AIBU to think this man was a selfish twat

[NeedACleverNN]

A man climbed into a lion enclosure and encouraged the lions to attack him in order to try and commit suicide

This resulted in two lions being shot in order to save the mans life and a lot of traumatised people, including children, who witnessed it

www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/22/two-zoo-lions-shot-and-killed-after-mauling-suicidal-naked-man

Before anyone starts ranting iabu because he could have had mental problems, I understand that. But I still think he was a selfish idiot

[KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes]

I doubt he was thinking straight at the time.

When I was suicidal I stepped in front of a car. Wasn't until about a year later that it occurred to me how scared the driver must have been.

Selfish act but I'm not a selfish person.

[NeedACleverNN]

Sorry to hear that joff

[KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes]

It's cool. I learnt a lot that day. Was a turning point.

I fucking owe that driver an apology though...

[MumOnTheRunCatchingUp]

How horrific!

Zoos seem to have lots of people able to climb into enclosures! It's happened before

[AndTakeYourPenguinWithYou]

Could have mental problems? I would think its pretty much guaranteed, given that the poor man stripped naked, jumped into a lion enclosure and quoted religious stuff.
No, he's not a selfish twat, he's obviously seriously mentally ill. Don't be a dick.

[Birdsgottafly]

I think that there should be better and more tranquillising protocol.

However, as long as it was a Vegan vigil, I find the mourning of some animals, hypocritical (yes, I'm Vegan).

OP, Are you worried about what all pigs bred for the food industry are going through, as we speak, in the UK?

I mention Pigs, because they're as intelligent as dogs.

Cows also grieve for the calves taken off them, so they can produce milk.

All animal welfare standards should be higher.

You can't condem people's actions whilst server my Mentally Ill.

[Birdsgottafly]

'Severely'

[NeedACleverNN]

Zoos seem to have lots of people able to climb into enclosures! It's happened before

I can only remember two off the top of my head...the little boy who fell into the gorilla enclosure and the woman who went in with the polar bears.

And I'm saying selfish not because the lions were shot. That was sad but necessary for the sake of human life but because of how high profile it was. It was a busy day in the zoo and I bet plenty of people are now having to seek counciling because of what they witnessed

[Sparklingbrook]

Zoos should make sure that people can't climb into enclosures shouldn't they?

[NotYoda]

NeedACleverNN

Of course it's hard to understand, but I think it is pointless talking about it as if it was a rational choice. People who are thinking rationally don't do this. So you can't then put labels on it such was "selfish". It's really really sad, especially for his family, who now have to live with the fact that he killed himself in this particular way

[NeedACleverNN]

He's not dead.

He's in critical condition but he is still alive. The zoo acted just in time

[NotYoda]

Yes sorry, I realised that shortly after my post.

His life will be immesurably better now, after all the publicity about it

[silverpenny]

People would have had to seek even more couciling if they had seen someone get eaten.

[StableButDeluded]

YABU. He is mentally ill.
It IS awful when other people, and in this case, animals are badly affected by that person's actions but no man is an island. When someone tries to commit suicide, even if it's alone in their bedroom with a packet of tablets- usually someone somewhere will be negatively affected by it.

[NotYoda]

I just think that if you can't imagine being a state of utter despair (or delusional thoughts) then of course it seems selfish. But lucky for you you've never experienced that.

But I don't see why the death of two lions would disturb more that the despair of a human being.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

I don't think selfish is the best word to use, as his poor mind must have been in an utter turmoil, so. I don't think any of us have the right to call him selfish.
Poor lions, mind and sympathy to people at the zoo both workers and visitors. It must have been awful for them

[RiverCambs]

FFS

YANBU. Poor lions.

[RiverCambs]

Although saying that, I'm not sure what's worse. Being stuck in a zoo their entire lives or being put out of their misery.

[Okay377]

I'm very sorry those lions were shot. But if a person is suicidal and wants to die that is not going to be a consideration.

It upsets me when people say those who kill themselves are selfish. That's someone who wants to die, often they will feel the world is better off without them (despite the lions, train drivers, family who we in a more rational place know will be affected).

So YABU. That's someone who needs help. Not someone who is just being selfish.it doesn't diminish or undermine the pain they have caused, but please understand that someone who takes their own life is very desperate.

[MrsSpecter]

Ok, the man had left a suicide note. He was extremely unwell to the point where he was killing himself. The whole situation is reall horrible, from what happened to how public it was to how it ended. Really awful for anyone involved and those poor creatures. But i really dont think you can call him selfish when he was clearly so unwell.

[TheGhostOfBarryFairbrother]

YABU to call him selfish. I came extremely close to jumping off a bridge when very unwell. I honestly thought it was the best thing for everyone. I wasn't being selfish, I was ill.

[amazingtracy]

He's ill op! Would you call someone with cancer a wanker? In the same vein- someone with severe sucidal ideology cannot be selfish.

[MsJamieFraser]

your post just shines, that you have no understanding of mental health issues! why dont you try and educate yourself instead of being judgemental and ignorant?