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Hunter S. Thompson commits suicide

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from CNN

I don't know enough to have a well-formed opinion on the man, but my first reaction to this news was "let the conspiracy theories begin."
I am fluent in over six million forms of procrastination.
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Nah, I don't think it's a conspiracy theory (not that this will stop others from having the same belief). I just think it was one final, over-the-edge display of lunacy from an otherwise brilliant writer.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
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Kevin A
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Agreed, Bossk. But I'm sure his loyal followers will never believe it. I'm quite surprised by the news, though. Didn't strike me as the suicidal type.
I am fluent in over six million forms of procrastination.
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Not many people do strike me as the suicidal types until it happens. The ones that do strike me as suicidal usually are screaming for help and don't actually intend to really kill themselves. They want attention and/or help and, when they get it, tend to rebound somewhat. This is just my experience, though. The ones that actually do kill themselves never seem suicidal at all.

Seriously, did Michael Hutchence strike you as the suicidal type?
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
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Originally posted by: Bossk
Not many people do strike me as the suicidal types until it happens. The ones that do strike me as suicidal usually are screaming for help and don't actually intend to really kill themselves. They want attention and/or help and, when they get it, tend to rebound somewhat. This is just my experience, though. The ones that actually do kill themselves never seem suicidal at all.

Seriously, did Michael Hutchence strike you as the suicidal type?


Bossk, that's absolutely NOT true. Most of the people who commited suicide told other people they would, so you should NOT ignore such cries for help. If anyone ever give you a hinch they might be suicidal, talk to that person. Ask them if they are considering suicide and if they have thought about the method to do it - don't worry you will NOT be giving him/her the idea to do it. If the person tells you that they are, in fact, suicidal, just LISTEN to the person and do NOT make any comments or suggestions, just listen. If the person claims they have a method chosen, and it's an easily available method, than the situation is a little bit more serious, and you should probably ask the person to see a doctor. NEVER promise that person to keep it a secret, as soon as possible tell anyone that might also help.

Of course, bizarre unexplainable suicides do happen, but they are actually VERY rare. You don't know Hunter S. Thompson personally, so you don' know if he expressed any signs of depression before.

By the way folks, if any of you has considered it, please talk to someone and see a doctor AT ONCE.
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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Originally posted by: ricarleite
Bossk, that's absolutely NOT true. Most of the people who commited suicide told other people they would, so you should NOT ignore such cries for help. If anyone ever give you a hinch they might be suicidal, talk to that person. Ask them if they are considering suicide and if they have thought about the method to do it - don't worry you will NOT be giving him/her the idea to do it. If the person tells you that they are, in fact, suicidal, just LISTEN to the person and do NOT make any comments or suggestions, just listen. If the person claims they have a method chosen, and it's an easily available method, than the situation is a little bit more serious, and you should probably ask the person to see a doctor. NEVER promise that person to keep it a secret, as soon as possible tell anyone that might also help.

Of course, bizarre unexplainable suicides do happen, but they are actually VERY rare. You don't know Hunter S. Thompson personally, so you don' know if he expressed any signs of depression before.

By the way folks, if any of you has considered it, please talk to someone and see a doctor AT ONCE.


When did I ever say "don't help them"? I said that they are asking for help and just need someone to reach out and help them. Did you not read my post? If you don't help them, that may push them over the edge. But they do want help and they are asking for it by stating that they are suicidal or by acting the part.

The ones that truly intend to off themselves regardless of outside help, in my experience, have given no indications of this intention whatsoever. They will just do it and don't want help so they don't ask or don't act like they would do something like this.

I NEVER said ignore. I NEVER said don't take it seriously. I NEVER would be that naive. I know too many people who have killed themselves.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
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I know you didn't say anything about ignoring them, I was just ADDING to the subject, I wasn't contradicting you on it. What I DID contradict was: "The ones that actually do kill themselves never seem suicidal at all.", which, not only by my own experiences, but also according to the experience of several suicide help groups I've helped, is NOT true. The ones that actually kill themselves DO tell someone about it before they do it. Since they do, I was just addnig that if someone close to you shows such signs or mentions this subject, you could and should help him/her.
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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Of the people I know who have committed suicide, not a single one showed any signs or asked for any help.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
kapgar.typepad.com
kapgar.com
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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them during the long winter evenings."
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Yeah.
"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them during the long winter evenings."
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Aw crap. Why is it that nearly all famous people who commit suicide are writers!?

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Well, I understand, Bossk, and I'm very sorry to hear it. I hope I didn't offend you in any way. It was clearly and obviously not my intention, specially when talking about such subject.


Chaltab: the only one I can recall right now is the japanese poet Mishima. What other writer commited suicide?
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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I can't think of any specifics. Edgar Allen Poe sort of did. He drank himself to death.

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Yeah, there is that.


If you ever hear of a self-help author commiting suicide... Avoid his books.

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I know another writer who did it, but chances are you never heard of him (local), so it dosen't count. My favorite is still Mishima, being such an extreme example of it...
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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Mishima sounds familiar, but I can't place my wand on it.


Then again, as many game credits as I've sit through, it doesn't surprise me if any Japanse name sounds familiar.

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One of the most obvious author suicides... Ernest Hemingway.

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Hemingway killed himself on a log cabin in Ketcham, Idaho on Sunday 2 July 1961. He tripped the trigger of his double barelled shotgun and was instantly killed.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
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kapgar.com
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really? I either didn't know it, or forgot about it.
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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Well at least I know my statement wasn't groundless. I have a bad habit of saying things I thought were true without actually knowing for sure.

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I knew it wasn't groundless, I was just curious for more examples. So, right now we have 3: Hunter S. Thompson, Ernest Hemingway, and Mishima (japanese poet who commited harakiri in the 70s because he was gay).
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering