smokinsean wrote: 
I just wanted to say that I heart you for using the word schadenfreude.  There's just something about that word (not the meaning) that I love.

 Zep wrote: 

...he chose his own fate and took his life in his own hands...literally...my statement is purely my opinion...I have never been overtly suicidal or had an immediate family member choose thier fate in such a selfish way so I wouldn't know the clarity OR gravity of the situation...the statements about courtesy to stick around and make amends somehow sound rather uninformed to me...again I don't think any grown man w/a family would come to this decision lightly...something tells me he will have financially looked after his family...and maybe that's why he offed himself as the business he was in did not look after thousands of families that trusted them with thier money and assets...

 Beaker wrote: 
Sorry you missed the concept of the post.

 phineas wrote: 
Remember the movie "Wall Street"? It's just pure greed. "Right livelihood" is a term that means that you make money, but it's in the interest of improving the world, not raping the economy so that you can do whatever rich people do with their money. Where is the morality?

A quote from an unidentified TARP wife:

I haven't even looked at spring clothes; God forbid someone catches me out in something new. Keeping up with fashion seems somehow decadent in this new era, like getting Botox injections or catered dinners... If I buy a present for someone, I have the package sent to their home. I don't want to be spotted climbing into a taxi, laden with Bergdorf Goodman shopping bags.

 phineas wrote: 
/rant on/
Bravo!  and as usual, Beaker's logic is wildly skewed....as I tell my students frequently: it's all about SCALE.  The earnings of one human and right to get ahead are not a valid comparison to the deliberate actions ( or "look the other way" INactions)  of someone who has been charged with such IMMENSE social and fiscal responsibility.   His actions affected THOUSANDS of people, and indeed our entire economy.  No doubt Beak's rebuttal will be some GOP ideology about "well if we had smaller gov't and completely unrestrained free markets this wouldn't have happened"....Oh, really?!?!  REALLY?!?!  Cause that's essentially what these financial institutions have had lo these past several years....free reign, unregulated largely for these "new financial instruments".  All in the name of "it's perfectly legal". 

 Ideology is just that, and not always practical for everyday life.  And certainly not when tainted by the very human foible of greed.  /end of rant/

All that said, my sympathies to his family, who will mourn their loved one, and endure the social stigma that his 16 long years at Freddie Mac wrought on his legacy.
So to make a long story short, I agree with you Phin...

 hippiechick wrote: 
"In the moment" is the kind of thing that's working for me when the hive gets too stirred up.
 
Sounds like you have good, adult relationships with your kids.

 cc_rider wrote: 
Yup. I've noted before that, over dinner and drinks, I've asked both this guy and his wife (also a financial type) the "what do you do for business?" thing and been given the response: "Oh, it's complicated — no one really knows what I do..hehehe...." Yeah, well now we know.  (edit: and what, you're saying I'm too stupid to understand? Try me. These people knew, in their hearts, that they were part of a big, expensive (to others) sham — I have no doubt about that.

I've got zero problem with wealth and earnings and them's that's got em. I've got a big problem with money for nothing, based on nothing.

 phineas wrote: 
Six years ago I went as far as writing letters to my kids. My daughter said to me "How would you feel if I killed myself?" and I said that I don't know how I would go on, and she said to me "That's how I would feel, so please don't do it." So, I always keep that in mind, even as it calls to me almost every single day.

In a book I'm reading on meditation, there's an exercise in compassion where you focus on someone who is in pain through no fault of their own. The next exercise is where you focus on someone whose suffering is due to their own beliefs/actions. The focus there is to support that person's ability to get insight into their situation so that their suffering can ease. I'm sure in our heart of hearts, we can all relate to these two kinds of suffering.

 smokinsean wrote: 
People don't choose their fates for societal crimes because that is for society to choose.

Suicide is a cheap way out. If you did something bad in this life, you should have the courtesy to stick around and make amends somehow.  Suicide just leaves everyone in limbo, with nowhere to go. 

I know nothing of what this guy did financially, but it can't compare to what he did to his wife this morning. 

 hippiechick wrote: 
Excellent point.
 
For me, the ultimate point of ever warding it off was to think of the 'selfishness' of it — leaving others to deal with whatever left after the act, leaving others behind... (if that makes sense)

 onlylynne wrote: 
When your reality disappears, it's very difficult when that reality quickly disappears. You feel like your life is over. It's very difficult to take your new information and rebuild your life, and some people can't handle it. I have been there.

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

It is still sad when someone feels that the only way out is to take their life.
There have been many whole family murder/suicides happening because of financial hardship and unfortunately it's not over yet.

 manbirdexperiment wrote: 
What a terrible situation. Those assholes who worked so hard to ruin our economy should be sentenced to a life of volunteer service.

 manbirdexperiment wrote: 

...this story came to mind as I wrote my comment...thanks for posting it...

Hi Rob,  There is terrible news out of the state of Chattisgarh in India — over 1,500 farmers have committed suicide as a result of lack of water for their crops.  Support access to clean water around the world. »  The crop failures are causing farmers to fall into ever deepening levels of debt until there's no escape except via death.  This is dramatic evidence of what researchers have been saying for years: access to clean water is one of the simplest and best ways to help poor communities. Not only do you help people avoid the terrible health problems associated with dirty water, but you also help ensure the livelihood for those who depend on agriculture to survive.  Too many are held back by dirty water — please act today. »  Take action link:http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AFLSi/zj3_/w29q  Thanks for taking action! Samer ThePetitionSite

...why is it a big deal that this guy decided to choose his own fate?...because media is making it so and loving the fact that this guy was one of the players in the game that needed the buyouts...I say it's the media perpetuating this brand of schadenfreude...I wonder how many people thought what Phineas said when they heard this news?...MILLIONS I'd bet...I wonder how many other people we haven't heard about decided to choose thier own fate over financial disasters since the 'buyouts' and 'economic collapse'...

 Beaker wrote: 
You're absolutely right, none of those securities were illegal. Which means everything the bankers did was perfectly legitimate business practice, right? If it's 'legal', it must be 'good'. Even if those practices amount to a legalized pyramid scheme, it's still legal and therefore a perfectly honorable way to make money. Go with that, man, if it makes you feel better.

 Beaker wrote: 
Um, what? Creating phony 'securities' with inflated values, not to mention utterly absurd risk evaluations, is a 'skill'? Safe-cracking, armed robbery, and rape are all 'skills' too, huh? Give it a rest, man. The free market ain't all it's cracked up to be.

c.

 Beaker wrote: 
Ha ha yer funny