(December 19, 2012 at 5:55 am)Aractus Wrote:(December 18, 2012 at 4:47 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: What can we, both individually and collectively, do to help people and prevent suicide?I think the most important thing is not to ignore the signs, and not to ignore the problems that people have. Often when someone is depressed over something, and they open up about it, they are ignored and their problems are unacknowledged by others. That can understandably be a very belittling thing and also damaging to their already low self-esteem, etc.
(December 18, 2012 at 5:04 pm)Chuck Wrote: Don't tempt people with the promise that if they commit suicide, they can avoid the unspeakable fate of sucking Jesus cock for an eternity.Oh why don't you go fuck yourself, and when you've finished doing that try actually contributing on-topic rather than pointlessly lashing out at the Xians you loath hate and detest so much.
(December 18, 2012 at 5:43 pm)Faith No More Wrote: Most of all, we need to erase the stigma of asking for help with mental issues. Too many people see those with mental health problems as weak-minded, causing those who suffer to abstain from seeking help to avoid the negative stigma. There is also the perception that a lot of depression is "just in your head," and those that see it that way do not recognize it as a legitimate health issue.Yep. Also those who do have problems certainly shouldn't be judged by others for having them, especially those who are supposed to be there to help.
(December 18, 2012 at 6:04 pm)Annik Wrote: Using homosexuals as an example, as one in four are likely to commit suicide, we are trying to integrate them into culture and give them equal rights and value in society. However, there is still a large group of people who don't think we should. In turn, they react nastily to these people and, about 1-in-4, it ends badly.I'm sick of people here always making these things an "us and them" argument. Homosexuals have far more things on their plate that contribute to mental illness and ultimately suicide that has nothing to do with being "accepted" or "unaccepted" by culture. Drug use, STI's (esp. HIV) and depression are three very large contributors. The gay friends that I have had were never in any danger of me revoking my friendship with them because of their lifestyle choice, and I think there are many people who have much the same outlook as I do on this and related lifestyle matters. It's not up to us to judge others for their lifestyles, and I know I'm not responsible for oppressing anyone. It's the same with the friends of mine who use drugs - they know I'm anti-drug, and they also know that I don't try and belittle them or do anything against them.
Quote:Oh why don't you go fuck yourself, and when you've finished doing that try actually contributing on-topic rather than pointlessly lashing out at the Xians you loath hate and detest so much.
Right, just like we should not detest planes slamming into buildings for religious reasons. Just like we should not detest blacks being slaves or women not having the right to vote.
Now I will say this. We as atheists cant create a utopia ourselves anymore than a theist in getting all 7 billion of us on the same page. But there is nothing wrong with detesting an action committed based on the believers delusion and superstition.
There is a point in "lashing out" and I wont lose any sleep because Bin Laden is dead, or when an abortion doctor murderer is arrested.
But do not think that we as atheists should never verbally(VERBALLY) bitch slap any absurdity merely because it MIGHT make you feel uncomfortable or offended.
IT IS absurd and SICK to believe that slamming planes into buildings will get you into an exclusive club, 19 people believed that with very real deadly results.
"God Is Not Great"(How religion poisons everything) Christopher Hitchens.
"End of Faith" Sam Harris
"The New Atheism" Victor Stenger
If you have not read them you need to. This is not about one person or one event, this is about A NEED to keep delusion and absurd claims in check to reduce the madmen of ANY faith to reduce the atrocities humans have committed under the pagan polytheism prior to monotheism, and monotheism and EVEN the delusions of a utopian political state.
It is important to get mad, but that does not make us foaming bigots or fascists nor does it mean we should get even with people we disagree with.
But when you say things like this, it angers me as if to suggest in order to get along we should never offend others.
