Do you think there was a spiritual component to Hunter S. Thompson's Suicide?

[swilow]

No worries man. I dig your passion, just not that particular manifestation...

 

[snazzy_sn]

Thanks man.
I express these better when I'm not drunk.

I really do hate that infraction.

 

[RichardMooner]

Yep.



...



Indeed. They must be in enough pain - whether it be spiritual, physical or psychological - in the first place, to be even considering suicide. People pile guilt on top of that, forcing them to remain in pain... Most people shouldn't kill themselves, I think, even if they want to, unless they have incurable conditions that render their lives hellish. Otherwise (for the spiritually and psychologically pained), there is help available. But, unfortunately, they aren't always able to reach out. Thinking about Hunter makes me sad. But, he is a good example of how not to live your life.

I agree, most people should not commit suicide, but I think the stigma we put on suicide is also a negative perspective.

I view suicide as one of the only fundamental forms of control we actually, inherently, have over our situation. From a sociopolitical perspective, the ability to take one's own life is vital in the dynamic of power that exists between an individual and any state/oppressive entity. If that does not exist, that power dynamic is completely and utterly, imbalanced, allowing for a complete absence of grounding in one's own ability to feel secure in their own situation..... It's a rather Foccaultion view, but nonetheless, I think he was right about this one.

I think that people should always have access to the help they need, and should always be immensely encouraged to seek out that help, but detaining individuals for prevention, and making it a crime to commit suicide, I see as a very disconcerting practice.

 

[spacejunk]

The way hunter s thompson chose to end his life seemed particularly callous and non-spiritual to me, but i dont really know all of the details that clearly.
Suicide is one thing; committing such an act of violent self destruction around loved ones has always sounded so needlessly traumatic for his family.
I cant really read his books in the same way i used to - i don't see a "spiritual" component to it at all.

 

[swilow]

Thanks man.
I express these better when I'm not drunk.

Don't we all?

I view suicide as one of the only fundamental forms of control we actually, inherently, have over our situation.

I think that's a good point. I've mused about this before, that it's really the ultimate freedom. The ability to choose to no longer exist. I have, unfortunately, thought about it in the past, and still do (though it's almost a reflex reaction at times) and I respect the wishes of those who seek to escape pain. I just think there are multiple better ways to help your self though. Some of the posts above, which talk about a return to good times (the best even!) after a period of utter shitness. I think this is true, and agree that the contrast is something that makes the beautiful more beautiful. Knowing how dark and fucked things can be, when you feel light and peaceful you both value it more and feel it more deeply. Despite the sufferring, I wouldn't change the pain I've had. Its made me who I am. I understand why people kill themselves, but I feel like I can semi-objectively (!!) say that there is a better fucking way out of this mess.

To the OP: I don't think there was anything spiritual about what he did. As spacejunk said, this was an act of violence. I don't think that violence is spiritual; I think it reflects the antithesis of the spirit and divinity, in that it comes from the the unelightened, amoral, creature-aspect of us all. Whilst I respect the rights of a person to kill themself, I don't respect those that choose to do it; I think they are deluded if they think that their pain should cause them to bail out of everything else forever. H.s.t blew his brains out with his son in the next room. That's not the act of a sad and desperate guy, retiring from the world; its the act of a angry, violent and, ultimately, dead fucking asshole. Isn't it? It is one of the cruelest things a parent could do to a child. I feel saddened that he felt he had to die, but I think he perpetrated this in a really terrible way, and its hard to find anything to admire in it...