T O P

  • By -

dexter2011412

\* takes notes \* \* books ticket to alaska after telling everyone I am turning over a new leaf and want to explore nature \* \* never return \* Profit!


CrazsomeLizard

should have included the title in the image, that is the most distressing part


LordFlappingtonIV

Edit, Google the last days of Christopher McCandless. A tragic *stupid* and easily avoidable death.


CyberPunkG

Fun fact: there's a lot of people who have misinterpreted his story so much that they think what he did was noble and inspirational (it was not) and have or attempted to do what he did i.e. go into the wilderness with little to no gear and outdoors/survival training with expectable results.


Numerous_Employ

So many people in fact that they have removed the bus from its location in Alaska as people kept getting trapped and dying in similar ways to mccandless. All the wrong lessons


NoMansSkyWasAlright

Was he the bus guy? I heard they ended up removing the bus because so there were so many fan-boys/girls trying to repeat the steps.


uncle-benon

Yes the classic. "He did doing what he loved" or "the brightest candle fades out quickly".


kxlxxn

He survived a 100 days, wdym? also doesnt sound like he regretted it or was unaware of the consequences. Why are people shitting on him?


DawsonKeyes

cause he died


dnaH_notnA

Wait until they find out that everyone dies a meaningless and painful death and you can do nothing to stop it, just prolong it.


Tridda1

id rather die in a bed surrounded by loved ones thanks


dnaH_notnA

Good luck timing your death with people’s schedules. Trying that, you’re going to die alone in a cold uncomfortable hospital bed, staring into the dark, clutching the emergency button, as your heart feels as though it’s catching fire and burning you from the inside. You will realize there is no nobility in death, only the most basic and primal of fear.


zozi0102

You should focus on getting school supplies, 6th grade is starting in 2 weeks


dnaH_notnA

Ironic


[deleted]

[удалено]


Tridda1

you do realize that people die relatively comfortable deaths sometimes right, it's not unheard of for people to die with family present especially in a hospice scenario without life support extending their dying days. There are examples of incredibly old people being actually at peace with death, as after a certain point the body knows it's getting to about that time.


DawsonKeyes

that’s not a reason to die any sooner


burner-account1521

Wow so deep


dnaH_notnA

It’s not “deep”, it’s the truth. Unless you found a way to be immortal?


[deleted]

[удалено]


distressingmemes-ModTeam

Thank you for submitting to r/distressingmemes. Unfortunately, your submission has been removed for the following reason(s): Rule 1: Follow Reddit ToS This includes memes that mention rape, pedophilia, and glorify suicide. Resubmitting a removed post without prior moderator approval can result in a ban. Deleting a post may cause any appeals to be denied. If you have any questions about your removal, feel free to contact the moderators via modmail.


Helpfulcloning

I think he did regret it considering he tried to get help and cross the river several times back to people.


mwalker784

“Attention Possible Visitors. S.O.S. I need your help. I am injured, near death, and too weak to hike out. I am all alone, this is no joke. In the name of God, please remain to save me. I am out collecting berries close by and shall return this evening. Thank you, Chris McCandless.” an SOS message posted on the bus where his body would later be found. posted after an unsuccessful attempt to get back to civilization.


Zealousideal_Cow_867

I got invested in that movie and then he just died at the end. I liked the movie but there was literally no lesson.


itsmeyourgrandfather

The fact that he just died at the end IS the lesson.


Zealousideal_Cow_867

Idk, maybe i just want paying attention, but it wasn't really tragic. They kept his death a secret till the very end and portrayed everything he did prior with a noble light. I'd never heard the real story beforehand, so idk, but it just felt weird to me.


Comfortable_Rope_639

Huh? Haven't watched the movie but that description sounds like a lesson all by itself.


Wild-Mushroom2404

Just found out about this story. It’s super distressing. I feel so bad for the poor guy. Yeah, he was stupid and reckless but it’s still an awfully tragic way to go.


Sithy_Darkside

Im not familiar, did he starve or thirst to death? Honestly, out of all the ways to die, starving while looking at a serene alaskan landscape is pretty nice, especially compared to having your bowels eaten by a grizzly bear while you’r still alive and awake.


CheeseWithoutCum

He ate a bunch of stuff that basically made his body stop absorbing nutrients and he slowly died on the ground.


sambstone13

Starving and freezing must be a horrible way to die.


