User:OldDirtyBtard/The Case For Rational Suicide
From his livejournal
The Case For Rational Suicide (abridged)
In most cases, life is not worth living. The idea that happiness is a raison d'etre logically means that nearly everyone is unhappy (after being born a blank slate). So unhappiness is the norm -the meaning of life- and the quest for happiness is merely a by-product and not our natural condition. Looking for happiness then is not that different than looking for a good drug dealer with good drugs.
99% of human beings serve no real, 'natural' purpose or reason to keep on going through the motions whatsoever. The majority of the world's population is just the means of production by which the few attain "happiness" (altho, I don't know many truly happy rich folk).
Sure most become 'necessary' thanks to manmade things like economies -to make them work- but economies would not be necessary if there were no humans. Pretty much everything we do as humans is built around the notion of perpetuating a species -to the detriment of all others- that has not shown any proof that it deserves a place on this planet as part of the ecosystem.
All the 'good', 'worthwhile' stuff people have done -and continue to do- is only 'good' and 'worthwhile' when put into the context of the human condition/experience. Splitting the atom and curing cancer is pretty useless to every other creature on the planet.
I read a book called "The Sirens of Titan" by Kurt Vonnegut recently and the punchline of the story is that the entire sum of all human knowledge/achievement over thousands of years was little more than a works project by an alien race from another galaxy trying to send a message to one of their own stranded in another galaxy. The message was that they were sending help.
If only we were actually that useful.
Rational Suicide - A PROTIP
A IRL friend of mine blew his brains out last week. No note but he had AIDS, was in a lot of pain and was on a lot of drugs so maybe it was just a 'panic' suicide; the unplanned, sudden onset "fuck it all" type of thing.
He was a nice guy but I won't really miss him cos I didn't see him that much and I hardly ever get emotional over death -even 'sad' ones- cos it's a done deal and any 'void' is just like when a friend moves to Brazil or something (if there is an afterlife, I really hope it's like Rio).
Anyway, he left his carcass sitting in a pool of shit and piss and -of course- the blood all over the place including the carpet and walls of his Los Angeles rental. Never mind the mental trauma he generously left for the person who discovered his body, someone has to clean that up.
With that (and another potential An Hero friend in mind), I would like to add this to my Rational Suicide post.
If you're going to suicide, don't be selfish with your choice of location. Don't do it where friends and family are going to have to live with the vision of a dead body in a pool of your own waste; someone's gotta clean that up.
Be considerate. If you really want to suicide do it somewhere nobody will find you.
My personal plan (we should all have an exit strategy) involves being in Bali when it's time (I intend to have a solo going-away party for myself first) and either the woods or an ocean -somewhere you could actually provide a tasty snack for a bear or a shark and they would dispose of the body.
You'll also save tax payer dollars if you provide a note to be found after the fact telling them you're now chum and not to bother looking for you.
My Personal Exit Strategy
Since Yiri and weev have dragged me kicking and screaming into an LJ post-fest, I figure I should spell out my own suicide which I have roughly planned for late 2010 -based on my current bank statement.
When my 401k (which I'm currently living off) is down to $5,000, I will get on a plane for Bali and I will check into my favourite hotel there. I will then spend my time kicking it, relaxing, letting go of all the stress, partying and generally having a great time.
This absolutely fabulous 'vacation' will be paid for by the 3 credit cards I currently have. When the last one is finally declined, I shall order a bottle of Cristal champagne and drink it whilst I shoot up the best Morphine money has already bought until I overdose.
Having zero responsibilities in life, I will have left behind nothing but a few friends and a couple of family members -who will get over it.