If You Could Choose to Have Never Been Born, Would You Hit the Delete Button?

Do you mean never live at all, or take a gamble and be born as someone else?

Never live at all.

I'd keep on going but I'd see if changing certain environmental factors that existed at the time of my conception, gestation, and birth made any kind of difference in how my life turned out.

Considering my life I think if I was never born the world wouldn't be any worse off.

I don’t know.

I'd choose to be erased, My life has been pretty much useless and wasted anyway.

Jesus, what the fuck is wrong with everyone? People would actually choose to never have been born???? Unless you’re one of those horribly abused adults/kids from Perris, Ca (other otherwise horribly abused or suffer from a horrible birth defect), why would you not chose to have been born???

I will wager Helen Keller was glad to have been born, and she lived in a world or darkness and silence.

If you have your health, your wits, and even one person when cares about you, Yoy’re the Luckiest person alive... my god, be grateful for the sun rising every day!!!

You can still be grateful and choose not to have been born.

Who invited the cheerleader to the party?

R7 if you've lived a useless life why keep living it?

I’m useless too R10, but I find ways to be useful.

I agree. So disheartening to see such pervasive depression. i wish I knew how to help.

R7 types like some #blessed#frau.

How about a ten-second life-affirming speech so you'll throw the pills away?

R12 I'm alive to take are of my parents. When they're gone maybe I'll kill myself, maybe I won't. I don't know. But the idea of living the rest of my life serving no purpose and just going through the motions of existing seems like a living hell to me.

I’m also living pretty much just to ensure my mother has a decent end to her life, R15, but I could never imagine killing myself after she’s gone. Too ugly; too grisly. That’s why I fantasize about having never been born because it’s my only option.

[quote] Jesus, what the fuck is wrong with everyone? People would actually choose to never have been born???? Unless you’re one of those horribly abused adults/kids from Perris, Ca (other otherwise horribly abused or suffer from a horrible birth defect), why would you not chose to have been born???

You nailed it, darling. I give those kids 2 years before they are regular contributors to Datalounge. This is who we are.

Both of my parents are deceased. I regularly dream about them. It's like they are calling for me.

So many New Yorkers here.

Is this a suicide thread?

I actually believe this easy cynicism helped get Trump elected. Many among his base are just tired of struggling and living and consciously or subconsciously just want a POTUS and a party like the Tea Party that will just burn everything to the ground. Some are Evangelicals who want suicide by Biblical Apocalypse. What they don't want is hope and progress.

If you feel your life has no purpose, then find some ways to help other people. Instant purpose! If there are people suffering from actual depression then I empathize. But some of you just seem like lazy uncreative malcontents.

I'm with R7 on this one.

Some of you are crazy. Imagine if you had never been born. You would never have seen Call Me By Your Name. You would never have seen Kelli in Bridges of Madison County. You would never have seen/heard a recording of Callas singing Norma or Violetta or Gilda.

The world is full of so many wonderful things.

Op, I get where you’re coming from....and often wonder why I’m here and what is my purpose.

The only answer I can come up with re: why is....

...well, people like adventure. We like to explore new things. When I was a kid, I wanted to be an adult...and travel the world, and meet new people, and do exciting things. And I did.

So I guess my soul did the same thing. It wasn’t satisfied with...fuck...I don’t know where it was before here. So...like the prodigal son, it left home to explore and find adventure.

Now, I’m tired. I don’t feel like traveling anymore. I just want to chill at home with my pets.

Both of my parents died by the time I was 45. It was hard and I miss both everyday. But I have to admit...I’m glad to not going through what you are going through now. I’m glad those days are behind me....

...even though I wish I was just ten years older than I was when mom died. I wish I took care of her in my early 30s rather than early 20s. I would have done so much better...

But, alas. Here I am.

I had no idea how lonely my life would be. I was lonely in college after mom died. I’m lonely now...

I guess I need to just “shake hands” with loneliness and learn how to cope with it. Because it’s just going to get lonelier as I age.

The world has gotten so weird and crowded for me that I ....just want to stay home or do healthy things by myself like exercise or shop or look at art. Pop culture has gotten so vulgar and mean that...I just don’t want to be around people.

So...yes, I do often regret choosing to go on this adventure. But here I am....

So I’ll just try to make the best of it. I like to meditate. I like to read...play chess on my tablet or watch Rachel Maddow.

