I believe it’s a LAW that you must write a suicide note. I think it was Supreme court decision Jumper Jones vs Silent Sadie 1954. Jumper had gone to the Golden Gate bridge without telling anyone his plans or the reasons for his leap of no-faith. Silent Sadie, his girlfriend, was so pissed at Jumper that she filed a law suit claiming emotional damage, neglect, mental abuse, and that a bottomless pit of deep dark angst had appeared in her stomach right after she learned of Jumper’s jump. The Supreme court decided that all acts of suicide MUST have an official note (notarized if possible) and the note shall be written in the suicide persons own handwriting and the note shall explain the forthcoming action of suicide and the note shall release any and all people from blame and the note shall be written on white paper in multi colored crayon and the note shall have at lease two hand drawn flowers, bees, smiley faces, balloons, Oscar the Grouch pictures and the note shall be signed with the suicide persons own thumb print for verification purposes. The Suicide note must not be written by a third party and it is illegal to use a professional suicide note agency. If these steps are not followed to the letter then the suicide is hereto for not valid and will be undone. The suicide person will spend up to 5 years in jail and $5 fine to cover administrative costs. Jumper Jones is now serving out his 5 years in a California state penitentiary even though he is quite deceased. His $5 fine has yet to be paid.
If I’m not mistaken, Silent Sadie’s pit of deep dark angst led her to attempt suicide that year also at the Golden Gate Bridge. But in her haste she failed to draw Oscar the Grouch on her note, thereby invalidating it. (At her subsequent 16 year court trial, she would argue that she did indeed draw Oscar, but the prosecution successfully convinced the jury that it was a picture of Sean Spicer on a bad hair day.) So without documentation of a valid suicide attempt, crisis negotiators on the bridge were not allowed to talk to her, and her call to the suicide hotline was re-routed to Comcast customer service. Sadie ended up jumping to her death, but the court ruled that it wasn’t a good suicide so she is technically not dead. Her wikipedia page lists her as holding the world’s record for holding her breath underwater, 63 years and counting.
“the note shall be signed with the suicide persons own thumb print for verification purposes.” I heard that part of the law was challenged. For legal purposes, the thumb print must be written in the deceased’s own blood. That was upheld in a lower court. I don’t know if it had been appealed.
Personally, I see no appeal in that.
I wrote my suicide note but that was back when I had a little respect for my parents. I do not anymore. So I do not see a reason to write one. Before it said like “Thanks for everything. I hope YOU have a long, happy life” now it will probably say “I KNOW YOURE GOING TO BURN IN HELL”
I have two notes.
One is a philosophical essay, the other a short story/vignette. I’m inclined to leave the latter as it is likely that neither would be understood, so why not be brief?
“If you stare into the void, and it blinks first, you win. But the prize is insanity. Don’t trust the squirrel with a child’s face. It speaks only lies. Apophis, the Moon Serpent may try to eat you. Let him.”
I would leave a note, only because I feel like my death would validate all that I had to say in it. Nothing I have ever said in life has ever been taken seriously by anyone. So maybe in death would my last words hold value. Leave one if you feel the need for your words to be felt forever, otherwise it’s pretty much pointless
I have considered this from time to time but I haven’t decided. As Jess765 noted, “Nothing I have ever said in life has ever been taken seriously by anyone”, in my case no-one would be bothered in all honesty. Or if they did wonder why, it would be a passing query and life would move on for them.
Perhaps the only advantage would be to state that you are taking your own life freely, but whether that would inhibit further investigation from the authorities to rule out foul play – IDK. If the death was ruled suicide then that would appear in the stats. If no note, or suicide is not determined, then the stats will reflect accident.
I’m on the fence about leaving a note. On my last attempt, I left one and vented all my anquish and pain. I don’t really want to do that again. I did make a nice cd of music to be played at my memorial after I’m cremated though. Maybe the lyrics will speak for me.
