A "funny" question (that someone might turn into a debate)

[JLRodgers]

(I figure someone might start some debate, so I put it here -- move it if you want)
As I was reading the bad name things.... my mind went to a "bad name for a reporter" during presidential news conferences.... then to something different...


If the president (any of them, that are still living of course, and are the current president, upcoming one, or even just a candidate for it), were to attempt to commit suicide..... would they be hospitalized and treated ("suicide attempt") - or arrested and imprisoned ("assassination attempt")?

[otomik]

shouldn't this be on the "how do you feel about medical marijuana?" thread.

[Veggily]

i can't answer your question, but it made me laugh.

[lirpa1]

Ha ha made ma laugh too! intriguing question!

[Sevenseas]

If Dubya had done it, it would have been classified as waste management and nothing would have been done about it.

[3LittleBirds]

If Dubya had done it, it would have been classified as waste management and nothing would have been done about it.

:lol:

[NotYet]

If Dubya had done it, it would have been classified as waste management and nothing would have been done about it.

:shifty::pibo:

[*AHIMSA*]

Whistling In The Dark, They Might Be Giants

A woman came up to me and said
"I'd like to poison your mind
With wrong ideas that appeal to you
Though I am not unkind"
She looked at me, I looked at something
Written across her scalp
And these are the words that it faintly said
As I tried to call for help

There's only one thing that I know how to do well
And I've often been told that you only can do
What you know how to do well
And that's be you
Be what you're like
Be like yourself
And so I'm having a wonderful time
But I'd rather be whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
There's only one thing that I like
And that is whistling in the dark

A man came up to me and said
"I'd like to change your mind
By hitting it with a rock," he said
"Though I am not unkind."
We laughed at his little joke
And then I happily walked away
And hit my head on the wall of the jail
Where the two of us live today

There's only one thing that I know how to do well
And I've often been told that you only can do
What you know how to do well
And that's be you
Be what you're like
Be like yourself
And so I'm having a wonderful time
But I'd rather be whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
There's only one thing that I like
And that is whistling in the dark

There's only one thing that I know how to do well
And I've often been told that you only can do
What you know how to do well
And that's be you
Be what you're like
Be like yourself
And so I'm having a wonderful time
But I'd rather be whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling, whistling
Whistling in the dark

Whistling (whistling), Whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), Whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), Whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), Whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)

Whistling (whistling), Whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), Whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), Whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), Whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)

Whistling (whistling), Whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), Whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), Whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), Whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)

[dormouse]

This might be a state-by-state thing, but attempting suicide/committing suicide is a crime.

[cheekywhiskers]

This might be a state-by-state thing, but attempting suicide/committing suicide is a crime.

How do you punish someone who's committed suicide?

[JLRodgers]

How do you punish someone who's committed suicide?

Probably not by killing them -- that'd be overkill.

[dormouse]

Probably not by killing them -- that'd be overkill.

:lol:

It looks like I was slightly mistaken. See this wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_views_of_suicide) page for details. I know it's not that viable a source, but it was the only thing I could find that discussed the legal status of just plain suicide, rather than physician-assisted suicide.

[dormouse]

Sorry to double post, but I found this:

http://law.jrank.org/pages/2180/Suicide-Legal-Aspects.html (http://law.jrank.org/pages/2180/Suicide-Legal-Aspects.html)

Seems that until around the 1970s many states had laws criminalizing suicide, but they have been repealed.

[FatFreddy'sCat]

(I figure someone might start some debate, so I put it here -- move it if you want)
As I was reading the bad name things.... my mind went to a "bad name for a reporter" during presidential news conferences.... then to something different...


If the president (any of them, that are still living of course, and are the current president, upcoming one, or even just a candidate for it), were to attempt to commit suicide..... would they be hospitalized and treated ("suicide attempt") - or arrested and imprisoned ("assassination attempt")?

And there I was thinking that Sevenseas was the resident madman in these parts:confused:

[Sevenseas]

And there I was thinking that Sevenseas was the resident madman in these parts:confused:Hey, I take offense to that! As soon as I get out of this toaster oven, I'm going to call my lawyer friend at the local terrarium and sue you for libel.

[JLRodgers]

And there I was thinking that Sevenseas was the resident madman in these parts:confused:

:lol: It's kind of along the lines of.... Bill Engvall (the comedian) is it?.... who asked how did fish develop a taste for worms.

[FatFreddy'sCat]

Hey, I take offense to that! As soon as I get out of this toaster oven, I'm going to call my lawyer friend at the local terrarium and sue you for libel.

What offended you, the word 'resident' or 'man'? How can you sue me? I'm a fictional cartoon character and my only assets you can see dangling behind me in my avatar. Alright, I'm prepared to settle out of court. You can have one of my assets and then we'll say no more about it!

[LuckyDuck]

If Dubya had done it, it would have been classified as waste management and nothing would have been done about it.

+ 1

:wayne:

Hell, all you'd have to do is put the question to him. His head would explode with the effort of all that thinking.


This might be a state-by-state thing, but attempting suicide/committing suicide is a crime.

It was illegal in most of Canada until the 1970's. It was viewed as murder. Obviously they couldn't punish those who succeeded, but those who attempted were sentenced for attempted murder and usually institutionalized.

The real question is... have we really come all that far?

[soilman]

would they be hospitalized and treated ("suicide attempt") - or arrested and imprisoned ("assassination attempt")?

It wouldn't seem to be any different than if an ordinary person tried to commit suicide. Would an ordinary person be hospitalized and treated for a suicide attempt or arrested and imprisoned for attempted murder? Indeed, in past times, in some places, people who attempted suicide were indeed accused of, foundy guilty of, and punished for, attempted murder.