I do want to learn as much as I can while I’m here...

R7...You are spot on. To be alive is one in a zillion chance. To live in a decent place and have your health is a gift. If then you want to be erased, you have indeed wasted the gift. So many of my friends would have given anything for a chance to continue living. When you have lived through AIDS, you know how to be grateful.

I would like to say erase but I know I was here for a reason, whatever that may have been, but it IS my last trip..................I am Not coming back

[QUOTE]Some of you are crazy. Imagine if you had never been born. You would never have seen Call Me By Your Name.

😂

I truly wish i was never been born. life is too much of a burden. it is a chore to wake up every day and face this bs world. "it gets better" is complete BS. I couldn't go through with suicide due to the grisly nature/and devastate my family. I'll just keep going through the motions and hopefully face my ending ASAP in some terrible car accident.

Well, r28, there are SOME constructive things you can do with your time while you’re here.

And you never know how things will turn out. Maybe something fabulous is just around the corner for you....

Erase

I'll let you know when I feel my actions have made a major positive impact.

-they call me Karma Angel

I had surgery in June. The surgeon fucked up. I had a second surgery by another specialist to try and correct it but to no avail. I lam now in Chronic debilitating pain every day that has only a 50% chance of getting better and is barely managed by opiates. To make matters worse I have come to find out that I live in one of the most corrupt states in the country- AZ. I was told by the top attourney in Scottsdale, that unless your doctor literally kills you or dismembers you, it is impossible to win a malpractice case in this state. The entire (Republican) state legislature is paid outrageous sums by the malpractice insurance industry every year. She literally tells all friends and family to have their surgeries done out-of-state. I add this information as a warning to my Datalounge bretheren. But back to the point, were it not for the fact that my parents still live, I would have ended, oh say before Christmas.

Another stupidly worded poll in which the question changes from thread title to poll question. You're not asking the same thing.

That’s fucked up, R32. Sorry to hear it.

All this talk of a PURPOSE to life. There is none. We are conscious beings who have no purpose unless we invent one and even then it's only our special delusion.

Agreed. We’re just bacteria.

r35 everything has a purpose even if you think it is only to be here to have sex and make money. that is still a purpose

[quote]You would never have seen Call Me By Your Name.

Why would you when you could see [italic]God's Own Country[/italic] instead?

Then just kill yourself.

It’s not like we’re suffering from a people shortage on this planet.

Just wait until after the midterm elections.

[QUOTE]Then just kill yourself.

Only if I can kill you first. What’s your address?

Where's that plucky little Darfur orphan when you need him?

THis thread really explains or underscores why people here are so negative, bitter, angry, and irreverent. Sadly, it might be indicative of gay men in general. It is sobering to see such dark negativity.

My parents needed me, very badly, when they were still alive. I'm glad I was here when they needed me: as far as I'm concerned, that was my purpose in life. Now that they're gone, I'm not sure what it is anymore, but I'm trying to sort through it.

Your purpose, r44, is to overcome fear.

[quote]Only if I can kill you first. What’s your address?

1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Erase for me - the bad times outweigh the good. Art, literature, music - just distractions. "A simple prop to occupy my time".

THIS is what happened when people have no transcendent values, beliefs, or familial bonds. Anomie is inherently suicidal

[quote]If you have your health, your wits, and even one person when cares about you, Yoy’re the Luckiest person alive...

Not everyone had or has those things, dimwit.

Dark negativity r43 As opposed to the light kind?

At this point, yes. Just in the past month, over the holidays, my mother was in a coma for two weeks and then died, which I still cannot accept. I have been sick three times in that time. My fever right now is 102.6. I lost a job last week. What is the point of this? I definitely would opt out if I could.

[quote]Sadly, it might be indicative of gay men in general.

I'd rather feel sad than feel nothing.

As someone who has suffered from depression and anxiety, there have been way more downs than ups. So many regrets and fears. If there is a hell, then I imagine it’s similar to living. What I hope for is to get through life and then be at peace finally.

Choose life !

I have seen some seriously shitty times, lost people I have loved, was born with a fairly serious internal defect that could well end my life sooner than expected ( nearly did ) and so on ... but I was lucky to be born in the West and have comforts some could never imagine. I have also had some cracking times and fully expect and intend to have some more.

Regardless of that I refuse to be a victim of what might be some big cosmic joke.

Bring it on. I’ll die fighting. Just like some others I remember with love and respect.

