Life or Death

[soon2bepro]

[ QUOTE ]
I mean that death in itself, i.e. the experience of non-existence, is not something we experience.

That said, though the end of life is frightening, and though sometimes I wish I could live forever, I still think that what happens in this life is more frightening. This may change when I am much older, I don't know.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ever had a near-death experience? Guess not...

[Morrek]

By the way, what do you mean exactly "being afraid of life"? Of something in my life? or of something in life that I've never encountered(how could I know then?)? because I don't see how you can be afraid of life, in general. That's like being afraid of yourself, or something. Or of God, maybe.

[Jinx]

Was the first trillion years of history before you existed scary? If not then why should the next trillion of years after you die? I'm not scared of death, I'm just scared my life will be meaningless and that I'll never accomplish what I thought I always could.

[madnak]

Fear exists in the present. I notice nobody has answered my question about the gun to the head. I always imagined that humans had an inherent biological fear of death related to the survival instinct. I think many of the people claiming they don't fear death are just grandstanding.

[MidGe]

madnak,

What about suicides?

[madnak]

Most suicides are full of fear and hesitation. Also, a large proportion of suicide attempts fail for those reasons.

[MidGe]

[ QUOTE ]
Most suicides are full of fear and hesitation. Also, a large proportion of suicide attempts fail for those reasons.

[/ QUOTE ]

Some succeed and very cooly too. Think voluntary euthanasia, my own exit of choice, and planned, as I have said before.

[madnak]

It depends on the circumstances. I mean, if someone suffers from extreme pain due to a terminal disease, that's a very different story. Not only is death a given, but the psychological pressures from the pain and illness may override a natural survival instinct.

[MidGe]

[ QUOTE ]
but the psychological pressures from the pain and illness may override a natural survival instinct.

[/ QUOTE ]

Indeed, and those may be physical, emotional, economical, or whatever, pain. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[madnak]

Just because something can override the fear doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I think at least 99% of the population would be terrified if someone put a gun to their heads.