Discussion What would say to the pro-lifers, prohibitionists, anti-choicers, if there were no real repercussions?

[TAW122]

It is no surprise nor a new thing that many pro-lifers, prohibitionists, anti-choicers, and the lot of those groups of people often lament and complain about people who end up choosing brutal ways to end one's own suffering (moreso especially when the attemptor is successful at the act). This is a common thing especially whenever there are articles discussing about those who either CTB in public through other means (jumping, train, drowning, high impact, etc.) that may result in collateral damage and certainly involve unwilling participants. It is also a rather grating complaint that many anti-choice people espouse, especially when the very people they complain about making them uncomfortable, inconveniencing them, or even affecting them (their values, their feelings, their beliefs and ethics, etc.), they (the anti-choicers and similar) refuse to allow them an 'easy' way out.

Therefore, I made this thread since I got a spark of an idea: What if there was no real (social or any) consequences for speaking one's mind with regards to the paternalistic policies and ever-growing restrictions on peaceful (and even reliable) methods of CTB'ing? By this, I am referring to the fact that in such an reality where the individual could not do anything actionable against you (cannot report you, cannot take action against you in any way, nor threaten your civil rights, nor freedom and bodily autonomy, etc.). For me, personally, I would be bold enough to stick it to the anti-choicers, and call them out; especially if I knew I wouldn't be at risk of hospitalization, unwanted intervention, unwanted scrutiny, or having my civil liberties and bodily autonomy, freedom threatened. I would also be able to speak freely about the topic especially knowing that they (the pro-lifers and anti-choicers) do not have any teeth or bite and only bark. (That is a metaphor for a situation where something that is perceived to be intimidating really has no real danger). What would your response or reactions be in such a situation?

In this thread, basically it is more of a hypothetical scenario, such that if you were really able to freely express your thoughts, what would you say and what would you do. Of course, in our reality and current reality that simply isn't the case, but I just had an interesting thought where if we are in a world where we could 'really' speak without repercussion, and without a filter, what kind of outcome would there be. Sadly, in our current reality, this ideal, hypothetical scenario and situation is far from a reality, but in theory, it could be really eye-opening and certainly tear down a lot of the stigma and taboo that surrounds CTB and similar topics.

 

[SoulCage]

I always admire your way with words, it's always a good read.

About the topic... My brain fog (slow thinking process) makes it hard to debate people about the topic, because I can't have a real time conversation. I always forget how to construct my argument verbally (tilted by rage-chaos in my head because I realize that people are always defending suffering). I am getting accused of "you don't make sense, because you see the world only pessimistic" and it really triggers me.

A few days ago, this happened with a coworker at my "rehab job" (that is being cut by government saving plan and I am again without income). They said "everyone has to suffer and I don't believe that mental suffering is reason enough to seek help in the job market". By the way, they are not working there as part of the rehab program. They are just a "normal employee" dealing with the business side of the rehab job.
Anyway... In the moment I was so triggered that I couldn't say anything. I was just so angry at her, because it didn't feel right to normalize suffering.
At nighttime I finally figured out what I should have said in return:"if suffering is inevitable or unfixable, why does society make it so hard to end my life?" And what you said makes it even more clear:

It is no surprise nor a new thing that many pro-lifers, prohibitionists, anti-choicers, and the lot of those groups of people often lament and complain about people who end up choosing brutal ways to end one's own suffering (moreso especially when the attemptor is successful at the act). This is a common thing especially whenever there are articles discussing about those who either CTB in public through other means (jumping, train, drowning, high impact, etc.) that may result in collateral damage and certainly involve unwilling participants.

The collateral damage can be avoided if I had access to methods that are less brutal/public.

I hope that next time I will have the memory of a functional human to respond to people's stupid point of view.
Because funny enough, in my country, nothing happens when I say (to doctors, therapists, counsellors, social workers) that I feel like I have no other choice than CTB. I even read in my country's subreddit that others had the same experience: sent back home after one evaluation where they made clear that they can no longer support themselves and contemplating CTB.
So I have many places where I could say it, it's just hard to train myself to argue with the pro-lifers/anti-suicide groups, because once they tell me I am just "seeing it this way because I am depressed" then the chaos in my head intensifies, I have an even harder time to get the point across and then everything I say afterwards will just get dismissed by saying "now you are being hysterical".

Maybe next time I will try to stay calm and remember the words of this thread (and many others in this forum).