Buy me nembutal!

Everyone wishes OP had ended up in a tampon or kleenex. That is a given.

I think it’s a good question. Especially when I see these wholly incapable (fianancially and/or emotionally) women having kids and expecting them to be grateful that they raised them and struggled to provide. It’s braver to not have kids than to have kids to give your life a meaning. People need to stop having kids unless they have lots of excess love and money- and expect nothing in return.

[quote] Just wait until after the midterm elections.

Excellent suggestion. Just hang on until November, vote Democrat across the ticket and then check out.

[QUOTE]Everyone wishes OP had ended up in a tampon or kleenex. That is a given.

Yeah well none of you could possibly wish that more than me.

I'm reading the question is whether you would chose to never have been born, not that you are looking to off yourself. Overall, my life has not been horrific, but I've had some awful periods that was really hard on my family, for that alone I wish had never been born - they didn't deserve that. Further, my life is ok, I have things that interest me, give to charities when I can, and I have always taken my meds but the fact is I can't look forward to making a contribution major or minor that will make my life anything meaningful. I've know a couple of people who have committed suicide and seen the effect on their family and friends and am hesitant to inflict that on anyone I do care for. But compete erasure, that is something else.

This thread is very telling. Kind of heartbreaking.

It’s a neutral equation. If you’re never born you just didn’t exist- no plus or minus or need to judge as good or bad. Article in New Yorker recently about book by “anti-natalist” (yes that’s the technical word) David Benatar - worth a read. Looks at the question from a philosophical standpoint - a valid argument for never being born. Scrap the whole American positivity/optimism and look at the question from a hard intellectual standpoint - and the answer isn’t just “be happier”

OP is a racist homophobe shitting on gays elsewhere on the DL. Don't be fooled by her. It's a real cunt.

Hit the delete button on this piece of shit.

Don't feed the racist troll OP here.

Chalk me up as another vote for erase. Everything after my teen years has been nothing but misery.

[quote]Considering my life I think if I was never born the world wouldn't be any worse off.

Don't feel bad....what you said probably applies to 99% of people who ever lived.

You poor guys who chose "erase'.

Please consider taking the Future Authoring Program from renowned clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson.

All the people (not many) who survived a leap from the Golden Gate Bridge said that, the second they let go, they regretted it.

I've battled severe depression and anxiety since I was a small child, I've been on pretty much every psychiatric medication there is and they either never worked, only worked for awhile or came with such severe side effects that I had to stop taking them. I daydream about suicide at least once a day, I hopefully will never act on those thoughts but I can't make any promises. So for me, the idea of being able to just have never even existed and gone through all this misery, well let's just say there would be no hesitation on my part.

I’ve been dealt a shit sandwich many times in life.

But I realized that it usually was because I had made stupid choices.

I make smarter choices now, and chalk up all the pain to experience.

I had a horrific childhood which still affects me to this day. However, I have also been incredibly lucky to have travelled the world and had many memorable experiences. I know this motherfucking awesome party called Life does come to an end, but if it were possible, I'd choose to extend my life by another 100 years.

I would have chosen never to have been born. I was horribly emotionally abused by my parents growing up triggering terrible anxiety and depression. This of course made school impossibly difficult and considering that I grew too large quickly I was horribly bad at sports and was bullied for being a sissy. I got no support from my guidance counselor and parents who were just angry they got stuck with a lemon. Even in the drama club I only got small roles and that was because they were desperate for guys.

I didn't think much about my looks but at 18 when I started looking for relationships or just sex with people that I liked I was getting a lot of rejection. The kind where you get a great response from people on the phone or in a bar and then they see you in the light it's a very cold no way. I've even had people tell me I was ugly(really) or just walk away without saying a word. At the very moment when I realized i was homely I started going bald very quickly. Like I was still a teen and when I shampooed my hair the drain would back up and it would get completely clogged. It was like I was fucking 55 at 18! I never had a good sense of humor and I'm not witty so I've no social life and I haven't had much fun. And I've just made enough money to live from hand to mouth.

I hate being and traveling alone but I've found no satisfaction in joining groups or doing volunteer work because I'm still alone and feel no connection.

Music and movies are nice but just not enough to have made the ordeal worth experiencing. And all that and knowing life has no intrinsic purpose whether you are a human or an insect makes life a big no to me. People who say well there must be something that makes all the shit life throws at you worthwhile obviously have had the good fortune to have found that something. I hate to tell you this but not everyone does.

