Are You Afraid Of Dying???

[Holdfast]

Epicurus, Schopenhauer & Nagel together provide a pretty good framework for answering this question. I blogged about it myself from a more generalised cultural perspective recently.

To specifically answer the question, I do not look forward to death. Fear? Not currently, no. But then, it is not knowingly imminent now, so I can postpone the question.

 

[Angela 0077]

Well my answer is no.
I live my life to the fullest and l take each day as it comes.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I put no, but only because the poll would not allow a more nuanced, non-black and white answer.

I don't fear a normal, peaceful death in my sleep from old age, but a young and unexpected, violent, painful, or slowly degenerative death or one where I was not able to make sure my family was taken care of beforehand does scare me to some extent. Not to the point where I live in constant fear of it or anything like that, but to the point where I make sure my affairs are in order now even though I'm only 36.

Having dealt with my own recent health issues and having to go in the hospital, my Grandparents both having Alzheimer's, and my Mom dying suddenly of a heart attack two months ago all bring those issues home for me and make it a very real consideration that should be treated with at least a healthy bit of contemplation.

 

[Caliburn24]

The amount of young people trying to laugh in the face of death in this thread is hilarious. Everyone who is not actively trying to kill themselves is afraid of death. Since all those posters who voted "no" they are not afraid of death will be back tomorrow and the next day to post new things it seems obvious that they are afraid of dying.

I was shot at, mortared and had IEDs go off all around me in Iraq, but more importantly I got to watch how young American men reacted to those things, and guess what...we all feared death. Most people in the Western world, particularly those under 40 have never had to face their own mortality, which is why we get so many people crowing how they're not afraid of death.

So I vote "yes", because not only am I afraid, but I'm honest too. And I know that as a Christian I should not fear death, but I still do.

 

[Angela 0077]

Of cause to some exstent everyone is scared of death but you cant live on that fear.
If we all did that we would be complete wrecks.
But speaking about how you feel is good for the mind and soul
Plus another thing you were fighting in Iraq and being shot at that would be scary and something you wouldnt want to come across but you have to do it
Of cause you would be afraid l would be too if l was doing what you are doing.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Everyone who is not actively trying to kill themselves is afraid of death. Since all those posters who voted "no" they are not afraid of death will be back tomorrow and the next day to post new things it seems obvious that they are afraid of dying.

So I vote "yes", because not only am I afraid, but I'm honest too.

That's making a complex issue that depends on a lot of factors as overly simplistic as the poll did. I voted "no," but for the reasons given in my post above, and because the poll wouldn't allow a more detailed answer. I've faced both my own death a few times and the death of loved ones before, so I think I'm qualified to give an answer even with the high standards you think it takes to have a valid opinion on the matter.

If someone doesn't fear death that doesn't necessarily mean they would commit suicide. Wanting to live and fearing death are not the same thing.

 

[Angela 0077]

There was this doco which which was shown on tv this guy loved to mountain climb but he wanted to go further by putting a type rope across one side of the mountain to another.
He had broken up with his wife and he wanted to show poeple he didnt fear death by walking unaided from one area to another.
He did this aided with the safty ropes so he could get a proper balance and then a couple of days later he went up and went unaided he did make it but at that moment he didnt care if he lived or died.

i wish l was able to show the clip on what this bloke did.

 

[Caliburn24]

We don't think about death, we brush it to the side and think that it won't bother us for years, decades even. And that is the only way to live, we can't let it dominate our lives. That is very true.

But when asked point blank, "Are you afraid of dying?" as is the point of this entire thread, the answer has to be yes if you're honest. The question is not do you think of death constantly, or if you're okay with the concept of your own mortality.

And just as an aside, there is no right or wrong answer. You can answer the question however you want to ensure your sanity. But a lot of the replies here appear to dodge the real question. When you were in that near fatal car accident, or you had a heart attack, or a knife or gun waved in your face did you just calmly decide you weren't worried about it, or were you afraid?

I was scared. And fear is good, it keeps you alive and from doing stupid things.

 

[Kelthaz]

I suppose it depends on what you mean by fear of death. I like living, so of course I fear something that would put an end to that. Of course, by that same reasoning I also fear dropping my ice cream cone. Ice cream is awesome.

Anyway, I voted yes. I'm not exactly paralysed with fear over the thought of my life ending one day, but I can't imagine death being much fun. The thought of oblivion for all eternity is pretty scary.

 

[BolianAuthor]

I voted no, because I'm not afraid of death itself, but I AM afraid of the process of dying.

