cutting, is it moral?

[columbus]

I would invite you to very carefully consider the full ramifications of such a principle. It may have some implications that would be unfavorable to you.

Feel free to school me. This is my definition of morality. I developed it over many years and if you want to help me refine it I am happy to discuss it. I consider it extremely important.

What I just posted was a simple version, I could elaborate on my rather more complex beliefs.

Tom

 

[columbus]

I would invite you to very carefully consider the full ramifications of such a principle. It may have some implications that would be unfavorable to you.

Let me be a little more clear.

I don't believe moral behavior has any implications that would be unfavorable to me. I'm a tall, white, USonian male. So I do have more privileges and conveniences to lose than the huge majority of the human family. But I don't believe that I will be degraded by moral behavior, even if it means that I don't get to keep living the life I am accustomed to. I would prefer living in a world where everyone has the advantages I have. I will happily give up some of mine if it means I get to live in a world full of people who also have such an experience.

Happy people are more fun to be around and people are who mostly impact my own life.

Tom

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

As a former cutter (caused by depression and anger issues in my teens) I can say that morality really doesn't enter into it. You're in pain, you hate yourself, so in order to distract yourself from that, you cut. The cutting tricks you into thinking you're doing something about your problems even if that something is merely a short term endorphin high or distraction. As a Hindu cutting oneself goes against ahimsa, or non-harm to oneself and others, but I think any karmic effect is being enacted in the moment, as it were. For goodness sake, you're already hurting yourself.

Trying to apply morality to an unstable psychological behavior only stigmatizes the mentally ill further, making them less likely to seek help. We already undervalue the importance of mental health in the United States, no need to make it worse.

:camp:

 

[dawny0826]

Just wondering, I know people who cut when they hurt and it seems that thye feel better afterwards...

Opinions?

I do consider there to be a moral implication if someone is aware of the emotional pain that such actions cause a loved one and refrains from making efforts to rectify such pain, if they are capable of doing so.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

The person already hates themselves so I don't believe it's helpful to call them immoral on top of it. I've cut myself before. It didn't do anything in terms of relieving emotional pain, though.

 

[columbus]

The person already hates themselves so I don't believe it's helpful to call them immoral on top of it. I've cut myself before. It didn't do anything in terms of relieving emotional pain, though.

It would be, in my opinion, immoral to call them immoral.

Behavior is immoral, not humans. The distinction is very important.

Tom

 

[dawny0826]

The person already hates themselves so I don't believe it's helpful to call them immoral on top of it. I've cut myself before. It didn't do anything in terms of relieving emotional pain, though.

I don't believe you can apply morality to cutting, as the individual doing so isn't well.

The only time that I can fathom morality applying, is if an individual is aware enough of the impact of their illness on themselves and others and refuses help. But, I would consider this to be a personal struggle and not having gone through this myself, can only speculate.

Accusations of immoral behavior isn't acceptable in this context, at least in my opinion. I understand the stigmatization of mental illness quite well.

 

[Gehennaite]

I don't see why physical suffering is preferable in an emotionally difficult situation. Sure, sometimes conscious displacement of pain reduces the degree of suffering, but I think it should be avoided at all costs.

Blunt pain (i.e. punching/slapping) could be appropriate in a severely difficult psychological state. But lacerative pain? I couldn't do that. That seems far more tormenting.

 

[kashmir]

I've cut myself before. It didn't do anything in terms of relieving emotional pain, though.

I suppose you didnt cut correctly

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I suppose you didnt cut correctly

Transmuting physical pain into emotional relief doesn't work for everyone. It's more a manifestation of self-hatred than anything else.

 

[Nyingjé Tso]

Just wondering, why so much treads about these kind of subjects all of a sudden ?

 

[kashmir]

Transmuting physical pain into emotional relief doesn't work for everyone. It's more a manifestation of self-hatred than anything else.

No sir, not with me anyway.
it's self control, that is what it is called bor

 

[InChrist]

No sir, not with me anyway.
it's self control, that is what it is called bor

Would you mind explaining further what you mean?

 

[kashmir]

Would you mind explaining further what you mean?

Its called self control?

 

[InChrist]

Its called self control?

Okay I understand self-control, but can you explain how that relates to cutting from your perspective?

 

[kashmir]

Okay I understand self-control, but can you explain how that relates to cutting from your perspective?

It makes me feel better

 

[InChrist]

It makes me feel better

Can you express how causing physical harm to yourself makes you feel better or gives you a sense of control?

 

[kashmir]

Can you express how causing physical harm to yourself makes you feel better or gives you a sense of control?

Just does,cept hiding it sucks, so I know its not for attention

 

[NewGuyOnTheBlock]

You have my compassion.

Often, cutting is a maladaptive coping response and issues that need addressed, It is also self-destructive; and often compulsive in nature, thus it's probably not something someone you can just "choose" to "stop" by willpower alone, but with strategy and learning better coping responses.

Debating the "morality" of this is counterproductive; if it is determined to be "moral" then the self-destruction and maladaptive coping responses continue and you will continue to hurt yourself. If it is determined to be "immoral", then that feeds the cycle of more negative emotions (Shame, Frustration, Powerlessness, etc); and it's those negative emotions with which you are probably having difficulty coping with anyway.

I don't think it's something that you are going to be able to address on FR. Please go talk to someone about this?

Coping (psychology) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

My humble opinions...

 

[Kerr]

Just wondering, I know people who cut when they hurt and it seems that thye feel better afterwards...

Opinions?

I dont like it when people cut themselves. It makes me worried and concerned about their well being. I wouldnt call it immoral, though. Or moral for that matter.

Not sure why people are doing it, but my guess is that its a symtom of a larger problem. A distracting perhaps. Dont know, I can just relate to myself and my own self destructive tendencies tend to manifest when I feel fragile and need something to distract me. Of course, I could we way off, so I wont claim to know. Whatever the cause, I dont think they are bad people or evil or immoral or anything, I just get concerned when I see it because I tend to care about people.