Toxicology tests by the state medical examiner’s office showed that Delp committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning, said Lt. William Baldwin. Delp also left two notes taped to a door and letters to his family and (his fiancee).
I guess you never really know what’s going on in someone’s head. He and his fiancee were going to be married this summer, and the band was getting back together for a reunion tour. His fiancee found him, which is the thing that’s so evil and selfish about suicide. It’s a profoundly immoral act, both because of the taking of one’s own life, and what it does to the people one leaves behind. In any event, may God have mercy on his soul.
Unless you’re Dick Cheney in which case the Huffington Post would be more than happy to absolve you of any sin.
That’s profoundly sad. May God bless his family, friends and his fiancee.
I don’t know how many people who commit suicide the term “selfish” applies to, but in severe enough depression I know it just doesn’t apply. That in a way defines the problem.
It’s difficult to explain, especially if you haven’t been anywhere close to “there”, but in severe depression the afflicted person simply doesn’t/can’t care about anything having to do with life including his or her own mental processes, and that’s the “pain” or exact problem.
So questions of morality make no sense or have no interest to such a person, and that’s actually a manifestation of the problem. The person might even see or know that moral questions make no sense. In fact, not a thing is in any way interesting. [Try imagining that, for example.]
So basically, one who is this severely depressed simply can’t care enough to be selfish – and likely even knows it.
I’m not trying to excuse it, just explain it, at least in some cases.
J. Peden:
That’s true. I wish some friendly soul could have slipped him a copy of William Styron’s The Darkness Visible. God rest his soul…
Actually, as someone who has suffered through severe depression and panic attacks, I will make excuses. Your mind can break and you will do stupid things because of it. Generally, you have mental control of your thoughts. During a panic attack, you lose that control. I cannot even begin to tell you how horrifying it is to live through. During that time you cannot imagine life ever being normal again. It would be immoral for you to ask another person to suffer so greatly just for your own comfort.
Depression works the same, it’s just a slower process. Imagine holding your newborn child and not being able to muster up even the slightest feelings of love. Life at that point (and it’s important to remind depression sufferers that it will get better) is totally without merit.
I can see why it happens and have to admit I’m lucky in that regard that although it has gotten to that point for me, I managed to control myself.
Now, who’s up for a few Klonopin mimosas?
Oh no. That’s just awful.
Richard Jeni just offed himself too. Fame and fortune clearly do not equal happiness.
Gentlemen, please. If we’re ever to gain the acceptance and respect of our betters on the Left, we really must stop this effort at sympathy and understanding.
If we’ve learned anything from the way our moral superiors have treated our host (among others), mental illness of any degree is to be mocked, and its sufferers are to be marginalized, and ignored except to score some cheap Klonopin-related laughs.
In which regard, I’m pleased to say, we’re already on very good ground.
Pablo, are you cheating on us? I posted about Jeni’s suicide the other day.
I’m hurt, man.
Who is it? Patterico? It’s because he has a law degree, isn’t it?
Traveling, actually. And really, you’re cute and all, but San Diego you’re not.
Hey, Patterico lives out here somewhere, doesn’t he?
Look….the man was possibly the greatest singer EVER…..AND….everyone who Ever knew him said he was the most CARING person and that he would deal with everyone’s problems…..maybe he couldn’t handle all of the pressure of everyone’s problems AND his at the same time…
anyone notice that his fiance blew him off the night before …that he waited till 11:30 pm for her…did this bitch cause him to go over the edge…
Yeah, this is sad, I’ve been bummed since I heard about it. J. Pedan, you’ve some keen insight there.
I don’t think morality has anything to do with suicide, at least the type of suicide that stems from a mental imbalance. Brad was a deep thinker, and probably wouldn’t kill himself to ‘get back’ at a loved one, either. No, I guess abject black-hole depression took him.
At least, he didn’t leave too awful a mess.
Hmmmph….now I’m depressed…