Suicide Is Not the Answer - Penn Point

The It Gets Better campaign has one flaw: implying that suicide is a rational response to bullying.

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Penn Point is no ordinary vlog. It's a virtual conversation about today's hottest topics. Penn Point brings you a front row seat to Penn Jillette's unique and passionate point of view in a compact vlog, four times a week!

Category:

• Entertainment
• Comedy
• News

Produced by:

• Penn Jillette

Tags:

• penn
• penn point
• penn jillette
• penn and teller
• it get s better
• bullying
• gay
• children
• suicide
• bully
• bullies
• student
• attack
• outrage
• mistake
• rational
• response
• terminal illness
• death with dignity
• somalia
• aushwitz
• tortured
• forced
• normalization
• antidisestablishmentaria

[TheAnthony8650]

@orwellreturning - You are right. Your post stated the exact same two points I was thinking after I watched this video.

Bullied children often become isolated in their lives and lose all forms of emotional support, sometimes even from parents and family. For that to occur at such a tough time in a person's life like the teenage years, it must make life too unbearable to continue.

[orwellreturning]

@scarletgriffon You said suicidal people want to end their life. I disagree. Having been there myself, and discussed it with many other people who have felt suicidal, it's not life that you want to end, it's the pain. But sometimes it -seems- like that's the only way you can get it to end. That's the only way out you can see, cos your thinking has been distorted by all the trauma.

[whatsthis31]

People in Auschwitz and Somalia were just that. PEOPLE in torment. Not a young (undeveloped) person in torment. That's the power of numbers. These kids feel as if their whole world hates them. All they know is they are they only ones that has to constantly watch their backs and constantly fight for approval. Think more of it as the person in a or a person in prison. That is how that kid sees his life.

[joningi100]

I dont think its a good idea to talk about such sad, and depressing subject and straight after it put up some crappy commercials and act all happy about it.

[jimwalsh2001]

"Regarding the question of suicide: keep it a question - it's not really an answer." - Peter McWilliams

[Fatcatnevercameback]

@roboticvision86 - That's exactly what I've been thinking.

[TheResilient5689]

@daboodeef179 I've been in your shoes way too many times too, so I know how you feel. But for me, it gets better with psychotherapy and PTSD treatment. You should look into if you have time; it might be pretty helpful in the end.

[roboticvision86]

first comment ever on you tube hope i do not sound to stupid. in the pictures shown in this video of auschwitz and somalia death camps i have to agree yes what they went through was much worse, but then i have to think can human beings deal with greater injustices and tourchers if they are with friends and loved ones rather a singular person having to deal with lesser tourchers alone?

[TheResilient5689]

@fatfacerick I couldn't agree with you more. I've had my share of being picked on in life. But I feel like as long as you seek support from loving and knowledgeable individuals, you'll be fine in the long run.

And as for a practical solution, the best advice I would give is to PUNCH THE BULLY'S LIGHTS OUT. You might a) get your ass kicked and/or b) get in trouble, but believe me, cuts and bruises heal in time and they're offset by a self-respect.

[fatfacerick]

You're never alone. If you feel isolated it's because you've allowed yourself to become isolated. No blame, but that's what happens. We've all been there. There are always people who can & will help you. We're here, reach out to one of us, any of us.

If you feel like no one gets it, trust me, we do. We understand.

And no matter how much it seems like you can't, you CAN help yourself. Don't let anyone, including yourself, tell you you're weak. The human spirit is indomitable.

Trust in that.

[dukinhower]

@TheSaltyAdmiral Auschwitz! really? watching your family slaughtered and pulling through it Waaaaaaay more devastating than being called a faggot. Penn makes a good point here. Those kids didn't have to kill themselves it was a cowards way out! Too many gay people and bullied poeple have persevered against all odds. And the Holocaust vs. being bullied... way different. The fact that these kids are killing themselves is deeper than bullying and just chalking it up to bullying is not the answer.

[Jimboman300]

While I too sympathize with gay students I think its a bit unfair the heterosexual youths are also driven to suicide for many other reasons that seem to never get covered. For example sexual rejection. Heterosexual youths with Aspergers are every bit as likely to committ suicide as gays but soceity does not seem to care about the suffering of strait aspergers youths and the gay youths get all the attention. You don't choose Aspergers anymore then you choose homosexuality