I think I say that because I really don't want to have to feel a lot of pain when I die... drowning, suffocation, bleeding to death... so may ways to die painfully... I just want to go quietly in my sleep.

 

[Australis]

I didn't vote, because I'm not sure.

I'm not afraid of the moment, it comes when it comes, but I shall be doing much to dodge it as long as I can.

For me I suppose the issue resolves around unfinshed business, that would never have an end, you never do the things you meant to, and while that might be profoundly sad for you, it may also adversely affect the rest of your family and friends.

For whoever hasn't seen it, try and track down a copy of the Dimbleby Lecture given by Terry Pratchett, about what he calls 'assisted death'. He has early onset Alzheinmer's and is trying to make it very clear what he wants to happen. It's done with great humour and great depth.

 

[WHF]

The question is worded "Are you afraid of dying?" not "are you afraid of death?". I think that these are not the same thing. As an atheist I believe that in all probability death is the end of my existence. I don't fear death but it does make me sad that I won't see how it all ends.

Dying, on the other hand does scare me. Unless we take our own lives there is no way to know how we will die. The possibility that my death will be painful over an extended period of time due to illness does cause me concern. Losing my mind before I die scares me even more. The thought of being an invalid for years before I die is something that terrifies me.

 

[Australis]

Yeah, actually, I'd rather not die at all. One reason I'd like to see the Singularity arrive (despite the dissing it's taken in the SciTech thread).

 

[Nerdius Maximus]

Absolutely. It terrifies me, in fact. I try not to think about it.

 

[TheBrew]

When you were in that near fatal car accident, or you had a heart attack, or a knife or gun waved in your face did you just calmly decide you weren't worried about it, or were you afraid?

To say I am unafraid is to not said I had no fear, but that I've pushed that fear away. Because fear can freeze you, keep you from acting during times when action is demanded.

I was scared. And fear is good, it keeps you alive and from doing stupid things.

It also keeps you from taking risks. The fearful do not act boldly. Like Locutus said, the issue is not black and white, but "no" is the best answer I can give. A part of me will always have that fear of death, but that does not mean I am afraid.

 

[bluedana]

The amount of young people trying to laugh in the face of death in this thread is hilarious. Everyone who is not actively trying to kill themselves is afraid of death. Since all those posters who voted "no" they are not afraid of death will be back tomorrow and the next day to post new things it seems obvious that they are afraid of dying.

I was shot at, mortared and had IEDs go off all around me in Iraq, but more importantly I got to watch how young American men reacted to those things, and guess what...we all feared death. Most people in the Western world, particularly those under 40 have never had to face their own mortality, which is why we get so many people crowing how they're not afraid of death.

So I vote "yes", because not only am I afraid, but I'm honest too. And I know that as a Christian I should not fear death, but I still do.

I get what you are saying, but I disagree. I am not afraid of dying -- passing from this life into the next, or of death -- not existing on earth anymore, because I believe 100% in eternal life through Christ. I can't conceive of it, true, but I know that it will be better than where I am now.

It always strikes me as funny that, as Christians, we all want to go to heaven, but we don't want to die to get there.

I am afraid of dying badly, which is not how I read the original question. I fear dying by fire; I can't imagine any death more painful. More to the point, I fear dying in a way that makes my children NOT regard death as a natural process or in a way that scars them emotionally. I want to die gracefully. In a selfish way, I want to live long enough to see my youngest child, who is 6, graduate from high school, although I know this isn't likely. But in a broader sense, I want her (and the boys) to be at least old enough to process it in a healthy way.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I'm not afraid of dying itself, but I am afraid of dying before I've had a chance to leave my mark on the world. I want to be remembered.

Oh, and I really don't want to cause my family any upset, either.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

Only of dying on Long Island. If i die here, I'm killing myself.

 

[judge alba]

not yet but ask me again in 2012

 

[C.E. Evans]

I can honestly say that I'm not afraid of death--it's been a constant companion of mine since I was a child watching each member of my family die off over the years until I'm now the last of my line. Death would be literally a homecoming for me.

But the act of dying, now that's something different. If it happened quickly or painlessly--or best yet, while I'm asleep--I wouldn't have a problem with it. But a slow, lingering death beset by disease that leaves me bed-ridden and makes each day an agonizing, excruciating pain-filled existence until it reaches the point where I'm begging for death? No. That's the kind of dying I'm afraid of.

So I give thanks for each day I can get up and do all the things I want or need to do by myself. And I hope to be able to do such things until my very last day...