Thoughts on the 'commit' suicide nomenclature?

[enviro400mmc]

What are your opinions on the movement to try tell people to find alternative terms to 'commit' suicide (e.g. die by suicide)? I used to dislike this entire sentiment, the idea is to take a bit of stigma away from suicide so it doesn't seem like a crime but it always seemed pretty virtue signally to me. And in any case, I'm naturally hesitant to parrot anything which is repeatedly said by the pro-life media.

But recently I've become a lot more sympathetic to the idea, I think ever since my parents and psychologist have become aware of my ideation they are warning me against and telling me how I shouldn't 'commit' suicide it does just feel so insensitive and accusatory.

Ultimately it's only a few words so not a huge deal or worth caring about but interesting to discuss.

 

[WorthlessTrash]

It's nothing new. Normies have been trying to get us less fortunate people to cope since the beginning of time. They don't know how essential the right to die is until they spend 5 minutes in our shoes.

Then again I believe some or most people who are in our positions that then recover would preach how easy or possible it is for all of us to recover and defeat suicidality. You cannot pay much mind or put too much stock into what these biased parties think or say.

 

[arcadia]

Well commit does hold connotations with suicide being a crime, the phrase originates from when it was. I've heard people suggest that 'completing' suicide is a better replacement, but I feel that this is only necessary if 'committing suicide' is always associated with the context of it inherently being a crime or a sin. I find that the term has a practical meaning and that there is only offense in the term 'committing suicide' if you look for it, but when it comes from others as you put it in your example that entirely changes and I share the same sentiments. I mean to consider suicide and go through with is a strong emotional commitment, this is what I first took from it when I was introduced to the phrase as a kid. Yet hearing 'commit' under the context of it being me they're talking about changed it. It felt disrespectful and hurtful, so you're definitely onto something. What I associate with 'commit' is a disregard for those around you and only thinking out of your own best interest, almost as if you fail to consider the impact such a thing would have on those around you. But I'm only considering this from my perspective, when it comes to being sensitive with bereaving families who have lost relatives to suicide, it also makes an awful lot of sense to consider alternative terminology.

 

[Aisley]

Totally vitue signally, which leaves a bad taste in the mouth. However, only productive conversations could be had as a result. And in any country where it's been decriminalized, and there are a few, the words aught to be changed. Achieved suicide? I like completed.

 

[Twoped538]

I also don't like "committing suicide". There are good alternatives: "ending your/his/her (own) life" or "he/she died by suicide".

 

[trist]

i couldn't care less about what it's called

 

[Forever Sleep]

I guess I see what you mean. It does have connotations of commiting a crime or sin. Still- it also reminds me of the word commitment- intention- dedication. If I get the guts together to actually do it- I'd actually prefer people to acknowledge that I commited to killing myself. It was intentional and well thought out- I didn't do it because I was out of my mind crazy and impulsive. I commited to escaping from this shit show! So- commited is probably ok by me- I'm VERY commited to achieving my goals in life. Same will go for death- hopefully.

 

[cogmachine]

i don't think it really matters because the entire anti-suicide movement is virtue signaling in general. all talk, no action. their "acceptance of these thoughts" that they rag on and on end about the point where you start talking about it. after that, they start being impatient because the wounds and burden you have been carrying for years / decades won't disappear with one psychiatrist visit. they're ok with you talking about it, but god forbid their vapid words don't work, or their npc pills you can't even kill yourself with. it's such a sham that semantics (if that's the right word to use for this) will have little to no impact on it. slapping a bandaid on an amputated limb.

 

[SilentSadness]

It doesn't matter in my opinion, whether it's caught the bus, ceased to breathe, died by suicide, committed suicide, took one's life, killed oneself, or ended one's life, the one thing that remains constant is that the pro-lifers will always be wilfully against it. Suicidal people still won't be treated well for a long time to come, I'm sure.

 

[borderline-feline]

It's an example of what I like to call "linguistic gentrification". It's the process of cleaning up the wording to make it sound nicer while doing nothing about the underlying problems causing the issue at hand. I put it on the same level of ridiculous as when people say that you can't show a suicide in movies or TV. I say that if you don't have the balls to show the moment of death, then you're not mature enough to write about suicide, but that's another issue entirely.

All of the alternatives that people suggest are also really clunky and just don't sound right. "Commit" as a word has more positive connotations anyway, like if you commit to doing something; that's how I've always viewed the wording.

 

[Archness]

It's an example of what I like to call "linguistic gentrification". It's the process of cleaning up the wording to make it sound nicer while doing nothing about the underlying problems causing the issue at hand.

That's the entire modern approach to suicidallity, loneliness, depression, etc. Don't fix the problems, just literally cope harder. It doesn't matter at all what specific phonetics are used for the idea,

I guess I see what you mean. It does have connotations of commiting a crime or sin. Still- it also reminds me of the word commitment- intention- dedication.

and one can even argue for it.

I put it on the same level of ridiculous as when people say that you can't show a suicide in movies or TV. I say that if you don't have the balls to show the moment of death, then you're not mature enough to write about suicide, but that's another issue entirely.

I honestly wished there was more media about the reality of suicide. Not the "it gets better" cope for hs kids, or angsty drama like 13 reasons why, something about realizing your in a dead and and your life's basically OVER.

 

[SpiderLink]

What are your opinions on the movement to try tell people to find alternative terms to 'commit' suicide (e.g. die by suicide)? I used to dislike this entire sentiment, the idea is to take a bit of stigma away from suicide so it doesn't seem like a crime but it always seemed pretty virtue signally to me. And in any case, I'm naturally hesitant to parrot anything which is repeatedly said by the pro-life media.

But recently I've become a lot more sympathetic to the idea, I think ever since my parents and psychologist have become aware of my ideation they are warning me against and telling me how I shouldn't 'commit' suicide it does just feel so insensitive and accusatory.

Ultimately it's only a few words so not a huge deal or worth caring about but interesting to discuss.

I personally hate it when people use "commit" when talking about suicide. It makes me cringe and feel uncomfortable. It's not like your gonna say "oh that person committed a heart attack" Ik it's an action, but that doesn't mean u have to use commit. I'd rather hear anything else than that, although, maybe it's just me, but whenever I talk about suicide I'm fine with saying "killed myself" but when others use that, idk. Just doesn't feel right? Maybe it's just me, I'm very weird lol

That's the entire modern approach to suicidallity, loneliness, depression, etc. Don't fix the problems, just literally cope harder. It doesn't matter at all what specific phonetics are used for the idea,

and one can even argue for it.


I honestly wished there was more media about the reality of suicide. Not the "it gets better" cope for hs kids, or angsty drama like 13 reasons why, something about realizing your in a dead and and your life's basically OVER.

It's not a show, but there's this band that I love called "Citizen Solider" their songs r not bs things like "it's gonna be all alright it's gonna get better" it's hard to explain but I relate to all of their songs in some way. I highly recommend checking them out, I wish they were noticeable more

 

[05lvcz]

i don't care that people use "commit" when talking about suicide. doesn't bother me