Yeah- as Buddha says “ life is suffering”. Once you accept that, it helps bring some peace. Just try to put some good out there. Sometimes the only thing that makes you feel better- that at least you are not contributing (and just maybe counteracting in some small way) to the suffering of the world.

i would choose erase, too. i haven't had a terrible life, but i mean, there'd be no harm done and i would save myself a lot of shit as well.

which doesn't mean i would kill myself. i wouldn't do that to my mom.

but i get op completely.

(i do hesitate a bit when i make a mental list of things it would suck not experiencing if i was never born, like reading harry potter and eating sushi)

R74, keep adding to that list!

Each Step in my life has been necessary and complete and perfect!!! Much Love !!!! When you are looking at me I am looking at you !!! I really am !!!

[QUOTE]Yeah- as Buddha says “ life is suffering”. Once you accept that, it helps bring some peace. Just try to put some good out there. Sometimes the only thing that makes you feel better- that at least you are not contributing (and just maybe counteracting in some small way) to the suffering of the world.

Great post. “Life is suffering.” Helps clear things up a bit.

[QUOTE]The basis of Buddhism is a doctrine known as the Four Noble Truths.

[QUOTE]The First Truth is that all life is suffering, pain, and misery. The Second Truth is that this suffering is caused by selfish craving and personal desire. The Third Truth is that this selfish craving can be overcome. The Fourth Truth is that the way to overcome this misery is through the Eightfold Path.

Interesting. I can see why Buddhism is attractive to many.

"The Eightfold Path"

Is there a Reader's Digest version?

R79 Such a funny cunt you are.

Interesting comments! But honestly, since none of you know how my life was lived and what I had to experience; I can safely say, if I had a choice, I'd hit that erase button so fast you're head would spin.

I guess it depends on what day you ask me this question.

On my bad days, when I think of all the disappointments in my life, and that I'm 37, alone, still not out, never had a relationship, no real friends, overweight and average looking, filled with paralyzing social anxiety...I do sometimes wish I was spared this lonely life. I just feel on these days I've wasted this life, and no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to pull myself out of the mental quicksand that binds me.

However, on goods days, I remember that I'm lucky...I have a family who love me and would definitely miss me, I have food on the table and clothes on my back, a roof over my head, a job with decent income that allows me to live comfortably, and I live in the West with modern medicine and conveniences. I'm not living in a refugee camp, starving on the streets, or living under a crazy oppressive regime that would throw me off a rooftop for being gay.

So, it fluctuates for me.

But that Buddhism tenet does help: "Life is suffering."

It's so true. When you can remember that, it makes the little joys in life (no matter how small) feel that much more precious--like tiny rays of light peeking through utter darkness. It isn't much, but it is something.

Still, on my bad days, when I'm so terribly lonely, it's hard to remember. But reading this thread helps, just to know others feel the same, and that we're all suffering our own battles in one way or another.

Awwwww, sad thread.

I’m envious of terminal cancer patients. I actually want cancer.

"How I wish I'd been unborn!

Wish I wasn't living here!

SEXCRIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

It depends. Today, I would not choose to delete my existence.

"If you have your health, your wits, and even one person when cares about you, Yoy’re the Luckiest person alive..."

You really need a good money cushion, too. That would make you one of the luckiest ones, until it runs out, and your health goes bad, your memory fades, and people are hard to find. Then you're unlucky.

Erase for sure. My life in the Deep South has been a series of disappointments- not athletic, not outdoorsy, not handsome or humorous- just a pudgy, creative, liberal arts closeted gay. Didn't want sons because they would be like me or daughters because they would look like me- and in the South, a feminine man or an unattractive woman is a non-entity. No amount of therapy would erase this ingrained self loathing. It truly would have been better not to have been born. At least I was kind and attentive to my dogs and my family, I guess.

Suicide has been on my mind lately. Not so much actually planning it, but more feeling repeated sinking fear about the future - will it work out, what will happen when I'm old, sustaining finances, etc. etc. Basically, they're all issues surrounding UNCERTAINTY, and a lot of us are not brought up to do well with uncertainy...when in fact, that's all life is - constant change.

