Freethought & Rationalism Archive

agapeo · 02-09-2003, 11:41 AM

Originally posted by agapeo
Your point?

If it was up to me, I would not let other people suffer for the actions of two; in fact, I wouldn't let anyone suffer if I had the ability to make it so.

The ability to do so in both your example and mine is there. You have the fire extinguisher and I had the cure for cancer. I think it's admirable that you would want to do something, but you haven't said what you would do. What exactly do you mean by "if I had the ability to make it so"? Having the ability and being able are not the same thing.

What's yours?

So my point is in response to the OP -- What would you do if given a billion people have cancer as a result of inheriting it from their sperm and egg donors, if they didn't want the cure?

Mad Kally · 02-09-2003, 01:27 PM

Now I'm slapping my knee and trying to do the two step. You're going to have to teach me Ronin.

beyelzu · 02-09-2003, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HelenM
I'm glad help reached her in time. I'm not surprised it was traumatic - I think it would have been for an adult - let alone for a child.

As to why she did it - I truly believe that a person who reaches the point where they will commit suicide has a 'broken mind', as it were - they cannot reason as a mentally health person would. They may be unable to think about the effect their actions would have on others, even their own children because all they can think about it how to stop the intense emotional pain they are in. Or, if they can think about others, they probably are overwhelmed with thoughts of what a burden/bad parent they are and how their loved ones/children would be better off without them.

So, in a sense I doubt she 'knew what she was doing' in the same way you could expect a mentally healthy person to be aware of the effects of their actions on those around them.

And, if she didn't seem particularly mentally ill to you, because she was mostly coping with life, well, maybe she was good at pretending to be ok. And also consider that despair can come and go in waves. It happens all the time, unfortunately, that people who seem ok, attempt suicide

Anyway I hope nothing I have said is inappropriate or insensitive. I haven't been through this myself so I can't claim to know how much it hurts.

take care
Helen

no worries, Helen.

I dont think you have said anything inappropriate or insensitive. I am pretty well adjusted in general and this happened a long time ago. The only person here who irritated me was amos. No big deal, sometimes I wonder why I bother to read his posts.

I dont want to derail this thread ever further. This subject had nothing to do with xianity.

Thanks for your concern again however.

anime · 02-11-2003, 12:53 PM

I voted no.

Those billions of people would make plenty of mistakes on their own, and many of them would condemn themselves.

notMichaelJackson · 02-11-2003, 01:01 PM

I'm a theistic evolutionist. I don't believe the Genesis account, so I don't think anyone suffers because of the actions of two people. I don't know why there is suffering in the world. Sorry.

View Poll Results: Would you let billions of people suffer for the actions of two people?
Yes	7	13.73%
No	36	70.59%
I might, I might not	8	15.69%
Voters: 51. You may not vote on this poll

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02-09-2003, 11:41 AM	#291
agapeo Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: OH Posts: 376	Originally posted by agapeo Your point? If it was up to me, I would not let other people suffer for the actions of two; in fact, I wouldn't let anyone suffer if I had the ability to make it so. The ability to do so in both your example and mine is there. You have the fire extinguisher and I had the cure for cancer. I think it's admirable that you would want to do something, but you haven't said what you would do. What exactly do you mean by "if I had the ability to make it so"? Having the ability and being able are not the same thing. What's yours? So my point is in response to the OP -- What would you do if given a billion people have cancer as a result of inheriting it from their sperm and egg donors, if they didn't want the cure?

02-09-2003, 01:27 PM	#292
Mad Kally Banned Join Date: May 2001 Location: LALA Land in California Posts: 3,764	Now I'm slapping my knee and trying to do the two step. You're going to have to teach me Ronin.

02-11-2003, 12:53 PM	#294
anime Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Anaheim, California Posts: 67	I voted no. Those billions of people would make plenty of mistakes on their own, and many of them would condemn themselves.

02-11-2003, 01:01 PM	#295
notMichaelJackson Banned Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: IL Posts: 552	I'm a theistic evolutionist. I don't believe the Genesis account, so I don't think anyone suffers because of the actions of two people. I don't know why there is suffering in the world. Sorry.

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