Famous and groundbreaking writer Hunter S. Thompson took his life this weekend in a manner that is described as "pre planned". He spent an intiamate weekend with his family before shooting himself. He is believed to have decided that he lived a full life and was not going to suffer the indignity of old age.

Hunter S. Thompson originated "Gonzo" style journalism and is known for "Fear and Loathing in las Vegas" a work of fiction based on his own experience covering a narcotics convention for a district attorney while he himself was on narcotics.
I for one will miss this amazing writer and do my best to carry on the "gonzo" legacy.

There have been some mutterings that perhaps this man was murdered because he was about to release a story on Bush, I'll have to look into this but I think it might just be wishful thinking.

I don't think I'd have the nuts to committ suicide, however I think I might understand where he is coming from. Do you know many old people? To go your whole life taking charge and doing what you wanted (which he did moreso than most of us probably) and then be reduced to depending on others and having no control over your bladder... tough. I personally mistreat some of the older people in my life just by not calling them enough even though I know they are lonely.
Someone else on this site commented that their grandmother died and their grandfather was living on. The only thing grandpa liked to do was read and eat. Because of his health maladies he couldn't eat what he wanted and his eyes went bad so he could no longer read. He no longer had any purpose in life, and that is a great tragedy, maybe greater than death.

-----"""That's the reason most anyone of our generation knows anything about this guy."""

That is true...I just thought it was semi-funny.


-----"""you know what, I could die at 30 and i'd be happy.""" -----"""As could I."""

Yeah right...I bet you wouldn't say that a month before your 30th birthday.


-----""" we arent suppose to die at 70, we arent suppose to live to 100,"""

It does kind of suck we have to spend more than half our lives past our prime now. I wonder how much that can be changed.

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You know what, i want to die in a bed with my friends wihtout tubes hanging out of me, and the only way around that is to kill myself, you see what our society has become?

Well, you could also opt to not have the treatments that put the tubes in you, and get a "do not recucitate" order. You don't have to be a dick about it and put a bullet in your head. Death is inevitable. Life happens once. Might as well stay alive as long as possible.

quote:

you know what, I could die at 30 and i'd be happy.

As could I. It's not that I fear death, I'm intensely curious about it. Some answers might lie on the other side. And if there aren't any answers, then I probably won't know because I won't exist any more.

But to end life because you "dont want to suffer the indiginities of old age" is a crock.

It's our nature to want to live. It's not what our society has become, it's what humans have always looked for. The thing is, we're starting to get to the point where life really can be extended for long periods of time. And people are desperate because that dream of immortality, or even long life, is within thier grasp.

Suicide without a real purpose is the height of stupidity and selfishness.

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Originally posted by DrStrangelove:

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Originally posted by ICELAND:
-----"""...narcotics convention for a district attorney while he himself was on narcotics."""

And that would be the reason Bauhaus knows anything about this guy.

That's the reason most anyone of our generation knows anything about this guy.

This man committed suicide because he didn't feel like having people see him grow old. That's pretty damn immature and egocentric to me. He gave us lots of good jokes about "bat country" though.

what the hell are you talking about, he undserstood life better than the rest of you, we arent suppose to die at 70, we arent suppose to live to 100, screw all that. You know what, i want to die in a bed with my friends wihtout tubes hanging out of me, and the only way around that is to kill myself, you see what our society has become? we are afraid of death none of us want to die, why do you think we have stemcell reseach we dont want die! we are putting off death.

you know what, I could die at 30 and i'd be happy.

quote:

Originally posted by ICELAND:
-----"""...narcotics convention for a district attorney while he himself was on narcotics."""

And that would be the reason Bauhaus knows anything about this guy.

That's the reason most anyone of our generation knows anything about this guy.

This man committed suicide because he didn't feel like having people see him grow old. That's pretty damn immature and egocentric to me. He gave us lots of good jokes about "bat country" though.

-----"""...narcotics convention for a district attorney while he himself was on narcotics."""

And that would be the reason Bauhaus knows anything about this guy.

Why don't you respect him as a writer? What have you written that's so great? I took some time to visit your website and the writing there is less than spectacular. Perhaps you dislike Hunter because he was a wildman and a substance abuser? Please articulate.

one of the most original writers of this century and a huge counterculture icon.

Although I do not respect him as a writer, I am saddened that he ended his life at his own habds. I have seen him a few times at bars in Aspen. His manner seemed pleasant though I never spoke to him. I hope his family is not terribly grief stricken by this.