Why do STRANGERS care if someone wants to commit suicide?

[Anonymous]

Ok I understand that someones family and friends care cause they know and love that person and don't want to live without them. But why do STRANGERS care? Whenever I mention somewhere online that I'm depressed and have suicidal thoughts people who don't even know my name try to convince to not do it ever, suicide is not the answer, say sweet, nice things etc etc. Why? I mean people die all the time. It's kinda my and my choice only if I want to put myself out of my misery or no. It doesn't affect strangers in any way, so why care so much? Or is it just politeness or a social norm maybe?

[mistninja314]

Unlike most people, I truly feel next to nothing when someone says/thinks "I want to kill myself". If THEY want to kill themselves, that's COOL IN MY BOOKS. As long as they're only killing themselves that is, BECAUSE now that'll equal more jobs, less pollution, more food and more room for animals if I'm right.

Some people will say that suicide is never the answer "NOW I AGREE" for the most part. But what if you were abducted by a terrorist organization (We've seen how they do their victims, it's not pretty, SO WHY NOT kill yourself, before they can/will brutally, after torturing you for days) OR You had some terrible disease like "Suicide headaches" What's the point of living then, if you can't live how you WANT/in misery?

If someone lacks the will to live, sorry, I'm not going to give them that SAPPY BS line of "OMG life will get better". Naw Imma simply let em slit their wrist and keep it pushing. R. i. p they won't be missed in my books since people die unexpected/unwanted deaths every day. YET THIS MF wants/decided to whack themselves on purpose... who am I to stop them?

Another thing is this, in the game of LIFE, some of us are going to die YOUNG and others OLD. Some from car accidents, drownings, gang violence, diseases etc that's just how it is. So I have no sympathy for someone who'll willingly end their life so easily.

[BearsAnswers]

Two main reasons, generally.

Some people are naturally empathetic. They feel badly when someone else feels badly, and they would like to help that person not feel badly, even if they don't know them in their personal life. This is the same reason people give to charity, or donate organs, or go and build wells in Africa. Empathetic people like to help, even if they cannot see the direct results of that help.

Someone reaching out online to TALK about suicide is clearly not actually committing suicide yet, and that attempt to reach out is considered an act of requesting help. If the person was just going to commit suicide, they would just do it, there is no reason to come online and discuss it. The reason to come online and talk about it is to see different sides, see if there is any way to stop it, get some help, learn you're not alone. Otherwise the person wouldn't be discussing it. That call for help is what then draws out the empathetic people mentioned above.

[BuchitaBuchys]

They either have sympathy or they're just saying it to not look like dicks.
In reality, people die all the time.

Personally, while I am not against suicide, euthanasia, abortions, death, etc. I do prefer to exhaust every resource before it. Talk to a counselor, talk to someone. Those things listed above are permanent solutions to sometimes temporary problems. You shouldn't make such drastic decisions when your head isn't clear or straight. I admit, I will try to talk others out of it.

Also, empathy. Cuz lots of people feel depressed and suicidal or have felt it one time or another. And although it seemed like the best solution then, looking back we're like "damn, I can't believe I let that get to me." or "I can't believe I got through that with my head up, I'm more badass than I thought ;)"
As I said, don't make drastic decisions when your mind isn't thinking right. Clear your head first. Meditate, do yoga. Eat your favorite/comfort foods. Take a nap/shower. Talk to someone, your mom, bff, a counselor, or even call the suicide hotline. Then when you've given proper thought to it, and you aren't in a depressed state, see if you still think it's the best decision.

I speak from experience, depression, like happiness, is temporary and does not last. It's a matter of coping with it.

[CuriousKait]

Well for me it's just like the right thing to do. I basically live to make people happy.( I want to be a psychologist when I'm older) so I don't know I would feel like it's my responsibility. Also, taking your life is a BIG deal! It may be the one decision you make that can NEVER change. I'm catholic too so it's even more of a big deal to me. The bible says murder is a sin, and that, whether you want to admit it or not, is murder. I'm generally a nice person and I like to help people whenever possible. I lose a lot of friends that way. They start gossiping about people and being rude to people so I just stop being friends with them. I only want friends who treat other with respect, if you do that, I'll do the same to you

[KAZ-2Y5]

i am a very sympathetic person so i easily sympathize with others.
do you wan't a why not? what about your mother who had to pull over on the side of the road so she can throw up form crying so much?
or your best friend who just sits in her room unable to eat, unable to shower, unable to go to school? because they can't without thinking of you and crying so hard they run out of tears there body made previously?
how about the way your father will not be able to erase the mirroring of your dead, helpless body as it lies on the floor?
so don't be selfish enough to think that it is only going to affect you and that its your choice don't think for a second that you don't matter to us or to me.

[xPoison]

Why shouldn't they care? If you have a love one planning to commit suicide, wouldn't you want a stranger to care and stop them and talk them out of it? I'm sure strangers would want other strangers doing the same thing for a love one.

Suicide is what cowards do and easy way out. Real people go out there and fight for something that give meaning and makes them happy.

[CHARismatic110]

Because you never know what that person has experienced or been through. Maybe they can relate because they've suffered it before or know someone that has gone through with it. People do genuinely care.

[Ozanne]

Why then do people tell strangers on the internet that they feel suicidal? If it's their own business and choice then so it should be offline too, correct? If you're reaching out for help by saying so, then it's in a lot of people's nature to want to help, therefore why you will get a reaction, usually favourable to help yourself and not choose suicide.

