61–70 of 306 posts
I have known Pieter since around 2002. We didn't meet or talk that often, but usually we would have a fun few hours every FOSDEM. On one of those occasions we defined "our" religion, stallmanism.com Pieter transferred the site and domain to me a few days ago. In the past few months I have been almost obsessed with consuming everything he wrote and published. It is exactly my way of thinking. Of questioning reality an…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
We all die at some point. While I too abhor cancer I find hard to fear it more than any other thing that can kill me - a stroke, a car accident, etc. The universe is out to get us - we've evolved into tough bastard but we've not defeated mortality.
> hard to fear it more than any other thing that can kill me - a stroke, a car accident, etc. Hm. I wonder your age. Young folk seem to think death impossibly foreign, and fear it / ignore it all equally. Older folk, that have had more first-hand experience with the decline of the flesh in themselves and those they grew up with, have more an appreciation for the difference between an abrupt death in a car accident, a…
I've seen too many relatives and those close to me perish in various of ways before old age not to care about it. To me all forms of it ... just feel equally bad in the end from the point of fearing some personal fate or another. My view is not of someone oblivious to life's hardship. Life hits you, you take the punches, and stand as long as you can.
"Cancer" in general does not mean a slow death. Some forms can kill within weeks of a diagnosis due to quickly arising medical complications.
My intent was certainly not to be dismissive of the fate of Pieter and other cancer victims.
Thanks for the your contributions and sharing the journey.
To fellow HN users: Please check out "Think of the Children" and donate if possible. thanks!
(This really hits me, since my brother in law may be about to do the same in a few weeks.. days perhaps.)
I don't know this man, nor will it matter what I write here one way or another, but morally, I'm at odds with this person decision to humanly kill himself. I have no words of encouragement or wisdom, as Nihilism is itself the end of hope. God speed, and may the Lord have mercy on your soul. Which might be an oxymoron, since that conceptual framework was rejected in favor of the easy button, I suppose. Peace
Do you think it's your place to judge what God will and won't forgive? This is arrogance. We are called to humility.
Would you demand that someone else continue in unbearable agony to satisfy your own personal notion of the right way to act? This is hatred. We are called to love.
I don't know this man, nor will it matter what I write here one way or another, but morally, I'm at odds with this person decision to humanly kill himself. I have no words of encouragement or wisdom, as Nihilism is itself the end of hope. God speed, and may the Lord have mercy on your soul. Which might be an oxymoron, since that conceptual framework was rejected in favor of the easy button, I suppose. Peace
Nonetheless, a part of Pieter's public announcement is an opportunity to discuss what he is doing, and what others or ourselves might eventually face, in language and metaphors that are meaningful and particular to ourselves.
I'd prefer your comments didn't get voted to oblivion.
I have known Pieter since around 2002. We didn't meet or talk that often, but usually we would have a fun few hours every FOSDEM. On one of those occasions we defined "our" religion, stallmanism.com Pieter transferred the site and domain to me a few days ago. In the past few months I have been almost obsessed with consuming everything he wrote and published. It is exactly my way of thinking. Of questioning reality an…
I've been completely blown away with Pieter's courage and willingness to share his journey. I hope I have 10% the dignity when my time comes!
I just hope that when it comes time for me or my loved ones to go, that they will be able to do it on their terms.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Can you elaborate what makes cancer any more frightening than any other things that may get us? Is it the threat of pain? As long as we are mortal our journey is a finite one anyway.
I guess it's more frightening because we're more likely to develop cancer than most other diseases, it occurs for the most part purely randomly and chances are high that it leads to a slow and painful death. Cancers evolve to resist drugs and radiation, and due to the nature of evolution, you are unable to tell if and when it happens. As I wrote under another article, cancer is a fundamental dread of all higher multi…
My father was not a kind man. He was petty, selfish person, but I still would have done anything for him.
Looking back, he was under medicated while in Palliative Care. He was at home, but that shouldn't be an issue? No one in the family could figure out why he wasen't given more medication. He saw a Hospice Doctor once, I believe, and a couple of nurses dropped by.
Getting him pain meds, and benzodiazepines was a battle. It's such a stressful situation, and getting meds should be difficult?
He never seemed to have enough. I look back, and don't know what the problem was with the lack of strong medication. Maybe the doctors didn't want too much around? I don't know? They should alleviated his pain better though.
I understand no cures, but alleviate the misery with drugs. We do have drugs?
There were times, I felt like, if I knew where to buy it; I would have bought him heroin.
I accept death. We can make patients comfortable when they are dying with medication? Maybe we were the the family that wasen't vocal enough? I don't know, but in my dads death; Hospice did a terrible job.
Hospice has a lot of money. I was surprised, because I heard they were a good organization.
(I didn't want to read this post. I had a feeling it was Peiter. I don't know the man, but truely admire his courage.)