If you were a prisoner...

[sorn]

So I was just curios, about the idea of "suicide". While I was reading the book, it said that even though suicide might be common in the outside world to help people solve problems in their life. But it also said that, in the camp it wasn't common. They weren't taught to handle their stress by suiciding. No one in the camp would also dare to think about it because they didn't really know what suicide meant. All they knew was that they had to do what they were doing to survive, and to wash away the sins of their parents.

Well, if I were a prisoner in Camp 14, I would definitely commit suicide cause I know that I would never make it out of that prison and living in the camp is like dying anyways so I would have nothing to loose. Even though I know that by suiciding, my children will get into even more trouble because of me but still, I think that it is better than having to live in that camp forever.

If you were a prisoner in Camp 14, would you commit a suicide?

[JustinK.]

I think i will~~ but it depends ~ as mentioned in the book, if you haven't tasted freedom or life outside the fences, then you would probably accept the camp and the way you are treated. but if you were captured, you will mourn for your past and feel depressed; contrasting how different your life turned out to be. People in that sense will more likely kill themselves.

For me, i think i will commit suicide >< After reading the book, it feels like torture everyday~ i actually respect ones in the camp that tried their best to survive. Grasping onto any kind of food, those people haven't given up their lives.

As for children or relatives, i don't think i'll care that much since we'll be divided apart. Without much emotional connections, i don't think i'll think that far~~

[nadiraamalina]

Normally, I am completely opposed to the idea of suicide. It's stupid and meaningless and hurts the people you leave behind. But after reading Camp 14, none of those 3 reasons matter. There are no family bonds, no one to care about you after you die, and if you don't kill yourself first, a horrific disease or an agonizing accident at your workplace will do the job for you.
So yeah, if I lived in Camp 14, as soon as I get too old to work properly, I'd start thinking about ending my life.

[james]

Just like nadira said, i have strongly opposin feelins abt suicide. But i think it really depends on whether u were born in there or u were captured. If u were captured, u know how it feels to live outside, u know the taste of freedom. However, if u were born and raised in one of those camps, u will just accept it. U wouldnt even think of committing suicide, because u just accept the fact that u have to work for the rest of ur life due to whatever ur relatives have done wrong. Think abt it. Do u think shins ever thought abt escaping the camp if he hadnt met the uncle or park? So i guess if i was captured, suicide or attempt escape. And if i was born, live.

[junilee26]

I definitely agree with Nadira. I first thought ending your own life is something extremely cruel and also very stupid because you are not only killing yourself but your hurting your surroundings and the important people in your life. However, after reading camp 14, there is no such thing as true family love, or trust towards other people, and no point in life if we are getting beaten up for EVERYTHING we do they think is wrong. I would really just kill myself.

[woojongpark]

I know the chances are very thin, but I would try to escape before committing suicide. At least I want to try something before dying. Who knows? I might be lucky enough to get out of the camp.
By the way, I felt sad after reading the part where "The Party saw suicide as an attempt to get away from its grasp." It's very ridiculous. The guards don't even let people commit suicide, and yet they torture people every day. And it's very unfair. No one has right to suppress other people's freedom.

[jisu25]

if i was a prisoner i would not live for long and just suicide. Even though i actually really don't have the courage. Or I would just sit on cell until my sin is all over.

[KevinW]

I don't know what it's like to be a prisoner. I haven't even read your book. But I think we all have our limits—at some point we'll all break. I'm talking about losing your minds and no longer thinking straight. So perhaps normally you wouldn't kill yourself, or make stupid mistakes when plotting your escape, but when you are under extreme stress, can you still maintain that level head?

I don't know.

[sergeyfen]

Maybe i would try to escape from the camp first because there is little chance of it to be successful and even though if the guards catch me on during my escape i will be executed anyway for trying to escape camp. So i would probably try my luck first before i suicide.

[jungholee]

well, I think I want to, but i cant. IF there is something like gun, or knife that i can use, i could try, but if there's not, it's really hard to commit suicide, most of the methods are really painful, and takes a lot of time to die. Maybe I get fear of the pain, I cannot commit suicide in there.

[sazad100]

It would depend. If I was a person who got in the camp from the outside world I would know that there are no chances of survival in a good way so i would try to pan an escape and if i failed the guards could kill me but if i was born in there i wouldn't know much about the outside world so i would live and slowly die in the camp.

[linnie]

I didn't know they weren't allowed to commit suicide! Did I miss that part in the book or just I don't remember it? Anyway, I don't think I would suicide... I'm just too scared to do it. I don't know what will happen to me after I die as well. Since there, in Camp, is no concept about God, so there would be no concept about reincarnation, heaven and hell. So I don't think I would suicide, under unknown future.

Like Woojong said, I would rather try to escape. Even though chance is very low, at least I tried and I might success! Also when I fail, I will just be stuck in the camp again or hung, since I am a girl. This is also same as committing suicide, since you die. I just want to die after I try it. At least I tried, so I don't think I will regret dying. I know my family will suffer but I'm too weak to handle all the matters like that. So, I think I would try to escape first.

[brandonina]

Even though I didn't read the Camp 14, I get the point of your question. If I was a prisoner of Camp 14, which I believe it's pretty tough to go through all the tortures and brutal treatments you get, I would be close to committing the suicide. But if I knew there was hope, I would go for it even if it risks my life to do it. For me, I wouldn't be able to go through those hardships even though they depend on their harshness.

[lukejoo1092]

It really depends for me but if I was in the same position as Shin, then I think I wouldn't have committed suicide. It's not about because it's a bad idea to kill yourself or I'm desperate to live, it's just that I wouldn't understand why I'd want to kill myself. I don't know what other happiness and joy lies outside of the camp so I'd have nothing to compare my exhausting life with. Everyone around me aren't in that much of a better position then me. So honestly, I don't think I'd want to kill myself when everyone else is having to go through quite the same misery as me.

[agneslianaputri99]

First I would try to escape..then if it fails I would try my best to escape again. I wouldn't want to kill myself, I'd rather choose die trying to escape..