What sort of made me laugh a few months ago was I looked up various ways one [italic]could[/italic] commit suicide, just sort of browsing around on the topic, and the few painless methods seem to involve plastic bags over one's head. And I thought, "Wow, how undignified to be found with a PLASTIC BAG over your head. That's a little trashy. Is that [italic]really[/italic] a very good last hurrah exit??" Then I immediately thought, "god, you're SO vain!!"

The thing that brings me out of depressions (besides medication...my family has a lot of clinical and/or manic depression in it) is working on goals, and socializing more. Because even if I don't achieve what I want, I always feel perkier at least rousing myself to be be productive and actively try to solve something. (I'm not saying that's aesy, as if people can just snap their fingers and do that.) But at least when you're working on something that's upsetting you, you might diminish [italic]part[/italic] of the problem, and then the remainder becomes bearable. As for the socializing, being with and experiencing others makes you laugh, and see things in a more realistic perspective. I imagine it's when you sit at home for a month, staring at the ocean, that you then actually walk into it. So intelectually, I know that isolating just makes it worse.

Obviously, I suppose it would be a good time to go into therapy again. Since I've had family members who were institutionalized against their will, though, going back over generations, it's always been an area in therapy that's difficult to be honest about. It doesn't seem like a very rosy plan to walk into a therapist's office and say, "Hi, I'm here because I want to kill myself!" I told one therapist, "Well, if I were going to kill myself, I honestly don't think I would tell you, because then you would forcibly stop me." We went back and forth about this forever, until she said, "Well, unless you TELL me you're going to call before you actually do something, I can't treat you." So I halfheartedly agreed. And it was sort of resolved/stayed-non-resolved that way.

Oy.

I don’t have the courage to end my own life. I’m so jealous of those that do.

I wish I could've been born earlier than the 70s to experience the 80s and 90s as an adult. After that, things went to shit.

Agree R91. I wish I was a gay man in 70s and 80s. There were awesome gay men that I aspire to be like, like Harvey Milk and Ray Broshears.

I’m not really that depressed but sometimes I do think as I go to bed that it would be great if I just didn’t wake up.

If I would have had the choice, I'd definitely choose not to have been born. I have been suicidal in the past with a couple of attempts, one serious one where I just about made it, and was taken to the hospital once too. There's too much pain and sadness and I'm too weak to cope with a lot of stuff, and really, no one would care if i were dead.

I know that I'll probably die by suicide one day, and even though people think that sounds wrong, to me it doesn't and I feel like that's my own choice and it's not like i have any family or friends that would miss me so it really wouldn't matter anyway. I'm one of those people that was just born a loser and nothing's going to change that, so yeah, I'd rather not have been born and missed it all.

Christ, half you fuckers are so seriously depressed to the point you wish you were never born.

Explains so much about this board.

You can find similar results on any board.

R91 R92 You would have LOVED being a grown-up gay in the '70s. Of course, now you'd be in your 60s or 70s.

I only tried to kill myself once. Slashed my wrists when my first boyfriend dumped me for someone else, someone I had brought into our lives.

Awful, R98.

I don’t really even think about suicide. I just want death to overcome me naturally, or to have never been born at all.

I think we would all prefer for death to overcome us naturally, R99, but we can't do dick-all about "never been born at all."

[QUOTE]I think we would all prefer for death to overcome us naturally,

I mean like yesterday.

I'd rather just modify some of the code a bit.

And hope that doesn't end in disaster, time travel style.

I would keep my life. There's too much porn to watch.

If your life has no purpose, it's time to give it one. Find a cause and throw yourself into it.

If you complain that gay men never notice you, it's time to be more aggressive--what the fuck do you have to lose?

Why are DL users such downers? We come off like a bunch of losers.

R105, do you have a great job, money in the bank, good health and a pretty good life without much fear? Then please start a thread about how great life is and how much there is to look forward to.

Yes.

Humans are hard-wired to be dissatisfied.

My life is fine. But today, while driving home from work, I contemplated ....not being alive anymore. Work stress got to me.

And the guy shitting on me at work — the guy who could actually get me fired —

Well, he’s fat and ugly. And he has some birth defect that makes him look like Quasimodo.

And his breath stinks.

Nobody likes this guy. He’s egotistical, condescending and an ass-kisser. He’s also stupid.

He’s closeted. He could easily be posting here about his sorry life. Yet he’s driving ME to suicidal ideation.

He’s a nasty piece of work. I can honestly say: I hate him. I hate this guy. He tries to be all alpha and macho...

