I'm not sure that everyone wants to die a hero. Also, as a person gets older they may not be in physical shape to be such a hero.
But, most people do want to die in a dignified way when they can still control at least some things in their lives.
When a life is clearly coming to an end - what is wrong with deciding how and when it will end without having to suffer agony, the indignities of losing control of your body, or your mind degrading to the point that you are a body that is living but there is no sense of a person there anymore.
These are actually things that people talk about as they get older.
Some States in the USA allow "medical assisted death" which means that a person obviously in their last stages of life can choose when to wrap things up, say their goodbys, self administer medication, and go to sleep and never wake up again.
Personally I faced a version of this issue in 1990 when I was setting out to hike the Appalachian Trail starting in late fall (from the north hiking south fleeing before the worst of winter - I was an accomplished winter camper). There are not many people on the "Trail" during the winter - especially on days of bad weather. What happens if I fall or injure myself and there is no one to help me. I finally settled on "OK - I would prop myself up the best I could and enjoy the last of my life in the woods - knowing that I would die doing something I enjoyed." I wrote a letter to all of my brothers and sisters with that scenario in it and provided directions on disposition of my belongings should it occur.
As recently as today I was thinking about what if my wife dies before I do... and I'm really getting decrepit in my health?
Recent health issues have prevented my from going camping (and summer pollen season is horrible for me). But, I still have all my camping stuff and lots of freeze dried food... and I could do one last wilderness camping trip - and best if in the winter where I did not have pollen issues. I would not intend to come back from that trip (and could per-arrange things like I did for my hiking trip in 1990). Let me die doing something I enjoy.
Why not let people die doing something they enjoy if they want to when the end is obviously very near and they have nothing left to do to add value to the world (and just existing is not adding value), versus forcing them to survive without a life or a dream (other than a peaceful death) in an institution?
I agree with everything you said. I personally have a glorified view of "getting a good death" out of something. I dont want to die though but when I do I want it to have purpose and not just be sad.
Question about death
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I'm not sure that everyone wants to die a hero. Also, as a person gets older they may not be in physical shape to be such a hero.
But, most people do want to die in a dignified way when they can still control at least some things in their lives.
When a life is clearly coming to an end - what is wrong with deciding how and when it will end without having to suffer agony, the indignities of losing control of your body, or your mind degrading to the point that you are a body that is living but there is no sense of a person there anymore.
These are actually things that people talk about as they get older.
Some States in the USA allow "medical assisted death" which means that a person obviously in their last stages of life can choose when to wrap things up, say their goodbys, self administer medication, and go to sleep and never wake up again.
Personally I faced a version of this issue in 1990 when I was setting out to hike the Appalachian Trail starting in late fall (from the north hiking south fleeing before the worst of winter - I was an accomplished winter camper). There are not many people on the "Trail" during the winter - especially on days of bad weather. What happens if I fall or injure myself and there is no one to help me. I finally settled on "OK - I would prop myself up the best I could and enjoy the last of my life in the woods - knowing that I would die doing something I enjoyed." I wrote a letter to all of my brothers and sisters with that scenario in it and provided directions on disposition of my belongings should it occur.
As recently as today I was thinking about what if my wife dies before I do... and I'm really getting decrepit in my health?
Recent health issues have prevented my from going camping (and summer pollen season is horrible for me). But, I still have all my camping stuff and lots of freeze dried food... and I could do one last wilderness camping trip - and best if in the winter where I did not have pollen issues. I would not intend to come back from that trip (and could per-arrange things like I did for my hiking trip in 1990). Let me die doing something I enjoy.
Why not let people die doing something they enjoy if they want to when the end is obviously very near and they have nothing left to do to add value to the world (and just existing is not adding value), versus forcing them to survive without a life or a dream (other than a peaceful death) in an institution?
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10 months ago
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I agree with everything you said. I personally have a glorified view of "getting a good death" out of something. I dont want to die though but when I do I want it to have purpose and not just be sad.