In Memoriam

[lizwilliams]

Like everyone else, I'm amazed Hunter S Thompson made it to the age of 67 (though not as amazed as I was that Bill Burroughs lived as long as he did). An infuriating and refreshing man in equal measure.

It does take a certain amount of bottle to shoot yourself, though rough on the nearest and dearest who inevitably discover you. I think I'd only ever do it if I had a fatal disease: having spent too much time by hospital beds in deathbed vigils, I don't really want that for myself.

But I'm quite prepared to learn that Thompson did it out of sheer perversity. Still, I'll raise a glass all the same.

Comments

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I have sympathy for people who are already dying, particularly painfully, and shoot themselves. My uncle did that, in fact, and while it wasn't easy for my aunt, he was in pain that the doctors couldn't do anything about, so I understood. (And he'd also said that if he was ever in that situation, he'd kill himself, so it wasn't unexpected.)

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

Horrible for your aunt and for your family, but yes, I understand that.

Mind you, one would need to make damn sure - the father of a friend of mine killed himself for similar reasons: he'd had mouth cancer once and been treated with radiotherapy, but apparently it had come back, so he committed suicide. Unfortunately, he'd been misdiagnosed.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Oh, how awful! For him, his family, and the doctor who did the misdiagnosis.

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

It was grim and the family haven't really recovered from it. He was diagnosed out in S E Asia, in a clinic where diagnostic techniques might not have been up to Western standards. He also died out there, which meant an awful trip to recover the body.

Really, when I hear some people's stories, I count myself very lucky indeed, at least thus far (avert!)

Uncle Duke is gone

[(Anonymous)]

But I'm quite prepared to learn that Thompson did it out of sheer perversity. Still, I'll raise a glass all the same.

You aren't the only one. His friend and collaborator Ralph Steadman's commentary on it is here:
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/features/story.jsp?story=613513

I just think back to a letter that appeared in Rolling Stone years back, from a couple of readers who commented "Dear Dr. Thompson: We think you are a great writer and all, but if you ever came to our town, we'd lock you in the closet and run like crazy fuckers!" I understood just how they felt.
______
Dennis

Re: Uncle Duke is gone

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

He seems to have attracted some criticism on LJ because he was an often unsavoury lunatic.

Er....

Re: Uncle Duke is gone

[(Anonymous)]

He seems to have attracted some criticism on LJ because he was an often unsavoury lunatic.

Er....

As opposed to the savoury lunatics who populate LJ? :-)

Pot? Kettle...
______
Dennis

Re: Uncle Duke is gone

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

Quite!

Plenty of fear and loathing on LJ....