Not only does he think people can’t figure out he’s homo, he’s too stupid to realize that smart people can easily figure that he’s stupid.

He picks on me because I’m lower on the totem pole. But the fucker doesn’t even have a college degree, whereas I have two.

He’s a bully. A small-minded bully living in his own small world....picking on people he perceived as weaker than he. Spreading his misery...and general assholery.

I guess I shouldn’t off myself just because I hate working with him. I’m friends with a couple kids and they would be scarred for life if I did that.

Maybe if we’d all just be chill with one another, people wouldn’t suffer so much. Can we do that though?

I mean, why does this guy have to contribute to the suffering of others? Is it just because he’s suffering...?

Eek. Ok, I’m home now, away from work...and am more “myself”.

I feel so guilty about hating my coworker.

Ah...well, I didn’t express my anger to anyone....just DL! And from reading the comments here, it sounds like everybody feels this way sometimes. Our specific reasons are different, but we can all relate to how much this world sucks sometimes.

It’s hard to cope with the world...it’s hard to stay true to myself when I’m in the rat race. I feel so overpowered by the collective ego....and I give up and join in.

Is the solution to just never leave home...? I don’t want the agro in my bubble.

How do I stray true to myself in the world when it has some kind of primitive, animalistic force over my instincts?

Start a fucking blog R108/109

I realized this morning that if I were straight, or good looking, or thin, or a smart student, or able to find a good paying job my life would have been different.

As it is I'm fat ugly closeted and work a shitty job--and I still live with my mother and take care of her. Some days I wish I'd never been born, or had killed myself when I was 19 like I had planned.

Sometimes I think my life was meant to be like this so my mother would have someone around to take care of her in her old age.

My siblings don't give two shits about us and I imagine if I had a different life my mother would be alone as I would have abandoned her like my siblings did.

So I go to my shitty job and live my boring life and take care of my mother. Some days I'm bitter and other days I'm ok about it, especially when I cook something she really enjoys, or take her to a doctor's appointment, or run errands for her and she tells me she doesn't know where she'd be without me and I know that we need each other.

When mom dies maybe I'll kill myself, or maybe I'll tell my siblings to fuck off and never see them again and start living my life. Or maybe I'll drop dead tomorrow. Who really knows?

Erased. Life is mostly a series of dissapointments. It's a daily struggle to even survive, let alone thrive. Just when I think financially I'm getting ahead, I will suddenly need a root canal or a car repair.

I always laugh when I hear people say, "No one owes you anything in this world." It's such a stupid thing to say because NO ONE asked to be born. The world at least owes us food and shelter.

I have had 4 long term relationships end and have been alone for almost 5 years now. Have always lived alone. My family isn't close. They are pretty horrible really. Both of my cats died. I try to keep busy but really, life is pretty empty. Hate to say it but I have given up on hope or love, or success. I envy anyone who came into this world with a family who cares or who at least, gave them a financial head start.

R84,me too! Best case! You get like a year to spend whatever money you have left then byebye

For the posters who keep saying kill yourself it’s not easy. I tried 8 times and just gave up. Unfortunately keep living is all I can do.

[quote]r104 If you complain that gay men never notice you, it's time to be more aggressive-

These can be very eyecatching...and you can carry marshmallows on sticks with you to hand out, to break the ice.

[quote]R111 I realized this morning that if I were straight, or good looking, or thin, or a smart student, or able to find a good paying job my life would have been different.

Yes, your life would be different, but it doesn't mean that would have been a life without pain. Good looking, straight, smart and/or rich peoplecommit suicide or drink themselves blind every day.

I think we all fall into those thinking patterns of "If only I had X, I'd be happy." But then sometimes you get that thing (a room of your own when you're 14, for instance), and while you enjoy it, it doesn't mean other things don't nag at you, or cause you envy.

I certainly have sympathy re: what you're experiencing, and I don't have a solution...but, just don't caught too caught up in thinking any one thing can be a magic solution, permenantly.

I like the Buddhist explanation best

[QUOTE]Yes, your life would be different, but it doesn't mean that would have been a life without pain.

This is a straw man. I don’t think any of us are dumb enough to envision a life without pain. But a normal life, one where the PAINLESS days outnumber the painful days, is not out of reach. Pretty sure that’s what the poster you quoted meant when he said his life would be better.

Thank you R118, you answered that better than I could have.