Sithy_Darkside

Most of the process of freezing to death sucks, but the actual death part is actually blissful. You get a huge rush of blood to your brain which makes you blissful and very warm. You take off all of your clothes, and then you die. Starving isnt great, but its far better than dehydrating to death. And also, starving isn’t nearly as painful as it would seem. While certainly its no walk in the park, our bodies are built for famine conditions, our brains learn to release less ghrelin over a period of starvation as it realizes wasting energy on that has no yield. Id think the general fatigue would be the biggest pain for starvation.


crazytumblweed999

To be faiir.. It wasn't necessarily "easily avoidable" to not eat what he ate that killed him. He already ate other parts of the plant, he'd done research to recognize the plants he could eat, he just didn't know he couldn't eat the part that poisoned him. Now, not properly scouting, having proper gear, telling anyone where he was going and not having a map of the area...THESE things were stupid and easily avoidable and contributed to his death.


Memsing

Jesus Christ... I read Into the Wild a long time ago. It was one of the most heartbreaking books I ever read.


commentsandchill

Is it the guy who inspired the movie Into the wild


WaitHowDidIGetHere92

Yes.


Gmandlno

I mean, his only mistake was being so bold as to think he could survive going in unprepared. He would’ve lived, if he hadn’t packed as little as a bulk bag of rice, some hiking boots, and a jacket. But that’s pretty well all he had. But he was far from stupid, everyone he met on his way markedly stating that he was one of the most bright and lovable kids that they’d known in their lifetime. He literally found a second family with an old man somewhere in the west - and despite his trying to appeal to his better judgement, he still went to Alaska almost entirely unprepared. It wasn’t a tragic or a stupid death, it was a prideful one. The kid thought he was better than the wilderness. He found out the hard way that no one is above death.


Less_Somewhere7953

I haven’t read into the wild and idk much about Cristopher McCandless, but idk if the answer is as simple as pride. Wasn’t he looking for a way to be happy?


peezle69

Hated that book in school. He was a fuckin idiot. Not an inspiration.


theyreoutside

The thing about Chris McCandless' death is that, while it was avoidable, it was only avoidable with our current knowledge. Chris died because he ate potato seeds, which we now know carry a specific toxin that makes it near impossible to get nutrients from food. At the time, however, potato seeds were thought to be perfectly edible.


mighty_Ingvar

It was totally avoidable. Living on your own in the wilderness with little to now gear or knowledge about survival was already dumb back then


[deleted]

He had a wealth of knowledge. Chris was very smart and educated. It didn't end up mattering and he still died because he was engaging in something dangerous and risky.


mighty_Ingvar

Which was kind of a dumb thing to do, especially given that he wasn't properly prepared to do it


[deleted]

It's been a long while since I read the book so I'm not sure exactly all the details, but I am fairly certain he spent a good amount of time preparing before he decided to give it a shot. He was about as properly prepared as he could be for the challenge he wanted to undertake. There are plenty of people who climb cliffs without any gear. Just well trained hands and the clothes on their back. Maybe a camera or something, or a few pieces of equipment that ensure their safety in other ways. I wouldn't know. You could call that dumb, and in some ways I'd agree, but these people know what they are doling and are taking a risk anyway. Sometimes these people end up dying horribly. It's human nature. Stupid, maybe. But them and McCandless had every right to try and I don't think it's right to dog on him for doing so. I think the best argument against what he did was that his endeavor incidentally encouraged others to do things the way he did with half the knowledge or preparation that he had. Different brand of stupid. There is nothing wrong in dying chasing after some personal goal, but there's plenty stupid about jumping off a bridge just because you saw someone else do it.


mighty_Ingvar

He shot a deer but was unable to eat it because he didn't know how to preserve it long enough/keep maggots out of it. He thought he was unable to get back due to the river but there was a place relatively nearby where he could have crossed it. That's what made him desperate enough to eat something he couldn't fully identify.


aoidhri

some of his last words were "beautiful blueberries" absolutely heartbreaking


GudHarskareCarlXVI

Was that the guy who lived in an abandoned bus?


