Mimsy Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 I have heard two separate people, on two completely different occasions, claim that people who are suicidal or people with depression should die/will die out because it's "natural selection." The first time was in an ex's dorm room, with a group of people agreeing with the guy who said it (I walked out before I lashed out at them). The second time was some hick asshole at a party who said it directly to me, although he didn't know I have depression. I said something like "I can't do this anymore" and I got up and left. Still wish I had gone off on him. I feel like this is the most assholish thing to say ever, and the fact that I've heard it twice makes me worry that other idiots are out there parroting it. Have you ever heard anyone say stuff like this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyMe Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 Meh, they just think it sounds cool to say that. I think a good response would be "So basically you're saying that anyone with a curable illness should die because of natural selection? That's stupid." because essentially, that's what they are saying. They can get away with it because of the stigma attached to mental illness/suicide. They'd never say "I think people with cancer should die out because of natural selection" because that would be inappropriate to most people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The one lurking behind you Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 I have this view and constantly ask my pdoc why he is helping me when it would be better to let me, along with everyone else suffering die. It would help overpopulation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimsy Posted June 18, 2012 Author Share Posted June 18, 2012 Even if we all suffer at times, there are still things to make our lives meaningful, if only other people's love for us and the total devastation they would face if we were gone. You're worth living. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuttlefish Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 It's a semi-common belief, unfortunately. I see that comment all the time in the comment sections of stories pertaining to suicide. I doubt the people who spout that idea have lost someone to "natural selection" though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 They don't understand natural selection. For the purposes of the gene pool, as long as you have reproduced, it doesn't matter if you *then* remove your genes by committing suicide. And a lot of mental illnesses are late onset (after you are an adult), or hard to diagnose. Even if you have suffered a long time, you might no realize it, and think that's life (think of how many people on CBs thought what they were going through was normal). If a patient survives until they are 30, they are likely to have had children already. That's the same reason why things like Huntington's Chorea are passed down, the onset is in late middle age, after most people have had, and even raised their families. You only have to pop out one kid for your biological imperative to have been met, and most people do that in their 20s and 30s ETA: Sorry if that was blather, my head hurts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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