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The title actually understates the situation; from what I have read so far, Martin committed suicide largely because he wanted to be able to leave this website

The title actually understates the situation; from what I have read so far, Martin committed suicide largely because he wanted to be able to leave this website for posterity. There are secondary reasons also like not wanting to watch himself decline mentally, but his primary motivation for killing himself seems to be that he wants to leave this extensive and elaborate suicide note. I think this is more of a commentary on end-of-life issues, the desire for a "legacy," and the mind of an extremely rational/analytical person, as opposed to depression or the things that usually motivate suicide. "You will rarely get any details for why a person committed suicide, but that won't be the case with me! In fact, this may be the most detailed example of a suicide letter in history - something to be entered into the Guinness Book of Records! My hope is that it is." EDIT: Sheesh, I even included weakening disclaimers: "from what I have read so far," and "seems." Hardly a "pronouncement." I welcome your contrary opinion but not the chastisement that comes with it. My comment certainly wasn't intending to judge or criticize this man, or call his concerns "illegitimate." I was meaning to say that his concerns are more associated with end-of-life (legacy, decline, etc); he specifically talks about how most of the "normal" reasons for committing suicide don't apply to him.

ddeck 13y ago
As you said, you've only partially read it. I think it's a bit premature to pronounce that the website is the primary reason and all else is secondary. Clearly none of us will ever truly understand, but this certainly struck me: >I began seeing the problems that come with aging some time ago. I was sick of leaving the garage door open overnight. I was sick of forgetting to zip up when I put on my pants. I was sick of forgetting the names of my best friends. I was sick of going downstairs and having no idea why. I was sick of watching a movie, going to my account on IMDB to type up a review and realizing I've already seen it and, worse, already written a review! I was sick of having to dig through the trash to find an envelope that was sent to me so I could remember my own address - especially since I lived in the same place for the last nine years! >And, here’s the clincher… it’s only going to get worse! >I didn’t want to die alone. I didn’t want to die of old age. I didn’t want to die after years of unproductivity. I didn’t want to die having my chin and my butt wiped by someone who might forget which cloth they used for which. I didn’t want to die of a stroke or cancer or heart attack or Alzheimer’s. I decided I was gettin’ out while the gettin’ was good and while I could still produce this website! I’ve been to the penthouse. It may only be a 10-story building, but I refuse to ride the elevator down to the basement! Nope, I'm going out on top. The rest of you can go out whenever you want. The meticulous planning and website are certainly symptoms of a certain kind of obsession, but he does outline what some might consider to be not wholly illegitimate concerns...

ddeck 13y ago

As you said, you've only partially read it. I think it's a bit premature to pronounce that the website is the primary reason and all else is secondary. Clearly none of us will ever truly understand, but this certainly struck me: >I began seeing the problems that come with aging some time ago. I was sick of leaving the garage door open overnight. I was sick of forgetting to zip up when I put on my pants. I was sick of forgetting the names of my best friends. I was sick of going downstairs and having no idea why. I was sick of watching a movie, going to my account on IMDB to type up a review and realizing I've already seen it and, worse, already written a review! I was sick of having to dig through the trash to find an envelope that was sent to me so I could remember my own address - especially since I lived in the same place for the last nine years! >And, here’s the clincher… it’s only going to get worse! >I didn’t want to die alone. I didn’t want to die of old age. I didn’t want to die after years of unproductivity. I didn’t want to die having my chin and my butt wiped by someone who might forget which cloth they used for which. I didn’t want to die of a stroke or cancer or heart attack or Alzheimer’s. I decided I was gettin’ out while the gettin’ was good and while I could still produce this website! I’ve been to the penthouse. It may only be a 10-story building, but I refuse to ride the elevator down to the basement! Nope, I'm going out on top. The rest of you can go out whenever you want. The meticulous planning and website are certainly symptoms of a certain kind of obsession, but he does outline what some might consider to be not wholly illegitimate concerns...