I agree that modernity is too anonymous and lacks bonds. We spend way too much time on our effing phones (the new opiate of the people) and we are too disconnected. If you can, try to reach out to someone today. Our bodies are made to move and to touch. Get out for a walk. Give a hug. Life is given as a rare gift. What you do with it is your gift to the universe. Please don't give up. As a lifelong depression and anxiety sufferer, my heart goes out to all those who are suffering.

My life is far from perfect- I'm far from perfect- but I'm happy I was born and am grateful for it. I struggle financially but I've never cared much about material wealth anyway. I have people I love that love me back, I enjoy my work, and I'm healthy, so I'm good.

R120 and R121 Sound like lovely men. I wish I knew you in real life

Can’t wait for death.

[quote]This is a straw man.

Your MOM'S a straw man.

Basically @R123

I’d hit delete so fast, without hesitation.

Wow. Bunch of depressed people in this thread. Hope you guys have seen a psychiatrist about it.

I'd still be here. It hasn't been easy, though.

The sex and drugs have made it worth it for me.

Once I realized that I was gay I receded from life and has lived that way ever since. I have never had real happiness and I have spent many days wishing that my life would end. I think about dying all the time and maybe it will happen.. The only reason I don't commit suicide is because my family (who now know I am gay) asked me not to.... P.S. I am very successful businessman but money cannot buy your happiness...

The moment my beloved dog — my only real friend — is gone, I’ll be dead as a door nail.

Erase, I've struggled all my life with severe anxiety and depression, I've been on pretty much every antidepressant available and none have helped and many just made things worse and as a result, my life hasn't been a life just an existence so if I could choose to have never been born I would without a second thought.

Can you get a pet, R130? It sounds frivolous maybe, but pets do bring joy into one's life.

Interesting how most people are interpreting this as “would you kill yourself” rather than “not be born”. It’s not depressive to say you would choose to not be born. It’s neutral - you would never know and therefore it doesn’t matter.

The question is important because too many people think having kids is a good thing or a “gift”. It’s not. Choosing to bring a life into the world is cruel and egocentric. It’s done purely to fulfill a woman’s own needs. So there is a person who values them or needs them. Same is true for gay men. Life is suffering. Bringing a life into being is creating suffering that didn’t have to happen - except to fulfill the parents narcissism.

I've watched way too much Doctor Who to mess with the time space continuum.

Wow. This really explains the nihilism, negativity, and bitterness here. It’s shocking to see the results

This makes me sad to see.

Life can be hard. But, it certainly has it's moments.

There are people I know that I wouldn't have wanted to miss out on knowing.

I got to have a fuckin' blast in Los Angeles in the early '90s- got tons of hot grunge dick. And saw amazing bands. Pearl Jam, Green Day, Nirvana, Radiohead- got to clerk at Tower Records and Virgin and feel cooler than everybody.

I got to see my niece and nephew born. I got to know my wonderful grandparents, and my favorite uncle.

I've seen many, many Broadway performances that have blown me the fuck away. Patti LuPone in Anything Goes- I was totally not expecting to be blown away by that voice, I got to feel DIVA LOVE! And I feel it again every time I see her. For me, she makes life worth living. As does Pearl Jam with Eddie Vedder.

But, yeah, also, much painful heartbreak and betrayal. Addiction, the death of loved ones, ect. That stuff is hard. But worth it, in the end.

I feel very, very badly for people here who haven't had those things that make life worth living. I'm so sorry.

Fuck you, R137. You can take that pity and shove it up your ass.

46% erase?

That’s a shame. ™

People are wired differently. Some are born happy, others not. We can affect our happiness level slightly - but for the most part it’s hard wired. I’ve accepted this after 22 years with my partner who is just naturally happy - as is/was his family. I’m more low level depressive from a family of low level depressives. I fully appreciate for some people with both a genetic unhappiness combined with unhappy childhoods, life is really tough 98% of the time. If it’s not for you, feel lucky.

DL people are generally older and I think being gay has been more difficult on older gays. I know my parents would have disowned me and that is why I never came out while they were alive. Unfortunately, being older now I am afraid to look around as I now have my financial house in order and fear if I meet someone I am not emotionally prepared for a partner and can get used easily. I hate to admit that but it is the truth...

If JK Rowling had never been born, all the Harry Potter kids lives would be so different. They would be working office jobs in London instead of having millions and smoking fags.