Venting How many people would just leave if life came with a simple on off switch

[Darkover]

If life had an "off switch"—a simple, immediate, and consequence-free way to exit—many more people might seriously consider using it during moments of despair, isolation, or overwhelm. It's likely that far more people would leave than we imagine, not because they truly want to die, but because they might feel too tired or trapped to keep going in that moment.

What keeps many people alive today—despite pain or hardship—is the friction, uncertainty, and finality surrounding death. A switch would remove all that. And with that ease, even fleeting suffering could feel like too much.

If you gave 8+ billion people an immediate, painless, consequence-free way to "opt out" of life—especially in moments of hopelessness—there's a real chance that billions would choose it, or at least come terrifyingly close.

Not all at once. But over time? Maybe. Because suffering is global. Depression, disconnection, poverty, grief, shame, trauma—these aren't rare. Many people are holding on by routine, guilt, fear, or obligation. Remove those, and you're left with the raw question: Do I want to keep doing this? And not everyone has a "yes" ready.

That's not because life isn't beautiful—it can be—but because beauty often comes buried under pain, and not everyone has the tools or support to dig through it.

 

[Pluto]

 

[iw2live_idkhow]

Another thing I'd like to add to the discussion is that film where you can hit a button for like a million dollars or something but a random person around the world dies as a result, and almost everyone hit the button. It's like people are obsessed with keeping people alive, or not allowing anyone to commit suicide, but lo and behold a method comes along where they benefit from it and it's "just" a random stranger, they can't help themselves. I know it's just a film, but I'm convinced it would happen similarly in real life if people had the option.

 

[Forever Sleep]

It's hard to judge really. I'd probably still argue that it would more likely be used by people who had very little to live for. Yes, everyone struggles but I think people with loved ones, strong interests, ambitions, hobbies might experience their problems more as minor to major inconveniences, rather than the reason to end it all. I still feel that suicidal people tend to have less hope or reason to want to be here.

But sure, I think the major thing holding people with ideation back is fearing the process of attempting and, possibly failing an attempt with awful consequences. So, for many of us, yes I think we'd use it like a shot.

Again though, not everyone- once again. I wouldn't use it straight away. I'd still try to hold on until my Dad passed first. It would be incredible to know I wouldn't have to suffer at the end though and, that the death would be 'clean'.

I think a big rise in suicides would make more people consider anti-natilism though. Spare them the possible emotional and financial cost of losing their children.

 

[22yearsbroken]

Or maybe a standy by mode just a long term sleep without concious dreaming... just nothing for say 10 years then come back see if the world is still a fucked up mess as it is now...and maybe re-start life..

Or maybe a standy by mode just a long term sleep without concious dreaming... just nothing for say 10 years then come back see if the world is still a fucked up mess as it is now...and maybe re-start life..

If there is no stand by then .. where is the off button.

 

[Poiter1987]

If life had an "off switch"—a simple, immediate, and consequence-free way to exit—many more people might seriously consider using it during moments of despair, isolation, or overwhelm. It's likely that far more people would leave than we imagine, not because they truly want to die, but because they might feel too tired or trapped to keep going in that moment.

What keeps many people alive today—despite pain or hardship—is the friction, uncertainty, and finality surrounding death. A switch would remove all that. And with that ease, even fleeting suffering could feel like too much.

If you gave 8+ billion people an immediate, painless, consequence-free way to "opt out" of life—especially in moments of hopelessness—there's a real chance that billions would choose it, or at least come terrifyingly close.

Not all at once. But over time? Maybe. Because suffering is global. Depression, disconnection, poverty, grief, shame, trauma—these aren't rare. Many people are holding on by routine, guilt, fear, or obligation. Remove those, and you're left with the raw question: Do I want to keep doing this? And not everyone has a "yes" ready.

That's not because life isn't beautiful—it can be—but because beauty often comes buried under pain, and not everyone has the tools or support to dig through it.

It's amazing that we just pop into existence. We have no say in the matter. I'd hate to think of existence during the dark ages or just the very early humans.

The suffering would have been off the scales.

 

[LetMeOut67]

A vast amount. Immense. Just the thought of so many slaves exiting would give the psychopaths nightmares.

 

[dontwakemeup]

I agree with your post. Suicide is so taboo, that if given the opportunity a lot of people probably won't flip that switch. I personally wouldn't have flipped the switch years ago. I always wished my attempts were successfully because nothing has changed. I make more money now but who cares when you don't enjoy anything? I think most people probably would comitt during some crisis for sure. Great post btw!

