Why arent more people scared of death?

It's inevitable, i'd rather die than live forever.

I fail to see how inevitability automatically removes the fear out of something. If I'm being held in a cell and I know I will be tortured to death in an hour, you're damn straight I'm going to be fearful. Death is even worse, as at least with torture you know somewhat of what's going to happen. Death is a complete unknown, and a hell of a lot scarier.

Plantas had the best answer though: death scares those most who are near to it (or actually really realize that it's going to happen). Totally agree.

Rekunta

I would mostly be afraid of living a life that doesnt please me.

And in fact, at the back of my head I am eager to die (not in a suicidal way), in order to find out what is beyond (if there is anything; I hope there is).

I'm scared of it

Because we've accepted our mortality and choose to enjoy the life we get than squander it on worrying about what happens when it ends?

Why arent more people scared of death? Were all going to die!!!

Isnt that scary that were all gonna die?

slipknot0129

people are naturally optimistic, even the cynics, and we dont want to live in fear

death is also natural, and unavoidable, so I think we can get over it. Eventually. I imagine the concept of death is very tragic to a a 7 year old, but my 70 year old father and I have spoken about his death before, and he was very frank and comfortable with it. He was like "You get my golf clubs...oh wait, I'm left handed, youre not." and he essentially told me if he should have died, he doesnt want any operation that will extend his life and lower its quality.

Like I said, everyone has a different view I imagine. But I do not think anyone should be scared of death. There are much more frightening things to be scared of...like how youre going to die :twisted:

The actual physical act of dying bothers me a little unless I go in my sleep or something. Death itself though doesn't bother me since, well, I'll be dead. If there is an afterlife, awesome. If there isn't, I'm not going to know the difference either way.

Everyone is afraid of death, at least to an extent. EVERYONE. I don't care if they say they aren't, they are lying.

I don't.I'm scared how I will die.

The actual physical act of dying bothers me a little unless I go in my sleep or something. Death itself though doesn't bother me since, well, I'll be dead. If there is an afterlife, awesome. If there isn't, I'm not going to know the difference either way.

Atmanix

For me, it's nothing. When I am dead, I cease to be. That's why I don't fear it. I may dread it's coming because I'm loving life so much, but I'm not actually afraid of it because I feel like I know what's coming; which is nothing. If I were afraid of 'nothing' (as I know it,) I'd need psychiatric help.

[QUOTE="slipknot0129"]

people are naturally optimistic, even the cynics, and we dont want to live in fear

death is also natural, and unavoidable, so I think we can get over it. Eventually. I imagine the concept of death is very tragic to a a 7 year old, but my 70 year old father and I have spoken about his death before, and he was very frank and comfortable with it. He was like "You get my golf clubs...oh wait, I'm left handed, youre not." and he essentially told me if he should have died, he doesnt want any operation that will extend his life and lower its quality.

Like I said, everyone has a different view I imagine. But I do not think anyone should be scared of death. There are much more frightening things to be scared of...like how youre going to die :twisted:

mrbojangles25

[QUOTE="Atmanix"]

The actual physical act of dying bothers me a little unless I go in my sleep or something. Death itself though doesn't bother me since, well, I'll be dead. If there is an afterlife, awesome. If there isn't, I'm not going to know the difference either way.

guynamedbilly

For me, it's nothing. When I am dead, I cease to be. That's why I don't fear it. I may dread it's coming because I'm loving life so much, but I'm not actually afraid of it because I feel like I know what's coming; which is nothing. If I were afraid of 'nothing' (as I know it,) I'd need psychiatric help.

Meh, whats the point in fearing death? I won't exactly care if I'm dead.

Meh, whats the point in fearing death? I won't exactly care if I'm dead.

NeveorNafelian

[QUOTE="NeveorNafelian"]

Meh, whats the point in fearing death? I won't exactly care if I'm dead.

harashawn

self-preservation is just instinct, though; you don't really need to think about. You don't need to fear death to instill the desire to live. And frankly, if you do, you need some serious help (this isnt an insult, just my feeling)

I think about everyday...hence i'm not scared of the act of dying..rather what happens afterwards...

When I was younger, I had a total OCD meltdown about death. I obsessed about it 24/7, I could barely function. I just kept wondering what it felt like and what happened after death. I lived in complete and total fear all the time. Eventually I got over it but the idea of death is still kinda scary to me.

Because we're on the internet, I assume.

There's nothing you can do about it, so why be scared?

I find it hard to believe that those that don't fear death won't start worrying when a loaded gun is put to their head.Ghost_702

I'm going to die sooner or later, I try to avoid it as much as possible but I will die, and I have nothing to fear for I will not be able to care once I'm dead.

There's nothing you can do about it, so why be scared?

sonicare

amen to that brother!

you can spend your life eating right, drinking right doing right etc, wont stop you from stepping out in front of the number 32

It weirds me out a bit, I mean if their is no afterlife (just sayin not turng into religous debate) then wtf happens? Is it like an endless dream you control? Wait...what if this is a dream right now and I'm already dead I'M WIGGIN' OUT!

quite excited. (not that i dont wanna die) but i wanna know what happens.

