On Death

[Pint0 Xtreme]

Every now and then, I tend to think what it is like to be on a deathbed. I don't know why but the thought of everything you love and cherish in your lifetime to just abruptly disappear from you is just downright scary. And to think of the pain that one feels when a spouse is lost, almost seems unbearable just thinking about it. I know I'm only 21 and there's a whole lifetime ahead of me but that still doesn't I don't want to be prepared for it when the time comes.

What does everyone else make of death and how does everyone else deal with it? Am I having an unhealthy, morbid mentality of death?

Note: If this is the wrong forum, please move it.

[Frank Hipper]

Death is the biggest event in our lives next to birth, I don't see how having times of intense reflection on it is unhealthy.

[xtashinatorx]

I think the buddhists said that "The moment you are born is the moment in which you begin to die." I always liked that. I don't think you're wierd for thinking about death, everybody does.
As for my own insight on the topic, I've accepted it as a part of life. When I was 14, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I spent three years in and out of the hospital undergoing various treatments and therapies, including an ovariectomy. My doctor came into the hospital room one time and told me nothing was working, and that the cancer would kill me before I reach 30, It took me over a year to accept that. I learned to cherish every moment I have, and not to look to far into the future. About a month after I had come to terms with my fate I went in for another biopsy. It came back negative. All trace of the cancer was gone, I was completely cured. There is still a small chance that I could concive and bring the baby to term, but at least I am alive. I don't fear death, I fear doing nothing with my life.

[Civil War Man]

It's much healthier to think about it. Avoiding the subject isn't going to make it go away.

Me, I probably take it a little too far by not taking it seriously (see the various death threads in OT, such as the Dream Funeral thread).

[Queeb Salaron]

I already know what happens when you die, so I'm kinda okay with it.

See, just before he died, Edgar Allan Poe uttered the last name of a philosopher who surmised that when we died, our souls were sucked into these giant invisible tornado-like whirlpools on either of the earth's poles. These whirlpools suck your soul into the core of the earth, where they are locked away for eternity.

And if it's good enough for Poe, it's good enough for me.

[/appeal to authority]

[brianeyci]

I'm 20.

When I was little in primary school, I remember a time I was home alone. I had a really bad dream, and woke to find nobody home. For some reason the dream was about death. I remember clearly thinking to myself -- "one day it will be all gone".

My dad passed away a few years ago. It was a prolonged illness, over several months, and the symptoms had been around for a couple years. So it was not a shock, and we knew he was on the edge.

I don't fear death, I fear doing nothing with my life.

These are among the wisest words I've heard. I used to have nightmares of being an old man, looking out a window and saying to myself -- "Holy shit, I wasted my life". I can't imagine how the feeling must be exemplified when one has experienced death personally, not just with the passing of a close family member but to one's self like xtashinatorx.

If anything, thinking about death more should get one off one's ass. It sounds almost morbid, but I'm most motivated when I think that I have limited time before my passing.

Brian

[Robert Walper]

Personally, I'm happy enough thinking that when death finally comes, it will be the void, nothingness, oblivion, etc. I'd prefer to not remember my life.

[Dennis Toy]

can anyone tell me how it would feel to die.?

[Lancer]

can anyone tell me how it would feel to die.?

how are you dieing? I'd imagine that has a lot to do with what sensations you feel.

[Robert Walper]

can anyone tell me how it would feel to die.?

Well, I actually may be able to give you some minor insight on that. I had a "near death" experience by virtue of hypothermia. Essentially, through that method of dying, you begin to lose sense of who you are and reason. Eventually, everything blacks out and after that I experienced and felt nothing.

[Civil War Man]

can anyone tell me how it would feel to die.?

Depending on how you are dying, you could end up like Walper, having the so-called NDE. It's basically when your brain says, "Holy shit, I'm going to die," and reacts to this realization by doing the brain equivalent of plugging your ears and going, "I'm not listening! LALALALA! Happy thoughts! Think happy thoughts!"

[Dennis Toy]

can anyone tell me how it would feel to die.?


how are you dieing? I'd imagine that has a lot to do with what sensations you feel.

not today, i just want to know what it would be like to die.

[Robert Walper]

can anyone tell me how it would feel to die.?

Depending on how you are dying, you could end up like Walper, having the so-called NDE.

My usage of the term "near death experience" is not to be confused with how alot of people might interpret it. There was no "experience" per say, other than the physical event. I was using it in the context of literally being only minutes away from being unrecoverable.

It's basically when your brain says, "Holy shit, I'm going to die," and reacts to this realization by doing the brain equivalent of plugging your ears and going, "I'm not listening! LALALALA! Happy thoughts! Think happy thoughts!"

