to despair of our selfish society.

[york78]

Just one example. Person moaning because they are late home because someone committed suicide by throwing themselves in front of a train. No thought for the despair that person must be feelling or the distress of that persons family. Or the trauma suffered by the driver of train.

Izzy, had I 'bandied' insults? I don't believe so. Thus I don't feel your remonstrative tone massively conducive to engaging I debate. Taking a position about 'whether I'm capable of debate' is more than just a tiny bit patronising .

I agree with what Edam and itisnearlysummer said.

As a fellow victim of First Captal Connect I find myself experiencing very mixed emotions when there are problem on the trains because of a suicide. On the one hand, it means I'm going to be massively late home from work and see very little of my family yet again-my commute is torturous anyway due to first capital so im often home much later than i should be and when you're stuck on a dangerously hot and overcrowded train with no air and your body squished against other people, with no information on how much longer your journey is
going to take, it's very frustrating. I then spend the rest of the journey filled with guilt that I'm feeling so annoyed when obviously someone else was having a much worse day than me. I don't think that makes me a selfish person though.

I'm ed that my post(s) appear callous Agent (honesty compels me to add )

Without wishing to hog the thread, (is that a faint 'fat fucking chance' I hear in the background ), I'll have another go and hope that more will cause my words to flow as smoothly as the ruby nectar.

I can't remember the year but I seem to recall that one set of annual stats indicated that out of some 5000 suicides in the UK some 200 were by overground train and a further 50 or so involved underground (tube) trains.

If one accepts the premise that every suicide is a tortured mind that craves the alleged peace promised by death, and if 80% of suicides choose to commit the act 'behind closed doors' (so to speak), it is reasonable to ask 'why do 20% choose to commit suicide by train'?

Although, inevitably, there are such cases, I do not subscribe to the stereotypical image of wounded minds so desperate to be put out of their misery that they hurl themselves in front of moving locomotives.

As suicide is an emotive and complex subject, and as this is no place for a thesis, I will merely observe that a suicide can be driven by anger as well as despair, by the desire to punish as much as a desire to be punished, and by the desire to hurt others as much as one desires to hurt oneself.

It therefore seems to me that public suicide can be seen as a grotesque form of exhibitionism - an opposite to the equally grotesque voyeurism displayed by those who eagerly gather at the bottom of tall buildings when potential 'jumpers' are identified.

It is not my intention to cause offence, nor do I judge or condemn anyone who takes their own life regardless of whether the 'balance of their mind is disturbed', but, nevertheless, I choose to describe suicide in our society as a selfish act because of the profound effect it has on those who have no choice but to deal with, and come to terms with, the aftermath.

In reserving my compassion for the living I am mindful that the dead have no need or use for pity, but this viewpoint is subjective in that it forms part of my personal beliefs.

It seems that we can agree, Agent, that mental health is the Cinderella of the NHS, and it can only be hoped that neurological research will discover cures for the many forms of mental illness that plague our species, or identify 'depressive' genes with a view to isolating them.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if the powers-that-be start putting happy pills in the water supply so that we will become even more sheeplike when it comes to following our leaders

I think most people, jus ordinary peoplle, are walking around with such goodness and kindnes inside them, you'd weep if you could see it.

Scuse the spelling, am pissed. :o

Yes, bluddd,y, v v wrong.

Glad to be of serrvice :)

"Nevertheless, I will continue to maintain that throwing oneself in front of a train or other form of public or private transport, or committing suicide in any public place, is an act of selfishness, ifancyashandy, and if that offends you too, CQ, I am willing to engage in debate provided only that you refrain from bandying insults and demonstrate that you are capable of arguing your, as yet unknown, point"

It seems apparent that I should have used a semi-colon after your name ifancyashandy. Or perhaps, with hindsight, I should have used a full stop and started a new sentence beginning "If that offends you too, CQ, I am willing to engage provided only that etc",

In any event, I hope you will accept my sincere apologies together with my assurance that it was not my intention to imply that you are incapable of debate.

not everyone who commits suicide has mental illness!

My dad committed suicide by jumping in front of a train after having what we believe was a complete breakdown - it had been one thing after another for our family and him and one night after another argument with my mum he left the house and was never seen again. There was a 8 hours gap between him leaving the house and the jump. In this gap he was arrested for drinking in a supermarket carpark in his car (dad never drunk) but was released in the early hours of the morning. He was let down by the police as the last people to see him and his vulnerability . All they cared about was keeping him off the street whilst drunk not why a well dressed middle aged man was drinking in his car in a car park - so whilst he was selfish to jump and leave us and cause all the disruption you all talk of, I believe the police could have prevented as they were the last contact with him. Just wanted to point out how desperate some people are and how they slip through the net.

I suffer from mental illness, and it is quite severe. I very nearly threw myself in front of a train 2 years ago. I didn't however as I hated the thought of traumatising anyone or causing anyone any stress.

In a lot of cases desperation can make you act very selfishly, but not always. So I don't think it's fair to say that Coco is an "idiot".

I'm so sorry, kitkey.