What is the Worst Way to Die?
by Travis
To most, death is one of the greatest fears. Psychologist Ernest Becker suggests that we are so concerned with cheating death that we don’t actually live. He believes that the worst type of death is one that ends an insignificant life. However, if we disregard previous factors and simply consider the act of death itself, then surely some methods are scarier than others.
Thinking about death is something that most people tend to avoid. However there are others, known as thanatologists, who cannot get enough of it. Journalists have even tackled this issue. Anna Gosline wrote an article for The New Scientist in 2007. Here is a sampling of her findings:
- Bleeding to death. This form of suicide was a favorite for Roman aristocracy. The Romans would hop in a warm tub and cut a vein and wait to be carried off into the afterlife, full of satisfaction. Some of the stages before death include weakness, thirst, anxiety, dizziness and confusion.
- Burning to death. When most people are trapped in a burning fire, it is usually the fumes released that kills. However, for the unlucky ones who die directly from fire there is a lot of suffering. The inflammatory response to burns drastically increases the pain associated.
- Decapitation. This seems relatively painless, unless you are Margaret Pole, the Countless of Salisbury, who fought her executioner in 1541 and was hit eleven times with an axe before succumbing. Death occurs in less than seven seconds – which is when the oxygen in the brain is exhausted. This means that you live for a few seconds after the blow – however we have not had any firsthand witnesses attest to this scientific speculation. It is hard to gather a group of interested individuals for a headless focus group.
- Falling. This is like drowning and most people are scared of these two events, mostly because it can happen in everyday life. There have been some survivors and they report the feeling of time slowing down and being super-alert to try to maintain an upright position on impact, much like cats.
- Hanging. This method of dying is relatively painless and quick. The most pain occurs on the wait for the rope to be pulled. However, if the noose is loosely tied, then the struggle can be very uncomfortable.
There are many other forms of dying that can be just as bad. Still to discuss is crucifixion, lethal injection, electric chair, dying in a casket and many other forms of deaths. It’s time to stop discussing this disconcerting topic. Surely Anna Gosline is available to continue.
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