Well, I had none what so ever after a point. Last thing I remember to this day is being in the middle of open water. Apparently I made it back to shore on instinct, crawled on land, and proceeded to shut down totally.

[Robert Walper]

can anyone tell me how it would feel to die.?


how are you dieing? I'd imagine that has a lot to do with what sensations you feel.

not today, i just want to know what it would be like to die.

How can anyone tell you if they actually have? The best answer you'll get is those, like myself, who've come as close as possible without actually being dead.

[Molyneux]

Personally, I'd be happy with most of the versions of Death I've seen in literature and such...What Dreams May Come, or Gaiman's Death, or the Death of Discworld, any of them would be great for me. Personally, if there is a Grim Reaper - one who cares for the harvest, like the Discworld Death - I'd be honored to meet him.

I would love it, of course, if reincarnation is an option...one life isn't nearly enough time to experience everything I would like to, especially with the technological limits we have now.

[lPeregrine]

In my opinion, there's no real reason to worry about it. If there is somehow an afterlife, death is irrelevant (since I absolutely do not believe in hell). If there isn't and you're plant food, you won't be "yourself" to care, or even know you're dead. Obviously I like life and intent to have a long one, but why spend much time worrying about death when it it's a win/neutral outcome?

[Robert Walper]

Personally, I'd be happy with most of the versions of Death I've seen in literature and such...What Dreams May Come

That would be perfect. I liked that movie. The afterlife being an entire"universe" of your own making and design you can play in for all of eternity...what's more appealing than that?

Mind you, I'm certain we return to the same state we were before being born (non-existence), but it's a pleasant thought anyhow.

[General Zod]

i like hob gadling's take on death in the Sandman myself.

“Nobody has to die. The only reason people die is because everyone else does it.”

[Steven Snyder]

Every now and then, I tend to think what it is like to be on a deathbed. I don't know why but the thought of everything you love and cherish in your lifetime to just abruptly disappear from you is just downright scary. And to think of the pain that one feels when a spouse is lost, almost seems unbearable just thinking about it. I know I'm only 21 and there's a whole lifetime ahead of me but that still doesn't I don't want to be prepared for it when the time comes.

In otherwords, your afraid. You fear death and you fear pain, and your aversion to these things is keeping you up at night. But in your defense a lot of people are terrified by these things, you aren't alone in this.

Death is the bitter medicine that makes the nectar of life sweeter by comparison, to paraphrase Nietzsche.

Get out there and enjoy yourself, yeah the clock is ticking but you never stopped having fun at recess because it was about to end in 5 minutes did you?

My winter will come one day, and I will meet death. But I will do so with a smile and thank him for the ride.

[Korvan]

The movie Jacob's Ladder had an interesting take on death. It basically said that your attitude would determine what you experienced. If you feared death and fought against it, it would be like being torn apart by demons, but if you accepted death, it would be like being in the company of angels.

When I go, if I'm in a position to reflect. I plan to be as relaxed and comfortable as possible and just think about what I enjoyed the most in life. I have enough good memories to think about whether I go today, or in 100 years.

[Dooey Jo]

I'm not afraid of dying, I just don't want to. I think someone said that...

It would suck if I had to die anytime soon, though, because I haven't been able to do anything with my life yet. Hopefully, I will someday, then I'll be able to look back before I die and know that I've made a difference. That would be nice...

[Aaron]

not today, i just want to know what it would be like to die.

Well I can tell you what it's like to die by massive electrocution (over 10kv, unknown number of Amps.)

I lost all feeling and started to black out. While I was out I saw my Grandfather who had been dead for 20 years. But there was no pain or sense of anxiety, in fact it was the most peaceful moment I have ever experianced.

[Jon]

It is weird to think about not existing, but since we'll have no perception of that once we die, it's not what bothers me, just the thought that indeed one day, I'll not exist... is weird. Like before we were born, as was mentioned, indeed. Nothing new, of course :p It is a shame we have to die, I constantly want to see what the future holds, and we really only see so little of it in our lifetimes.

[speaker-to-trolls]

Weird, everyone seems to have absolutely no problem with/fear of death.
Personally death scares the living fuck out of me, the prsospect of not exisiting is one which fills me with dread.

[McC]

The Christian concept of the after-life scares me even more. Eternal existance? Eternal? I'm going to get bored eventually. Things are going to stop being new and exciting. Hell, after several billion years, even sex is going to get old.

At the same time, I'm not keen on disappearing within a single human lifespan. That feels too short. A thousand years or few would be nice, but once I feel as though I've accomplished and seen all that I want to, then I'll be content to just end.

But eternal afterlife? Yikes.