Stephen Hawking backs suicide for the terminally ill aka: himself - Polidicks

[Quote] Cosmologist Stephen Hawking, who has lived for years with the progressive and debilitating motor neuron condition known as Lou Gehrig's disease, [URL="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24123679"]tells the BBC[/URL] that he favors assisted suicide for people with terminal illnesses.Hawking, 71, who uses a wheelchair and speaks through a computer speech synthesizer activated by his eye movements, said: "We don't let animals suffer, so why humans?"[/quote][url]http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/09/17/223475856/steven-hawking-backs-assisted-suicide-for-the-terminally-ill[/url] After seeing my grandpa become bed ridden for the past 2 years of his life, and taking care of him during that whole period until he died, I agree 100%.

Although I do agree with this, I can't help but feel its a shame to lose a great mind like Hawking's.

Every time I see a headline with Stephen Hawking in it, I have a moment of panic. I will be very unhappy the day he goes. We'd better get him into the Golden Throne, quick.

[QUOTE=Thrasher1018;42231294]Although I do agree with this, I can't help but feel its a shame to lose a great mind like Hawking's.[/QUOTE] While Hawking truly is a great asset, we can't let that sort of thinking get in the way of how he feels about the situation himself. I really do understand and agree with him.

[QUOTE=Thrasher1018;42231294]Although I do agree with this, I can't help but feel its a shame to lose a great mind like Hawking's.[/QUOTE] He didn't really say that he himself wanted his life to be ended. [QUOTE] He added, however: "There must be safeguards that the person concerned genuinely wants to end their life and they are not being pressurized into it or have it done without their knowledge or consent as would have been the case with me."[/QUOTE] No question, this kind of stuff needs to be controlled. Like done in hospitals with plenty of paperwork.

[QUOTE=Rangergxi;42231312]He didn't really say that he himself wanted his life to be ended.[/QUOTE] And in fact he said it shouldn't have been ended, when it almost was.

[QUOTE=JohnnyMo1;42231322]And in fact he said it shouldn't have been ended, when it almost was.[/QUOTE]It really shouldn't, it's too bad that someone with a brilliant mind like him was struck with such a terrible disease, the die of chance definitely wasn't on his side that day. But if he hadn't ever gotten the disease, would he even be as smart as he is today? Isn't the reason he's so intelligent is because he did nothing but read? Or was he always that smart.

[QUOTE=Killer900;42231389] Or was he always that smart.[/QUOTE] He was a brilliant man before discovering developing his illness.

[QUOTE=JohnnyMo1;42231301]Every time I see a headline with Stephen Hawking in it, I have a moment of panic. I will be very unhappy the day he goes. We'd better get him into the Golden Throne, quick.[/QUOTE] Dreadnaught as a backup option.

I didn't realize that he was in his 70s. He's quite old.

A neurosurgeon once told me that doctors probably have it worst when they're dying, especially from terminal diseases - they know exactly what is happening as their body shuts down, are in incredible amounts of pain, but the worst part is that they can do nothing to stop it despite their knowledge. I've seen this first hand when I watched my uncle, a very accomplished doctor, die from Parkinson's. Up until the end he would ask for the charts and follow what the doctors were doing and you could see how he was watching the signs get worse. I can imagine that for a mind as sharp and brilliant as Mr. Hawking, he must have the same burden of knowing his fate and being aware and knowledgeable enough to watch it progressively destroy his life and still be powerless to stop it. Under those circumstances, it becomes very clear why he would support this and honestly, I would too.

[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;42231455]I didn't realize that he was in his 70s. He's quite old.[/QUOTE] The dude is the posterboy for living miracles. Most people who get ALS don't see beyond 2 to 5 years of their life.

[QUOTE=Killer900;42231389]It really shouldn't, it's too bad that someone with a brilliant mind like him was struck with such a terrible disease, the die of chance definitely wasn't on his side that day. But if he hadn't ever gotten the disease, would he even be as smart as he is today? Isn't the reason he's so intelligent is because he did nothing but read? Or was he always that smart.[/QUOTE] I read a biography of him once that said he was essentially a typical college student - drinking, going to parties etc. before he went to grad school.

[QUOTE=Disseminate;42231564]I read a biography of him once that said he was essentially a typical college student - drinking, going to parties etc. before he went to grad school.[/QUOTE] Is that when he made the deal with Tzeentch?

