissary of the right to die.
Aug 30, 2018
6,849
Yes I wished I never came into sentience, because all the suffering, problems, trials and tribulations that comes with this existence (life) would never have happened if I never came into this world. Therefore, I hope that one day when the time and circumstance is right that I will be able to CTB, exit this hellish existence on my own terms and with the least amount of suffering, agony, and hassle.
 
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Theresnoescape

Theresnoescape

Each year feels like 10
May 29, 2024
81
Yes definitely, I had an older sister that died as a baby. If that hadn't happened, I doubt I'd be here now.
 
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Chaos_Contingency

Chaos_Contingency

Member
Aug 9, 2022
12
Everyday I wish I was never born but unfortunately, I was brought into this world.
 
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vampire2002

vampire2002

weeb & neet ♡
Oct 8, 2023
140
i'm not sure.
i think i just wish i was born into different circumstances. born to a mother who actually wanted me, maybe. born into a family that didn't abuse me my whole life. born without predisposition for mental illness.
but i'm happy i was born and that i got to meet the few people (and cats) i do love so dearly.
 
T

ThatStateOfMind

Enlightened
Nov 13, 2021
1,211
Yes definitely, I had an older sister that died as a baby. If that hadn't happened, I doubt I'd be here now.
I'm sorry for your loss

i'm not sure.
i think i just wish i was born into different circumstances. born to a mother who actually wanted me, maybe. born into a family that didn't abuse me my whole life. born without predisposition for mental illness.
but i'm happy i was born and that i got to meet the few people (and cats) i do love so dearly.
I'm glad you're able to see the good parts of life. Even if they don't make you stay (I'm unsure if I will), it's still good to experience good things. Never knew I was a cat person until a couple years ago when I got my first cat.

I had certain bad and certain good family members. Ironically, a lot of the decent ones have passed away by now. I can't imagine being born without being predisposed to mental illness. I think life would be so much more enjoyable and arguably easier.
 
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LaVieEnRose

LaVieEnRose

Angelic
Jul 23, 2022
4,216
All the time. Life has been a net negative. Some positive things, maybe even a lot, but the balance is unequivocally bad. And as I sit here right now and suffer from the same painful ailment I've suffered from for over a decade with no sign of stopping, I especially regret being brought here.
 
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V

Vivir_O_No

Member
Dec 10, 2023
86
I'll share first. I genuinely don't hate that I was born. Sure, I hate the cards I was dealt in life but it honestly could be worse at the moment. I have a roof over my head, food to eat, I'm able to go to college (even though I hate it, I know it's a privilege not afforded to everyone), I have running water and internet, etc. I have all the necessities and some luxuries in life and for that reason, for the fact that I know it could be worse, I don't regret my birth. Also worth mentioning that I was extremely premature and my chances of dying were higher than surviving that, but I survived it.
Don't want to offend you, but I feel there is no privilege to be grateful for. It's like thanking life for creating our problems and then solving them.
 
divinemistress36

divinemistress36

Illuminated
Jan 1, 2024
3,190
Not only do I wish I was never born, I find people that choose to have children absolutely repulsive. Especially people that clearly don't have the means to raise them properly and give them a good life.
Its sad they dont care that their kids could suffer a lot in life . They often have them for their ego sake
I tell my mom all the time she should have aborted me
 
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Ligottian

Elementalist
Dec 19, 2021
845
Its sad they dont care that their kids could suffer a lot in life . They often have them for their ego sake
I tell my mom all the time she should have aborted me
Romanian philosopher E. M. Cioran said his mother once told him she would have aborted him if she had known he would be so miserable.
 
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KillingPain267

KillingPain267

Enlightened
Apr 15, 2024
1,327
Yes.

Job 3:11: "Why died I not from the womb why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?"
Ecclesiastes 4:2-3: "Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun."
 
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anopenwound

anopenwound

I̸'̷m̵ ̸g̶o̷i̶n̵g̷ ̶h̵o̶m̶e̶.̵
Jul 27, 2024
101
Yes. I hate being alive.
 
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sugarb

sugarb

thief of silent dreams
Jun 14, 2024
797
I see that point of view. You're grateful for what good things you've experienced, even at the cost of the shitty times but now, you feel like you've experienced enough and are ready to go, I presume?
Pretty much, yeah. As each day passes by, I'm grateful for the pleasant things that may've happened and don't regret having existed on that day, but I also just don't feel a need to see tomorrow. Like, I appreciate the new additional experiences as much as I do the ones from my past but I was already pretty much satisfied and ready to go. Like making a 1000 dollars after you've already reached what you wanted, which was a million dollars, if that makes sense. Going over the limit is neither good nor bad but I'd prefer to just be done already
 
Praying 4 a Miracle

Praying 4 a Miracle

Experienced
Sep 22, 2024
247
No, I've had way too many great experiences, and am hoping to have a few more
 
T

ThatStateOfMind

Enlightened
Nov 13, 2021
1,211
All the time. Life has been a net negative. Some positive things, maybe even a lot, but the balance is unequivocally bad. And as I sit here right now and suffer from the same painful ailment I've suffered from for over a decade with no sign of stopping, I especially regret being brought here.
I understand that perspective. I can't really say whether it's a net negative for me or not personally, I feel like I'm a lot younger than many people on here, so I know there's still a chance of things maybe improving. So I don't regret being brought here YET, though that can obviously change given more time, don't know yet.