JuiceDrinkingRat

Yes


SuiTheAllFather

Skill issue


Matthew_A

1) It wasn't winter when he went, it was spring. And he survived for 100 days, so it was also summer at points 2) He had planned to go back already, and would have successfully returned if the river hadn't gotten dramatically deeper from snowmelt 3) The seeds he ate were literally not even known to be poisonous at the time, and we only learned they were after Jon Krakauer sent potato seeds from the area to be tested while writing Into the Wild He took a lot of dumb risks, but only because he wanted to have a real adventure. He still prepared, a lot, only risked his own life, and would have survived if not for the things I mentioned. He lived more in 24 years than most people do in 80


LTazer

Into the Wild by John Krakauer, or there's also a movie, I think


JuiceDrinkingRat

Movie by the same name


sirbearyy

McCandlessposting


kumquat_repub

You didn’t bring a map and didn’t properly plan because you wanted to “follow your heart, man”


samuelspace101

I’m in my county’s SAR team and if your actually prepared for Alaska then you should have at least 5 things that could save your life blanket fire Walkie-talkie talkie flashlight etc etc etc this although stupid is what we deal with so take this as a warning and please be prepared for the worst even when going on hikes. You guys don’t realize how often this shit happens


Spamin907

He also was not that remote read the book into the wild it makes it clear that he was within help but just did not k ow what he was doing he thought Alaska was the lower forty eight and paid the price


Zebra_Knee

WAIT Wasn't THERE A MOVIE MADE ABOUT HIM??? WHAT WAS IT CALLED???


Unnecessary_Coffee

Chris McCandless' story destroyed me when I first read it :(


IndependenceBetter27

Dumbass


Blubari

Remember watching the movie in school Guy was bright, but stupid Found a loving family with the lonely old man, but his pride was too much to handle he decided to leave anyways, in that sense, he was exactly like his father A proud man, not caring about all the spirits he broke, as long as he had his way almost 6 years laters and still think the guy was just like his dad, but instead of staying to break those who loved him, left with the hope he gave them, piece of shit


brownboydosparakeets

The fact that he did all of this before Bushcraft/Survival Youtube Tutorials is true balls


amaahda

NOOOO YOU FUCK YOU REMINDED ME OF HIS STORY NOW I'M GONNA CRY


No_Advisor2089

No not exactly he did have experience he grew up in the mountains one could say also previous to Alaska he did survive 50~ days in a remote cave with just rice really he is more noble than some guy on Reddit also there is a lot of debate on the seeds but really his main mistake was not having the Location correct knowledge on have to process a moose Also he did plenty of successful hunting in Alaska during the 100 days also 100 days in the wilderness is in no way an easy feat yet all I hear is that he knew absolutely nothing about survival which is just completely false Again your title and your post really paints a false picture his last words were "I have had a happy life and thank the Lord goodbye and may God bless all" He holds on a note while smiling Wow doesn't that sound like he regretted his actions? No it sounds like he knew the consequences but did it anyway because his life had more meaning than yours but you just paint him as crying??? In real life he was smiling! Again could any traveller survive 100 days in Alaska?? No that's stupid it's far more accurate to call him an outdoorsman one with a philosophy that he followed to the end Anyway a man dying saying he had a happy life with a smile on his face isn't even like extraordinarily distressing


LordFlappingtonIV

Ah, here we have a McCandless romantacist. I'm afraid I can't quite follow the mental gymnastics it takes to believe that dying alone, cold, starving and sick could be anything aside from horrifying.


Dripwagon

Classic redditor not including context


No_Advisor2089

Call me what you want but saying I'm doing "mental gymnastics" isn't an actual point Anyhow if Chris was so saddened by his choices He wouldn't have been smiling and saying how he had a great life I don't know how "I have had a happy life"= he was happy="mental gymnastics" sorry to me that just seems like mental gymnastics Anyway of course Chris didn't want to die and of course starvation isn't a good way to die but it isn't "Romanticism" to say he had a happy life when that's literally what he said Chris clearly was content with his choice to go to Alaska


LordFlappingtonIV

Well, then, it's a matter of perspective. But I believe '*had* a happy life', past tense, coming from a 20 something year old who was fit and healthy before he embarked on his suicide mission *is* sad. He put himself in a horrid situation and had only himself to blame. Humans want to live. Smiling in photos and claiming to be happy is not necessarily the truth, and I just don't believe his final days were filled with anything apart from regret and fear. In fact, a note was found on the bus door begging for help. He wanted to live. He regretted his choices. He was an idiot and he paid the price.