Because I look forward to shaking Satan's hand and having tea with him in his realm. :D

[QUOTE="Ghost_702"]I find it hard to believe that those that don't fear death won't start worrying when a loaded gun is put to their head.[/QUOTE I would not fear of dying from the shot, I would fear the shot, it would hurt and I would rather die a painles death.]svenus97

Why? Because they believe in the lie that is Christianity.LiftedHeadshot

After being in iraq i can say people are scared of dying. Only if in danger, someone in america or any advanced country wont fear it, everyone in poorer countries feel it everyday.

i am scared of death. i sure hope the atheists are wrong . People think that death will be a endless black void but its even less then that. a black void is empty space . We will be in sheer nothingness

dontshackzmii

It weirds me out a bit, I mean if their is no afterlife (just sayin not turng into religous debate) then wtf happens? Is it like an endless dream you control? Wait...what if this is a dream right now and I'm already dead I'M WIGGIN' OUT!

Bardock47

I find it hard to believe that those that don't fear death won't start worrying when a loaded gun is put to their head.Ghost_702

Anyone who says they are not fearful of death, not the process of dying, but of death itself, is quite honestly IMO deluding themselves. C'mon, it's letting go of everything you've ever known and stepping into the unknown. It can't be compared to being born, as babies are not cognitivetly developed at the point of their creation to understand what's going on. And you can say," well, I'm not afraid because I believe it'll just be black"....well you don't KNOW that. You may think you do, but you don't, to add to which belief doesn't dictate reality.

But then again, I was told by a multitude of doctors and specialists that I was to be dead in a few months when I was twenty, so I've had to look at it directly in the face and try to come to terms with it. It was undoubtably the scariest part of my life, and I find it hard to believe that anybody can treat it with such disregard and an attitude of general apathy. Although maybe not, as I held the same feelings when I viewed myself young and immortal as well.

[QUOTE="NeveorNafelian"]

Meh, whats the point in fearing death? I won't exactly care if I'm dead.

harashawn

I never mentioned suicide. And I never said that I didn't care for my life. I don't fear death but I'm certainly going to avoid situations that may lead to an early death. I will always love life, even if there are times you don't want to live.

[QUOTE="Ghost_702"]I find it hard to believe that those that don't fear death won't start worrying when a loaded gun is put to their head.BreakTheseLinks

I thought it was "there is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole", but either way it makes sense.

I used to be scared as a child, like I wouldn't be able to sleep thinking about it. Now my biggest fear is being rejected. I'm not really scared of anything else.

I find it hard to believe that those that don't fear death won't start worrying when a loaded gun is put to their head.Ghost_702

Anyone who says they are not fearful of death, not the process of dying, but of death itself, is quite honestly IMO deluding themselves. C'mon, it's letting go of everything you've ever known and stepping into the unknown. It can't be compared to being born, as babies are not cognitivetly developed at the point of their creation to understand what's going on. And you can say," well, I'm not afraid because I believe it'll just be black"....well you don't KNOW that. You may think you do, but you don't, to add to which belief doesn't dictate reality.

But then again, I was told by a multitude of doctors and specialists that I was to be dead in a few months when I was twenty, so I've had to look at it directly in the face and try to come to terms with it. It was undoubtably the scariest part of my life, and I find it hard to believe that anybody can treat it with such disregard and an attitude of general apathy. Although maybe not, as I held the same feelings when I viewed myself young and immortal as well.

Rekunta

I know you've had to deal with things a lot worse than most people, and I couldn't even think I could understand your perspective of things... but this is just how I feel about death. Its sad, yes, but its also showing us that we need to celebrate life more, and live our lives better and more enjoyably.

Dude the 65 and older generation cry like babies when it comes to death. I figure my mind and body is leaning towards death everyday, so why cry over it?

Why arent more people scared of death? Were all going to die!!!

Isnt that scary that were all gonna die?

slipknot0129

I don't see death as something we should fear, but welcome. It is just the next stage in our "life" and whatever may come after is either going to be just as interesting as life, or we really won't care (depending on what it might be). The way I see people's "fear of death" is more a fear of not living a good enough life, because they fear what might come "to get them" once they're dead if they haven't lived a good enough life.

I don't have an apathy towards death per se, I'd say its more an optimism than anything. Death is often seen as something morbid and "wrong" but I've only ever seen it (after coming to terms with my own mortality and realizing that I cannot control my death, nor what may come after) as something that should only be fun and exciting. We may get only one life, we may not; as long as we live this life to its fullest, no matter how short or long it might be, we'll have lived well and be free to die whenever.

I know you've had to deal with things a lot worse than most people, and I couldn't even think I could understand your perspective of things... but this is just how I feel about death. Its sad, yes, but its also showing us that we need to celebrate life more, and live our lives better and more enjoyably.

foxhound_fox

Whatever may come after death may just as very well be as miserable as this life or much more so. As I tend towards Eastern beliefs (that you seem well versed in--Buddism, Hinduism), I believe in reincarnation after death, which, having experienced what I have, is not the desireable outcome. I do not wish to go through this again to any degree. I think you're partly right about being fearful for not having lived an adequate enough life, absolutely. But I can't see what I've done so wrong, yet have been hit over and over and over with a string of extreme bad luck that I see no cause for. The answers will never come in lifeI have accepted, although maybe they will be revealed in death. But having such horrific experiences of hardship here, honestly.....what reason should I think it'll be any different/better after my heart stops?

Some people aren't enjoying that good of a life.

They probably think that death can't be worse.

Besides, nobody knows what death is actually like. It may be better than most people think.

Why arent more people scared of death? Were all going to die!!!

Isnt that scary that were all gonna die?

slipknot0129