Monday, July 4, 2016
Killing yourself
I am completely devastated to see the responses to Arlina Banana's tweets about her thoughts on suicide. Arlina tweeted about being hopeless and thinking to end her life due to being cyber-bullied because of her body, then proceeded to deactivate her account. It's tragic to see netizens acknowledging this deciding to do nothing but mock her for being stupid and unislamic. Saying that she doesn't deserve your empathy because it was mere "attention-seeking". I don't know her in real life but seriously, Have you lost your minds? She's in deep pain and you're persecuting her because she's victimised?
Do you really understand how is it like to be depressed? You're tortured in a deep hole of oppression where you feel hopeless of whatever comes next. You see no future except darkness and tragedy. The dispiriting feeling runs in your veins and sticks on your heart like cholesterol. You forget the last time you even laughed out loud or enjoyed life. It doesn't matter how successful you are regardless. As long as the daunting mentality is glued to your mind, it's hard to even remember that you have a happy life nonetheless. It's difficult to consume positive things. Especially when people keep disheartening you, especially when people keep bullying you like what Arlina had to endure. It's not just that you're unhappy, but you feel like you're unhappy alone. As if the world is against you. As if it's better off if you're dead. The pain feels too massive to withstand. That's why people are stupid enough to cut their flesh, because they want a distraction from mental pain. That's why people are stupid enough to kill themselves, because they want an end to their pain. Because they think they would be happier that way.
You don't understand. You've never been there. But it doesn't give you the ticket for you to shame her even more.
Then the idea about attention-seeking. It does sound annoying at first, sure. No one likes attention seekers. However, a few responses. 1) Learn to differentiate attention-seeking and expressing that you're heartbroken. Give her a break, it's bloody social media. You are highly encourage to let the world know how you feel. If she's sad or intimidated because of constant bullying, then she has the right to say it. Even if it includes suicidal thoughts. You're being more immature to dismiss her problem to begin with. 2) Her so-called attention-seeking is justified. She's in a condition where she needs the most help she can get. If more people would notice her agony, if more people would know her condition, then more people would sympathise her suffering, more people would want to be responsible to stop it from happening, then more people would offer a helping hand, and maybe she would then be convinced not to kill herself. If she has to seek attention just to save her own life, if she has to scream to the world that she's helpless and in pain, then let her be. 3) Killing yourself is not equivalent to attention seeking, for god's sake.
Oh let us not forget the people who claim suicide is unislamic and idiotic. And OHHH suddenly taunting her for her choice is VERY ISLAMIC. Right. You're taking a step into hellfire as much as she is. True, we can't change the words and laws from Allah SWT, nor we can change other religion's beliefs. And suicide is one of the biggest immortal sins available in almost every religion. Sure, no matter how tough your life is, you are subjected to go through it anyway. However, if so, you should at least treat her with kindness. She has already gone through too much for any more harsh words and sarcastic remarks. She is in desperate need for help. She needs positive support. The more you ridicule her, she'll feel more worthless and more determine than her choice is legitimate. You're actually influencing a choice you are against with. The prophet has never taught you to speak badly of a person. Just because you think suicide is not the way to end your problems, doesn't mean that you can go on scorning her. Help her.
Whether it's Arlina or not, no one has asked to be bullied or depressed. If you're a victim of bullying or if you feel hopeless or worthless, my advice is; Hang on, sayang. Take deep breaths and remember the purpose of your life. Get someone else to listen to you, refrain from being alone. You'll feel better once you talk about it. Do know that no matter how dumb suicide is, some people kill themselves without warning or showing any signs of depression. The next victim can be anyone you know. Think twice about how much your words can affect a person, even if it is only in social media.
1:38 AM
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With SPM coming up, Syasya decides to write her journey to the biggest determiner of her life. (notice the brackets in her post counting down the days to the start of it) Turning 17 two days before Bahasa Melayu Paper 1, Syasya is an ambitious girl no taller than 5 foot 3, but with dreams higher than the sky. She spends her free time reading, sleeping, writing and lepaking. Syasya's a little bit weird sometimes, but, well, she likes to be different.
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