:: Electric Psychedelic Pussycat Swinger's Club ::

:: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 ::

suicide: the easy way out?

I've recently discovered the wonderful music of Nick Drake, which prompted me to do an allmusic.com search on his bio. He died at the age of twenty-six; the intricacies of his death unclear. Cause of death? He overdosed on his antidepressant medication (there's irony for you). There was speculation of suicide, although it's been unconfirmed.

Another artist whose music I enjoy is Elliott Smith, who, like his major influence before him, died at a very young age - thirty-four. He took his own life on October 21, 2003.

Some have said that suicide is a "cowardly" act. Although it's probably not the best solution, I would have to disagree with that statement. I mean, think about it. All animals are wired for survival. That's our most basic instinct from the moment we're born. To go against that natural wiring and take your own life, although not 'brave' in any sense, is definitely not cowardly. I think if I got to the point where I had a knife to my wrist, a gun to my head, or standing on a ledge, I don't think I could actually go through with it. Even if I were to slit a wrist, I think my next instinct would be to try and stop the bleeding.

But I've always wondered why people who commit suicide don't go out with a bang (no pun intended) before they leave this earth. I mean, if things looked that bleak for me (and they've come fairly close), I'd still want to go out in style. For starters, and this isn't rocket science, I'd take my existing credit cards, perhaps even applying for several more, and go on a wild spending spree. Doing outrageous once-in-a-lifetime things like renting several exotic sports cars (and not electing to pay the additional $10 for insurance), chartering a private jet for you and your closest friends to fly to various exotic locales, having unprotected sex with hookers... you know, stuff like that.

There is one drawback to this plan, however. Let's say you're running up your credit cards doing all these outrageous activities and as a result of traveling around the world, etc. you begin to see all these wonderful things that are worth living for and you cop out on taking your life. Then you're left with an enormous debt that might take you the rest of your life to pay back, which will probably leave you ultra-depressed and right back where you started.

And so the vicious cycle begins anew.

The lesson? If I take you on a surprise vacation to the Fiji Islands, the least you can do is push me off that damn ledge.

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