List Reference Guide Estel
 

"Estel", in the Dunadan language of the Tolkien books, means "hope". The estel list is particularly for people who have been through that utter personal hopelessness that induces the need to suicide, but have pulled back, for the moment, at least; or have realized that suicide will only be accomplished either by sudden impulse or in reaction to physical pain. Having once been actively suicidal, though, people often find that society is as intolerant of the not-actively-suicidal as of the suicidal.

(You know, you’re walking down the street with someone, and the person comments that someone jumped off that five-story building there and lived – and you answer “Well, of course, everyone knows you need ten stories to be sure of it” – and the person walking with you stares at you in horror and mumbles something about psychiatric clinics..)

It was developed as an outgrowth of the alt.suicide.holiday newsgroup; the content here is more towards acknowledging that life has this annoying tendency to continue, albeit not denying of death nor of the individual's right - and sometimes need - to suicide.

Condemnation of suicide and of individuals who are or have been suicidal is specifically off-topic. Announcement of imminent plans to commit suicide is strongly discouraged – not because we wouldn’t want to know, but people who are at this point have had enough emotional upsets from wondering, and wondering, and wondering.. Anything else; look at Google for ash posts between '94 and '97 for the intended atmosphere of the group.

(NOTE: This is a private mailing list. Posting of words other than your own, even if you think you have implicit permission, to other forums may result in your immediate banning from the list. Individuals may submit their own posts for inclusion on the website if the post is complete in itself and does not reference other's postings.)

This guide will likely grow as the group grows; modifications will be announced to the list.

Page created and maintained by steward
Last update: Sunday, January 05, 2003 00:50