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Anything that defies the primeval fear of the unknown of death (which can include hell or oblivion) can't be cowardly. Similarly, anything that defies the primal instinct of survival and self-preservation can't be selfish.

Of course some things can be 'worse than death' but selecting one evil over another out of desperation is neither selfish nor cowardice. Especially since this choice overcomes primeval instincts and brings you to the face death.

Don't get me wrong, I am not a pro of suicide, and I don't agree with the emos who idolize celebrities as tragic heroes. I believe it's a crime, and desperation is a sin; but I think "cowardice" and "selfishness" are only a catchy choice of words.

But, I believe the term for cowardice isn't about "facing the unknown of death" - rather, it's cowardice of facing the unknown of life. People, who typically take their lives, don't see their lives getting better. So rather than tough it out, they take the suicide route.

And the selfish act, is more so, because committing suicide - they give no consideration for those they leave behind (their mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, whoever) - who must now deal with the fact that they committed suicide, and the guilt that any survivor of someone who committed suicide deals with. (Could they have done something to prevent it? How could they do this, if they loved them, and leave them like this?)

So I believe that's where the cowardice and selfishness come from.

But I see what you're saying. I think it's one of those (and surprised no one has listed this yet) - "Is the glass half empty, or is it half full?"

I understand the arguments for using those words already, but I believe that they are moot here. I am happy you got my point

As for the half-empty/full glass... depends on how thirsty you are AND if you have access to a faucet

Mine are all peer-pressure-based.

"Live every day like it's your last." (This is why you're always broke and coming into work with a hangover.)
"You have to try everything once." (No - you just spent half the night in a coma, so I'm good.)
"If your friends jumped off a bridge..." (This wouldn't be bad, because I happen to like bungee-jumping.)
"It's not addiction. It's a choice." (Which is why you just spent your rent money on marijuana.)
"You have to try sky-diving!" (I could go on forever about why this one drives me insane.)

Oh just remembered. "Everyone is different"

"I'm just telling it like it is." or "I don't sugarcoat the truth."

These are excuses people use when they don't care about hurting someone's feelings or can't be bothered to try and be tactful. I think they're nonsense, since there is almost always another way to phrase something so it sounds less harsh, but still has the same meaning.

Granted, there are certain situations where harshness is required.

Ooh, I just remembered the worst of the worst. The scourge of all single people out there:

"There are plenty of fish in the sea."

Datadog wrote:Ooh, I just remembered the worst of the worst. The scourge of all single people out there:

"There are plenty of fish in the sea."

I got one that beats that (but is related)...

"We can still be friends."

"It's not you, it's me"........my ex-husband said that to me, to which I replied...."no shit it's you asshole!"

dotkel50 wrote:"It's not you, it's me"........my ex-husband said that to me, to which I replied...."no shit it's you asshole!"

The scourge of single people? Where shall I begin? <evil grin; rant mode: on>

Speaking as a single person, it drives me nuts when people say:

"Why aren't you married like your sisters?"
"Find a nice Jewish girl already!"
"Stop futzing around and do something with your life!"

And my favourite...

"When will you get married?"

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH! *runs*

Seriously. I'd like to find someone. But if it was that easy, I'd be married already.

(hugs Rath) Well, as long as they're not trying to couple you to every woman that walks past, like my mother did (shivers).

As a single person about the only comfort I found was in reading Anna Karenina. I mean, when people say, as the Dutch proverb goes: "There is a lid for every jar" it makes me barf.

I'm also particularly annoyed by unnecessary use of English in the Dutch language.

Rath, my uncle was 53 when he married the "right girl". They had known each other for years from Church functions. It was my mother who finally said "why don't you ask her out on a date that has nothing to do with the Church? You talk about her all the time."....The rest was history

dotkel50 wrote:"It's not you, it's me"........my ex-husband said that to me, to which I replied...."no shit it's you asshole!"

dotkel50 wrote:Rath, my uncle was 53 when he married the "right girl". They had known each other for years from Church functions. It was my mother who finally said "why don't you ask her out on a date that has nothing to do with the Church? You talk about her all the time."....The rest was history

Two very different stories, dotkel. But equally charming

I can laugh about the ex-husband one now, thank God. And my uncle and aunt were made for each other. Everyone knew that before they did.