Freethought & Rationalism Archive

jiggaman · 05-08-2003, 02:13 AM

I was swimming the other day and a question came to my mind. Can a person drown himself/ herself? This means that the person has every capability to swim and to save himself/herself and that there are no other external factors that would contribute to the person's drowning. So out of his own wanting, can a rational, or even an irrational person cause himself to drown?

added>>> simply holding his/ her breath to the point that the person's dead.

Nowhere357 · 05-08-2003, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jiggaman

I see no reason why not. Simply decide to breath water. Reflex would kick in, and it would take a lot of willpower to keep at it.

Maybe it would help to swim as deep as possible first.

I've heard near-drowning reports that it actually becomes quite pleasant.

eh · 05-08-2003, 07:23 AM

How is a form of suffocation pleasent?

Nostalgic Pushhead · 05-08-2003, 08:18 AM

Its not hard. Simply go to a water park with a giant wave pool. One that gradually slopes in, almost like a beach. Ends up being 8 feet deep or so.
Stand in the wave pool in the area *right* where you can touch the ground.
Let a wave crash over your head. Instead of bobbing up and down with them, keep trying to get a footing on the ground. Once you reach the ground, stabalize, and take a breath, a wave will crash over your head (possibly while you are inhaling). Now, it helps to either start panicing or to be really stupid. Repeat the wave-touch ground-take breath-wave pattern, until you start getting mouth fulls of water.

Yeah, it was pretty embarrasing.

My friend pulled me the whole 3 feet to safety.

But yeah, I think it'd be possible, because once you get a mouthful of water, panicing could set in. And then rational thought goes out the window. For me at least...

And no, its wasn't pleasant!

jiggaman · 05-08-2003, 09:01 AM

What I really meant was for the person to only be holding his/her breath. Let's say, even if the person weren't in the water, simply on land, and he/she was holding his breath. Can he/she hold it until he/she dies, or does human instinct naturally kick in without exception that does not allow for the person to hold his/her breath for the said period.

SimplyAtheistic · 05-08-2003, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jiggaman
What I really meant was for the person to only be holding his/her breath. Let's say, even if the person weren't in the water, simply on land, and he/she was holding his breath. Can he/she hold it until he/she dies, or does human instinct naturally kick in without exception that does not allow for the person to hold his/her breath for the said period.

Your autonomic nervous system will kick in and force you to breathe the second you pass out, so no, its not possible unless you have a genetic defect.
Jake

eh · 05-08-2003, 11:56 AM

Yes, but if you pass out while in water, you drown.

Bill Snedden · 05-08-2003, 12:59 PM

I'm not sure exactly where this discussion belongs, but I know that it's not the Philosophy forum...

However, since it seems to involve questions of physiology and/or physiological reactions, I'm moving it to Science and Skepticism...

Bill Snedden

Mageth · 05-08-2003, 01:04 PM

No, you can't suffocate yourself merely by holding your breath.

Yes, youcould drown yourself. One way would be to go to the ocean and swim out until you're exhausted. If no one comes to rescue you, you'll either drown or succumb to hypothermia (perhaps drowning at the end).

nogods4me · 05-08-2003, 01:42 PM

Didn't Hart Crane commit suicide by jumping off the back of a baot and drowning? (maybe I shoulda checked first, cause if'n I'm wrong I'm gonna feel like an idjit)

05-08-2003, 02:13 AM	#1
jiggaman Junior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Manila Posts: 7	Can we drown ourselves? I was swimming the other day and a question came to my mind. Can a person drown himself/ herself? This means that the person has every capability to swim and to save himself/herself and that there are no other external factors that would contribute to the person's drowning. So out of his own wanting, can a rational, or even an irrational person cause himself to drown? added>>> simply holding his/ her breath to the point that the person's dead.

05-08-2003, 12:59 PM	#8
Bill Snedden Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro, NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,597	Hmmm... I'm not sure exactly where this discussion belongs, but I know that it's not the Philosophy forum... However, since it seems to involve questions of physiology and/or physiological reactions, I'm moving it to Science and Skepticism... Bill Snedden

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05-08-2003, 07:23 AM	#3
eh Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Canada Posts: 624	How is a form of suffocation pleasent?

05-08-2003, 08:18 AM	#4
Nostalgic Pushhead Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: So. Burlington, Vermont Posts: 4,315	Its not hard. Simply go to a water park with a giant wave pool. One that gradually slopes in, almost like a beach. Ends up being 8 feet deep or so. Stand in the wave pool in the area right where you can touch the ground. Let a wave crash over your head. Instead of bobbing up and down with them, keep trying to get a footing on the ground. Once you reach the ground, stabalize, and take a breath, a wave will crash over your head (possibly while you are inhaling). Now, it helps to either start panicing or to be really stupid. Repeat the wave-touch ground-take breath-wave pattern, until you start getting mouth fulls of water. Yeah, it was pretty embarrasing. My friend pulled me the whole 3 feet to safety. But yeah, I think it'd be possible, because once you get a mouthful of water, panicing could set in. And then rational thought goes out the window. For me at least... And no, its wasn't pleasant!

05-08-2003, 09:01 AM	#5
jiggaman Junior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Manila Posts: 7	What I really meant was for the person to only be holding his/her breath. Let's say, even if the person weren't in the water, simply on land, and he/she was holding his breath. Can he/she hold it until he/she dies, or does human instinct naturally kick in without exception that does not allow for the person to hold his/her breath for the said period.

05-08-2003, 11:56 AM	#7
eh Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Canada Posts: 624	Yes, but if you pass out while in water, you drown.

05-08-2003, 01:04 PM	#9
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	No, you can't suffocate yourself merely by holding your breath. Yes, youcould drown yourself. One way would be to go to the ocean and swim out until you're exhausted. If no one comes to rescue you, you'll either drown or succumb to hypothermia (perhaps drowning at the end).

05-08-2003, 01:42 PM	#10
nogods4me Contributor Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 17,432	Didn't Hart Crane commit suicide by jumping off the back of a baot and drowning? (maybe I shoulda checked first, cause if'n I'm wrong I'm gonna feel like an idjit)

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