 

[Gustav Hartmann]

If life could only by ended by an off switch the broad majority would never operate this switch.

 

[Dejected 55]

I'd have flipped mine long ago... or if not, I'd wear it out flipping it so much right now.

 

[locked*n*loaded]

 

[anonymous2025]

If life had an "off switch"—a simple, immediate, and consequence-free way to exit—many more people might seriously consider using it during moments of despair, isolation, or overwhelm. It's likely that far more people would leave than we imagine, not because they truly want to die, but because they might feel too tired or trapped to keep going in that moment.

What keeps many people alive today—despite pain or hardship—is the friction, uncertainty, and finality surrounding death. A switch would remove all that. And with that ease, even fleeting suffering could feel like too much.

If you gave 8+ billion people an immediate, painless, consequence-free way to "opt out" of life—especially in moments of hopelessness—there's a real chance that billions would choose it, or at least come terrifyingly close.

Not all at once. But over time? Maybe. Because suffering is global. Depression, disconnection, poverty, grief, shame, trauma—these aren't rare. Many people are holding on by routine, guilt, fear, or obligation. Remove those, and you're left with the raw question: Do I want to keep doing this? And not everyone has a "yes" ready.

That's not because life isn't beautiful—it can be—but because beauty often comes buried under pain, and not everyone has the tools or support to dig through it.

I've thought about this a lot in the past, what if life had an on/off switch.. for starters, if that were the case, life would most likely be much simpler and people would feel no dispair ever. Imagine, no pain, no fear, just simplicity, I guess we would be like robots then and everything would be to good to be true.

View attachment 166502

That's awesome

 

[Defenestration]

Si la vie disposait d'un « bouton off » – un moyen simple, immédiat et sans conséquence de s'en sortir – beaucoup plus de gens envisageraient sérieusement de l'utiliser dans les moments de désespoir, d'isolement ou de dépassement de soi. Il est probable que beaucoup plus de gens partiraient qu'on ne l'imagine, non pas par désir sincère de mourir, mais parce qu'ils se sentiraient trop fatigués ou pris au piège pour continuer à ce moment-là.

Ce qui maintient en vie de nombreuses personnes aujourd'hui, malgré la douleur et les épreuves, c'est la friction, l'incertitude et la finalité de la mort. Un simple changement éliminerait tout cela. Et avec cette facilité, même une souffrance passagère pourrait sembler insupportable.

Si vous donniez à plus de 8 milliards de personnes un moyen immédiat, indolore et sans conséquence de « se retirer » de la vie – en particulier dans les moments de désespoir – il y a une réelle chance que des milliards de personnes le choisissent, ou du moins s'en approchent terriblement.

Pas tout d'un coup. Mais avec le temps ? Peut-être. Car la souffrance est universelle. Dépression, déconnexion, pauvreté, deuil, honte, traumatisme… ces sentiments ne sont pas rares. Nombreux sont ceux qui s'accrochent à la routine, à la culpabilité, à la peur ou aux obligations. Si l'on s'en débarrasse, on se retrouve avec une question fondamentale : est-ce que je veux continuer comme ça ? Et tout le monde n'a pas un « oui » prêt.

Ce n'est pas parce que la vie n'est pas belle – elle peut l'être – mais parce que la beauté est souvent enfouie sous la douleur, et tout le monde n'a pas les outils ou le soutien nécessaires pour la surmonter.

50/100

 

[divinemistress36]

Atleast 5% of the population

 

[Daenerys Targaryen]

I would immediately do a triple somersault to pressure him.

 

[CesiumBullet]

Are there any people who have really never ideated suicide even once in their whole life? I remember wanting to press that switch when I was a child. I can only assume most other people have also wanted to.

 

[cemeteryismyhome]

I would have been gone a long time ago if I had such a switch. It makes me sad to be reminded that I don't have one of those.

 

[Leyna]

Been wishing for one of those for years

 

[enduringwinter]

Not many, in most people's pov those who switch it off would be considered weak and filtered.
Or I guess it could be called many, but not enough to be significant, a minority.

 

[Danby]

Oh if it were only that easy . . .

 

[used_and_abused]

I would've flipped it at 9. Too bad i was too big to hang myself at the time, the cable broke lol