[QUOTE=Psychokitten;42233110]Is that when he made the deal with Tzeentch?[/QUOTE]considering that he's still kicking despite his body breaking and decaying i think Nurgle had something to do with it too

[QUOTE=Disseminate;42231564]I read a biography of him once that said he was essentially a typical college student - drinking, going to parties etc. before he went to grad school.[/QUOTE] He also went to oxford at 17...

[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking#University_studies[/url] There it is [quote]For the first 18 months he was bored and lonely: he was younger than many other students, and found the academic work "ridiculously easy". His physics tutor Robert Berman later said, "It was only necessary for him to know that something could be done, and he could do it without looking to see how other people did it." A change occurred during his second and third year when, according to Berman, Hawking made more effort "to be one of the boys". He developed into a popular, lively and witty college member, interested in classical music and science fiction. Part of the transformation resulted from his decision to join the college Boat Club, where he coxed a rowing team. The rowing trainer at the time noted that Hawking cultivated a daredevil image, steering his crew on risky courses that led to damaged boats.[/quote]

[QUOTE=Disseminate;42234636][url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking#University_studies[/url] There it is[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]The rowing trainer at the time noted that Hawking cultivated a daredevil image, steering his crew on risky courses that led to damaged boats.[/QUOTE] Good grief, what the hell Hawking?

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[QUOTE=carcarcargo;42234692]Good grief, what the hell Hawking?[/QUOTE] Have you seen how scuffed his wheelchair is? :v:

[QUOTE=Rangergxi;42231312]No question, this kind of stuff needs to be controlled. [b]Like done in hospitals with plenty of paperwork.[/b][/QUOTE] Sounds like you want to bore them to death.

Solution: Give retarded amounts of money to neurology to allow a brain transplant As whose body will be used, i say criminals

[QUOTE=Raidyr;42231450]Dreadnaught as a backup option.[/QUOTE] As a final resort we need to make an infinity circuit or absorb his biomass and make a new Hawking

We should find a way to transplant brains into healthy bodies....

[QUOTE=Killer900;42231389]It really shouldn't, it's too bad that someone with a brilliant mind like him was struck with such a terrible disease, the die of chance definitely wasn't on his side that day. But if he hadn't ever gotten the disease, would he even be as smart as he is today? Isn't the reason he's so intelligent is because he did nothing but read? Or was he always that smart.[/QUOTE] he was actually lazy until he found out he had three years to live while in college. Then it turns out it progressed slowly. I hope we can analyze his genome in search of some key for extending the longevity of other patients of degenerative diseases like alzheimers.

[QUOTE=JohnnyMo1;42231301]Every time I see a headline with Stephen Hawking in it, I have a moment of panic. I will be very unhappy the day he goes. We'd better get him into the Golden Throne, quick.[/QUOTE] Will he power and source of warp-travel just like The Emperor himself?

If I ever go into a catatonic state with no hope of revival, I want them to kill me. That's no way to live.

[QUOTE=Whiterfire;42235356]he was actually lazy until he found out he had three years to live while in college. Then it turns out it progressed slowly. I hope we can analyze his genome in search of some key for extending the longevity of other patients of degenerative diseases like alzheimers.[/QUOTE] He was lazy, but not THAT lazy, even though he claims he was. I mean he went to Oxford for undergrad and got into Cambridge for grad school ffs. But then again he says he found the work absurdly easy so it's likely he's just a lazy supergenius future emperor of mankind

[QUOTE=Moustacheman;42235449]If I ever go into a catatonic state with no hope of revival, I want them to kill me. That's no way to live.[/QUOTE] I agree with you completely. Living as a vegetable couldn't even qualify as "living" in my eyes. Once my brain goes, take my body out with it.

f[QUOTE=JohnnyMo1;42235947]He was lazy, but not THAT lazy, even though he claims he was. I mean he went to Oxford for undergrad and got into Cambridge for grad school ffs. But then again he says he found the work absurdly easy so it's likely he's just a lazy supergenius future emperor of mankind[/QUOTE] I want to go to oxford but I'm american. Way harder to get in from the states and I'd need perfect grades forever to get to the points where I could do well (Interviews and essays and shit like that) and I was hoping I could go as a transfer but then I found out that it's not actually a thing they do. Oh well. The uni I am going to is pretty old, really big, and well funded too but that place... a degree from oxford or cambridge guarantees you a job wherever you want. Plus all the research going on there. Gah fuck Where's the skill/trait reallocation tool for life