Old Age...Ramblings

[utopia]

In this article : http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/wellbei ... -nzon.html

there is a sentence from Dr Philip Nitschke that his organisation Exit International had seen increasing numbers of people simply ''tired of life''

It seems, even among the non-elderly population, that suicide is being considered a 'lifestyle' choice.

[sundaymorningstaple]

While I don't approve of "organizations" like Exit, I do tend to agree somewhat about being in control of your own life. You were not asked to be brought into this world, so how & when you leave should be your choice and not the wisdom (I use THAT term loosely at best) of worldly or otherworldly organizations.

Tired of life? Guess that comes part & parcel to living life in the fast last and burning the candle at both ends. One has to learn to stop and smell the roses and learn that money and material things are not what is really important. Neither is religion. What matters is finding that spot within yourself where you are at peace with yourself.

[utopia]

I've been pondering over this for a while and have decided to ask the question, sundaymorningstaple: what or why do you not 'approve' of EXIT International ? ( http://www.exitinternational.net/ )


My understanding was that it's an organisation advocating the choice of voluntary euthanasia. They don't give advice/wisdom on the why or if to perform voluntary euthanasia, but knowledge and the choices of when and if so, how to.

From the Wiki Page on the organisation "The average age of Exit International members is 75 years. Most of the members are well, yet elderly, and believe in a person's right to make informed decisions about when and how they may die."

Additionally ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Nitschke - makes for thought provoking reading, in particular the stories of Nancy Crick and Lisette Nigot.

[sundaymorningstaple]

For the same reason I don't approve of organized religion. I don't need an organization to tell me if it's okay to feel or why I should feel that way no more than I need a religion to tell me what is moral or immoral. I don't need somebody else to validate my own personal beliefs. My life belongs to me and me alone. I am not the masses. They (the masses) may well need organizations/religions and that's fine for them, but I have found that I do not require them. I'm not saying they are wrong to exist, just that I have no need for them. There is enough information out there already for anybody with a modicum of PC knowledge that is doesn't require my "joining" another "society" to discuss my intents should I decide that is what I want to do. I don't require acknowledgment, consent or encouragement.

Additionally, I see the Doctor as being something of a sensationalist. I would hate to think my personal choice would be plastered all over the internet exhorting euthanasia. On the other hand, at least he advocates it primarily for those who are terminally ill and not "tired of living".

[clarison]

SMS--thanks for the ageing formula--more satisfactory than just counting backward from 50. By my (generous) self-evaluation, you and I are about the same age, so: cheers! --clarison