Don't want to offend you, but I feel there is no privilege to be grateful for. It's like thanking life for creating our problems and then solving them.
Don't worry, it doesn't offend me at all. For me though, I feel like recognizing the good alongside the struggles helps me find hope and motiviation during the tribulations that life in and of itself presents. I believe I can acknowledge the problems life throws at me while also trying to appreciate what I have, especially as there was a point in my life where I had lost everything. Anyways, my point is that I don't ignore the difficulties but I try to find a balance that helps me keep
pushing for now.

Pretty much, yeah. As each day passes by, I'm grateful for the pleasant things that may've happened and don't regret having existed on that day, but I also just don't feel a need to see tomorrow. Like, I appreciate the new additional experiences as much as I do the ones from my past but I was already pretty much satisfied and ready to go. Like making a 1000 dollars after you've already reached what you wanted, which was a million dollars, if that makes sense. Going over the limit is neither good nor bad but I'd prefer to just be done already
Ah yeah, the analogy makes is very clear. I feel you on that to a degree, but I don't think I'm done just yet.

No, I've had way too many great experiences, and am hoping to have a few more
I feel very similar, I don't know if I'd say I had too many, but I'm hoping to have a few more before I go
 
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RosebyAnyName

RosebyAnyName

Staring at the ceiling for 6 hours
Nov 9, 2023
218
Yes. Being born has exposed me to more suffering than is worth it, and none of my suffering feels "worth" having life. It all instead just feels pointless.
If I wasn't born, then I wouldn't have to feel anything at all. Seems like the better choice.
 
asa

asa

Member
Aug 22, 2024
30
the number of good memories I have don't outweigh my suffering, so yes, I wish that constantly
 
Leiot

Leiot

Coming back as a cat
Oct 2, 2024
316
I don't hate that I was born. I hate what I did with it.
 
T

ThatStateOfMind

Enlightened
Nov 13, 2021
1,211
Yes. Being born has exposed me to more suffering than is worth it, and none of my suffering feels "worth" having life. It all instead just feels pointless.
If I wasn't born, then I wouldn't have to feel anything at all. Seems like the better choice.
I feel I can at least somewhat relate to this. The suffering not feeling "worth it" at times. I've had some seriously shitty points in my life. Things I never had any choice in. If I wasn't born, I suppose I wouldn't have to deal with it. Though, I also have a lot of positive memories, especially as I've become slightly more and more independent, gives me hope things COULD change after college, even though I know it isn't guaranteed. If things don't go well, I could always ctb.
 
painfuleternity

painfuleternity

Member
Oct 13, 2024
8
if I was never born, id never have had to suffer this much.it sounds blissful.
 
Dr Iron Arc

Dr Iron Arc

Into the Unknown
Feb 10, 2020
21,025
Not sure. Sometimes I often do and I also believe that there are also many other people who wish I wasn't born either but unfortunately I can admit that I've had a small amount of decent moments in my life that make it feel slightly worth living. I know it's not a net gain but those small moments where I've experienced brief happiness make it so I can't fully regret being born altogether.
 
T

ThatStateOfMind

Enlightened
Nov 13, 2021
1,211
Not sure. Sometimes I often do and I also believe that there are also many other people who wish I wasn't born either but unfortunately I can admit that I've had a small amount of decent moments in my life that make it feel slightly worth living. I know it's not a net gain but those small moments where I've experienced brief happiness make it so I can't fully regret being born altogether.
I feel like even if it isn't necessarily a net gain, it could still be enough to be worth it for some.
 
Dr Iron Arc

Dr Iron Arc

Into the Unknown
Feb 10, 2020
21,025
I feel like even if it isn't necessarily a net gain, it could still be enough to be worth it for some.
True. For me it's definitely worth at least being born and getting to experience those things. Not enough to justify continuing on for much longer though. Like a mediocre tv series that's been given way too many seasons just because only a handful of random episodes were good.
 
-nobodyknows-

-nobodyknows-

Arcanist
Jun 16, 2024
439
I don't resent my parents for having me, but I do think the world would have been better off if I had never existed. I just bring pain to the people around me.