Re: Expert Opinion Required !

From: keith (krw_at_att.bizzzz)
Date: 02/24/05 

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 22:13:01 -0500

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 22:47:02 -0500, Spehro Pefhany wrote:

> On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 22:05:25 -0500, the renowned keith
> <krw@att.bizzzz> wrote:
>
>>>
>>> True about forcing pain on others, but I don't think it's our place to
>>> judge what internal pain such a demented soul might be in. I don't
>>> think it's imaginable without being there.
>>
>>Ok, who is the ultimite victim? It is *always* our place to judge.
>>That's what humans do, constantly. I guess we'll differ here.
>
> In SOME cases, in my judgment, it's mental illness and a blackness
> than cannot be fathomed. Many years I tried to reach a very good
> friend a few days before he offed himself, and I don't think there was
> cowardice or vindictiveness but something else there that's hard to
> describe but still sends a chill down my spine.

He still thought of himself before others: coward. I'm not saying that he
wasn't in a deep abyss, likely (by definition?) mentally ill, but he was
still the only one of concern.

> Yes, we were all very
> angry (VERY angry) and hurt by the whole thing, but I can't say that
> our pain would be more than his. I can't imagine so, there was not a
> cowardly bone in the man's body, and I knew him in just about every
> state a human being is capable of.

My son's 8/9th grade math teacher offed himself right after getting my son
straightened around (by simply challenging him every day). A few of my
son's friends took the cowards way out, and didn't care about any they'd
touched. He was in therapy for years (nothing god came of that either).

> I can well imagine other scenarios where the person is weak and has
> had a bad year, is trying to make a statement, wants to hurt someone
> with a guilt trip or whatever, and that would fit your blanket
> statement, but I don't think it applies to all case.

Certainly there are the the criminally insane that are outside the norms
too. Likewise, there are people who are so sick they want to die. These
aren't the "normal" college suicide types though.

> If we differ, that's fine. Fortunately, my experience in this area is limited!

We disagree. So be it. 

-- 
  Keith

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