Question to SS

[gggy]

why do you call it ctb and not plain suicide?

 

[WhatCouldHaveBeen32]

Idk the guys from SS took their cyanide pill like 80 years ago, don't think we can ask them anymore.

Real answer: I have no clue but I can speculate that catching the bus sounds more peaceful I guess? compared to suicide.

 

[psp3000]

I assume that some people say catch the bus or ctb instead of suicide, commit suicide, or killing yourself because

- suicide communities of the past also used this term for suicide

- the term is also used or is a visual metaphor for suicide in media for example in the comic book and film Ghost World

- I always felt a bit strange about the term commiting suicide but over time I am comfortable with it since it is a commitment (spending time doing research on methods, buying stuff, making wills and funeral plans etc.)

- killing yourself is still a bit strange to me at times because that makes it sound like commiting suicide is done against your will
idk how to explain it
or like someone or something or some outside force (figment or person other than yourself) is making you do it
or that only people not of sound mind commit suicide
or maybe people say this because they just can't believe someone would willingly commit suicide or make such a decision and follow through with it

while they can believe it for someone who is terminally ill and has decided to sign a DNR or seek out euthanasia or hospice care when that happens no one says "they killed themselves" which is interesting

hopefully this isn't a bunch of gibberish, really had to think hard about this one as I haven't thought about all the terminology in quite some time since reading Geo Stone's book specifically the part about different motives for suicide and suicidal gestures

edit: also I am curious as to how far back the term catching the bus traces back to or the first piece of media or literature that uses it as a euphemism for suicide if anyone has looked into that