[lynneishappi]

Well I think its the mentality that if you said you were gonna do it, and I saw that post and knew about it, and didn't try to stop you, and then you actually did it, it would make me feel like I could've done something and you might still be here. It may not really effect me but its nice to know that at least I tried to make you feel better

[epiman94]

Because no matter who you are, suicide is NEVER THE ANSWER!!! No matter what you've done, or what shit you had to go through, there is more. There is goodness to found beyond the darkness you're facing. This light is not found in death. The suicide is not an answer, but rather another wound. The biggest wound of all. You need to face life and find the good. It is there.

[Zendrya]

Why shouldn't I care about you? You are someone's daughter, sister, maybe mother, someone's best friend. If they can't help you I will try and help you. It is called humanity. I'd give my life for a stranger. Everyone has different morals. Death is irreversible so maybe I have insight that you don't. I would want someone to help me and so would my friends and family. It's the right thing to do... the only thing to do.

[muspelhem_5]

Human instinct, I guess. I knew a couple of people who have killed themselves. In both cases I just feel like people loved them, and they basically felt very alone with their problems. The right people may have been able to help them heal. I mean: is anyone born suicidal?

[Roycaryn]

Because 10% of Americans suffer from depression and another third will suffer it at some point in their life. I'm one of them. I've had moments where I've had a 3 inch steel knife pressed against my chest just waiting to roll over and plunge it in as far as it'll go. Today, I'm so glad I didn't. So forgive me for having the attitude that your business is my business when it comes to this sort of thing.

[NateInAk]

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
And really? A stranger can't not want you to die? You have to know a person to believe that they're worth something and shouldn't kill themselves?
Really?

[bananatossing]

People who care about others have sympathy. They care for others because that person in a worse scenario could be themselves or a family member. So they will care for that person as it was themselves.

This intensifies if said person also had depression and suicidal thoughts, in that case with much, much more reason they will help as they know what that other person is suffering. It's easier for them to put themselves in others shoes.

[Anonymous]

I think generally it's out of genuine concern and caring for the suicidal person, we generally assume it's best for the person in the long run if they don't commit suicide. If someone was suffering and terminally ill I wouldn't try to persuade them not to, but if they're depressed but otherwise healthy I would like to think there's a fair chance of them overcoming it and having an enjoyable life in the future.

[Opinion Owner]

It's not the same exactly, but I'm vegetarian for animal welfare reasons, and it's got nothing to do with actually knowing or seeing any of the animals, I just care about their wellbeing.

[baarkmann]

because life is precious, strangers if they are human and have morals, dont wanna see another life waste to some mental illness that can be beaten.

it's also the reason why awareness for depression has become such a big issue.

[MethodMan]

Because people care about each other. We are a society build on helping each other and we depend on each other. In some way, each of us plays an integral part in the world.

[Anonymous]

i care because i consinder suicide a stupid USELESS thing basically and i want U 2 change yer mind and stay alive...

as i always say death is the worst thing that can happen 2 a human... nothing worse beyond that!

[abundantlyrich]

They do not care at all but they care to make a political statement and lambasting others for being honest.

[mistninja314]

I feel the same way most of the time

[abundantlyrich]

I think I have only seen two gagers offering to talk to them in private messaging but the rest would be too busy arguing or cussing others for being 'harsh'.

[been_waiting]

I don't want to live in a world where we have no concern for the lives and well being of strangers simply because they're strangers.

[matheus_mb]

It's not good to see other person suffering when you see that death isn't the answer. Dying is bad, no one should die in normal circumstances.

[peachblossomluck]

They could imagine someone they care about feeling that way. It's healthy empathy. It's also something dark that connects us as humanity.

[DodgersGM]

Humans are interconnected; total strangers are perfectly capable of caring for you, and doing so genuinely. This is why they try to talk to you. :)

[1GuyOpinion]

Because most people are kind and wouldn't just let someone suicide over some stupid reason. All human life are sacred.

[hypno-trip]

Social construct that life is worth living. People don't want to believe that it's worth throwing away because suicide would become too frequent if that belief were prevalent.

japanese people are exception maybe.

[bubble_tea]

Maybe someone they loved took their lives and they blame themselves, and now they want to help anyone who needs help.

[StickStickity13]

If my sister for example wanted to commit suicide, I would want someone to talk her out of it as a stranger. I'm doing it for the person and their family. It makes the world a better place.

[Chick180]

Cuz' people generally have hearts and feelings. This question is alarming.

[StarryNocturne]

killing yourself would be a selfish act to the people who love you.

[Phoenix98]

Because I care about people and I attempted myself close to a decade ago so I know what they are going through and if possible I wish to prevent it.

[vjreejr]

It is fundamentally a part of being a human being. We have evolved to have that behavior.

[datgirl]

Because a life is a life and lives are precious which also means it's worth saving stranger or not. It's sad that people that attempt suicide don't realize how important their life is.

[NYkid27]

Honestly I don't really care. I just try to talk them out of it because it's not fair to their family

[Aristotle]

Empathy. Same reason you feel upset when you see animal cruelty, etc. People who don't have some level of empathy are sociopaths.

[baarkmann]

psychopaths.. sociopaths are different

[Aristotle]

Nah, a sociopath is someone who lacks social conscience, or empathy for the society they live in. I would have picked a word inbetween psycopath and sociopath but I don't think there is one, and I wanted to emphasize on the social aspect. Thanks though

[front2back]

Maybe because even strangers are still human and don't want other humans to die?

[Pink2000]

Well for me I'd always think I let that person die. Or I could've saved him/her.

[thesunstillshines]

Because it's a terrible way to die
Or maybe they knew someone who died that way

[Anonymous]

Why do strangers care if people dies from murder, plane crash, car accidents, war.. It's the same reason.

[Anonymous]

I don't care about it, people can kill themselves and nothing will change in my life, at all.

[Anonymous]

As long as they're not asking for assistance in it

[WhaChaChaKing]

Because it's sad.