4 ms·

Suicide literally just means killing oneself: https://www.etymonline.com/word/suicide https://www.etymonline.com/word/suicide The connotations of sin and crimi

Suicide literally just means killing oneself: https://www.etymonline.com/word/suicide https://www.etymonline.com/word/suicide The connotations of sin and criminality are in the eye of the beholder. > What I'm talking about is the state not actively interfering to make it hard for someone to decide for themself how and when they die. But it does by regulating it. By deciding which suicides, or requests for euthanasia[1] are legitimate, and which aren't. If there were no barriers or gatekeeping in place a large chunk of the populace would kill themselves as teenagers. [1]- incidentally, the word "euthanasia" strikes terror and horror in me. I much prefer suicide, as the grammatical locus of control is on the person killing themself, not some amorphous other.

denton-scratch 3y ago
Suicide remains a sin in the eyes of the Catholic Church (the largest Christian denomination); and attempting it was a crime, at least in the UK (where I live) until 1961. People still speak of "committing" suicide, like committing murder. I can't think of any other legal act that you can "commit". [Edit] Wrong! Adultery, for example, is legal, and is something you commit. So I suppose that in general, you can "commit" it if it's a sin, or more generally something you shouldn't do.
- anonymouskimmer 3y ago
  Sure. People also use the phrase "committing a traffic infraction". "Committing to each other in marriage" "Committing to a college" "Committing money to a cause" "Committing to God by accepting Jesus as your lord and savior" :D I totally understand that there's baggage to this word (suicide). Given the totality of the ending of life I feel that highlighting all of these connotations with the word "suicide" is a good thing to do, as a minor, first-line form of gatekeeping. Nature is red in tooth and claw. While there are many situations in which it is okay to look at life-and-death with rose-colored glasses, when push comes to shove it is important to view the world without blinders.
  - pseudalopex 3y ago
    Commit and commit to have different meanings. You do not say people committed marriage.
    - anonymouskimmer 3y ago
      This is a good point. "During his life he committed many good deeds." It is a much rarer usage, and typically less specific. Possibly grammatically incorrect as you'd generally substitute "performed" for "committed" in such a case.
    - robotresearcher 3y ago
      You can be in a committed marriage.
      - pseudalopex 3y ago
        You can be in a committed marriage if you committed to marriage. You do not say people committed marriage.

denton-scratch 3y ago

Suicide remains a sin in the eyes of the Catholic Church (the largest Christian denomination); and attempting it was a crime, at least in the UK (where I live) until 1961. People still speak of "committing" suicide, like committing murder. I can't think of any other legal act that you can "commit". [Edit] Wrong! Adultery, for example, is legal, and is something you commit. So I suppose that in general, you can "commit" it if it's a sin, or more generally something you shouldn't do.

anonymouskimmer 3y ago
Sure. People also use the phrase "committing a traffic infraction". "Committing to each other in marriage" "Committing to a college" "Committing money to a cause" "Committing to God by accepting Jesus as your lord and savior" :D I totally understand that there's baggage to this word (suicide). Given the totality of the ending of life I feel that highlighting all of these connotations with the word "suicide" is a good thing to do, as a minor, first-line form of gatekeeping. Nature is red in tooth and claw. While there are many situations in which it is okay to look at life-and-death with rose-colored glasses, when push comes to shove it is important to view the world without blinders.
- pseudalopex 3y ago
  Commit and commit to have different meanings. You do not say people committed marriage.
  - anonymouskimmer 3y ago
    This is a good point. "During his life he committed many good deeds." It is a much rarer usage, and typically less specific. Possibly grammatically incorrect as you'd generally substitute "performed" for "committed" in such a case.
  - robotresearcher 3y ago
    You can be in a committed marriage.
    - pseudalopex 3y ago
      You can be in a committed marriage if you committed to marriage. You do not say people committed marriage.