19 comments
I believe it’s a LAW that you must write a suicide note. I think it was Supreme court decision Jumper Jones vs Silent Sadie 1954. Jumper had gone to the Golden Gate bridge without telling anyone his plans or the reasons for his leap of no-faith. Silent Sadie, his girlfriend, was so pissed at Jumper that she filed a law suit claiming emotional damage, neglect, mental abuse, and that a bottomless pit of deep dark angst had appeared in her stomach right after she learned of Jumper’s jump. The Supreme court decided that all acts of suicide MUST have an official note (notarized if possible) and the note shall be written in the suicide persons own handwriting and the note shall explain the forthcoming action of suicide and the note shall release any and all people from blame and the note shall be written on white paper in multi colored crayon and the note shall have at lease two hand drawn flowers, bees, smiley faces, balloons, Oscar the Grouch pictures and the note shall be signed with the suicide persons own thumb print for verification purposes. The Suicide note must not be written by a third party and it is illegal to use a professional suicide note agency. If these steps are not followed to the letter then the suicide is hereto for not valid and will be undone. The suicide person will spend up to 5 years in jail and $5 fine to cover administrative costs. Jumper Jones is now serving out his 5 years in a California state penitentiary even though he is quite deceased. His $5 fine has yet to be paid.
Is this a true story lol? I had good laugh thanks ?
If I’m not mistaken, Silent Sadie’s pit of deep dark angst led her to attempt suicide that year also at the Golden Gate Bridge. But in her haste she failed to draw Oscar the Grouch on her note, thereby invalidating it. (At her subsequent 16 year court trial, she would argue that she did indeed draw Oscar, but the prosecution successfully convinced the jury that it was a picture of Sean Spicer on a bad hair day.) So without documentation of a valid suicide attempt, crisis negotiators on the bridge were not allowed to talk to her, and her call to the suicide hotline was re-routed to Comcast customer service. Sadie ended up jumping to her death, but the court ruled that it wasn’t a good suicide so she is technically not dead. Her wikipedia page lists her as holding the world’s record for holding her breath underwater, 63 years and counting.
That’s the part I forgot. Thanks for remembering. Nice.
“the note shall be signed with the suicide persons own thumb print for verification purposes.” I heard that part of the law was challenged. For legal purposes, the thumb print must be written in the deceased’s own blood. That was upheld in a lower court. I don’t know if it had been appealed.
Personally, I see no appeal in that.
Holy crap, this is great!!
Nope. Most people don’t leave a suicide note
Really damn it is kinda unfair to your loved ones imo
My mom loves me but if I left a note she wouldn’t read it. It would just be me talking to myself. In death as I was in life, I suppose.
I wrote my suicide note but that was back when I had a little respect for my parents. I do not anymore. So I do not see a reason to write one. Before it said like “Thanks for everything. I hope YOU have a long, happy life” now it will probably say “I KNOW YOURE GOING TO BURN IN HELL”
Kidding… but no I will not leave a note.
Hey, if you’ve been treated worse than shit and that’s how you feel…
Joking aside, if I did commit suicide, I would absolutely leave a note. But that’s just my feeling on the matter.
I have two notes.
One is a philosophical essay, the other a short story/vignette. I’m inclined to leave the latter as it is likely that neither would be understood, so why not be brief?
“If you stare into the void, and it blinks first, you win. But the prize is insanity. Don’t trust the squirrel with a child’s face. It speaks only lies. Apophis, the Moon Serpent may try to eat you. Let him.”
THE END.
I would leave a note, only because I feel like my death would validate all that I had to say in it. Nothing I have ever said in life has ever been taken seriously by anyone. So maybe in death would my last words hold value. Leave one if you feel the need for your words to be felt forever, otherwise it’s pretty much pointless
I have considered this from time to time but I haven’t decided. As Jess765 noted, “Nothing I have ever said in life has ever been taken seriously by anyone”, in my case no-one would be bothered in all honesty. Or if they did wonder why, it would be a passing query and life would move on for them.
Perhaps the only advantage would be to state that you are taking your own life freely, but whether that would inhibit further investigation from the authorities to rule out foul play – IDK. If the death was ruled suicide then that would appear in the stats. If no note, or suicide is not determined, then the stats will reflect accident.
I’m on the fence about leaving a note. On my last attempt, I left one and vented all my anquish and pain. I don’t really want to do that again. I did make a nice cd of music to be played at my memorial after I’m cremated though. Maybe the lyrics will speak for me.
@Owsley: If I may ask, what’s on the cd?