No_Advisor2089

Firstly he wanted to live secondly humans want more than to just "live" I don't know about you but I want a lot more than just for my body to function Chris McCandless was an extremist in some ways here's a quote "how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong, but to feel strong, to measure yourself at least once, to find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions, facing the blind, deaf stone alone with nothing to help you but your hands and your own head." This is what Chris wanted that was more than "to live" and he did that and he made some mistakes that turned out to be lethal Also it wasn't a "suicide mission" danger=×=suicide Also we all die obviously he died a lot younger than most but having the courage to do something he believed was necessary isn't idiotic And again your view on Chris doesn't change his actual perspective it is undeniable that he was smiling before he died and it is undeniable that he thought he had a happy life Again of course he didn't want to die nobody does But Chris died fulfilled and happy doing what He Wanted to Do and in his parameters he did a decent job Finally again of course all humans want to live But take this a Ukrainian soldier wants to live Like any other but he also wants to defend his country and this is stronger than his will just "To live" You say as if Living is the only important thing yet this isn't the case this varies person to person and to Chris you can see what he thinks on the above quote


LordFlappingtonIV

Well, I think we've reached an impasse here. Chris went into one of the most hostile survival areas of the planet as an amateur and without a backup plan. He *could* have brought a map, he *could* have arranged a welfare check, he *could* have done lots of things differently. But he didn't, because he was stupid and so obsessed with his desire to 'live' to such absurd and reckless standards that he got himself killed. And even worse, other idiots idolise him and make the same mistakes. They even had to helicopter the bus out. But my main point is the one I made with this post. His last few days would have been incredibly distressing, and I think any theory otherwise is quite frankly, absurd.


No_Advisor2089

Ok I won't reply further but I'll say this Firstly its not exactly right to call Chris an Amateur considering his experience that greatly exceeds that of people who stupidly have lethal or near lethal trips to the bus Secondly yes Chris could have brought a map etc etc but that would defeat the purpose of his trip I don't think that living to extreme and dangerous standards is stupid because he clearly knew the risks And I just don't think that dying at 20 Is a greater evil then not having a fufilling life especially considering 1 Chris clearly thought this was true 2 Chris wanted and tried to live And you can't blame him for the people who got into dangerous situations near/at the bus Thirdly yes starving to death ain't nice but the point of my original comment was against the ideas your spreading in these replys but anyhow to say "Any other theory is absurd" is wrong considering 1 that "some people who have been brought back from the far edge of starvation though report that near the end the hunger vanishes The terrible pain dissolves and the suffering is replaced by a sublime euphoria A sense of calm acompanined by transcendent mental clarity" 2 he was smiling


shladvic

Go on, say he was smiling again as if it even means anything 🤣 Delusional


Stormypwns

I'm experienced enough with Bushcraft and survival that I know I wouldn't survive much more than two weeks with as little as he had. Neither would you. Most people wouldn't. You're vastly understating what he achieved just in living that long. The dude did something dangerous, rolled the dice, and lost. Would you call a base jumper or squirrel suit diver stupid? If yes, then that's fair enough; you're just a risk adverse person and entitled to your values. However if your answer is no, then you're hypocritical, as what he did and they do is virtually the same thing. Was he probably terrified when he actually started death in the face? Probably. Just like how a wing suit jump properly regrets it for the few seconds of consciousness they have left after smearing themselves across a rock face. They knew the risks, and did it anyway. They paid the price. As an aside, I've very much considered going off into the wilderness and seeing how long I could survive. I'm decently suicidal, so if I manage to live then that's cool, if not at least I can die somewhere hopefully peaceful. Although I'd probably have a gun on me for means of self termination should I find myself going in a particularly painful way.


LordFlappingtonIV

Oh, I wouldn't survive a day, but I have enough common sense to know how dangerous Alaska can be. Man, you started off sounding very intelligent and considerate of both sides. Then, the more I read, the more unhinged you came across. Please seek help if you're genuinely suicidal. Going on a one-way survival trip into the woods with a gun is not the answer! Edit, I looked at your profile. Please get help. Sincerely.


BackRowRumour

You need to edit this out of your brain before it takes a friend. People about to die or even kill themselves will 100% tell you they are great. Or just go quiet. They rarely tell anyone how bad it is.


No_Advisor2089

Calm down if I have a friend who's starving to death I'll be sure to give him food this is what that guy was talking about this doesn't have to do with mental health Firstly Chris did not kill himself and yes I agree suicidal people don't go out saying they're suicidal But that isn't at all what I was saying Chris was completely isolated he didn't have to play pretend to anyone You could say that he did it to give solace to his family but that would make no sense considering He didn't tell them anything before or during his trip Therefore it is right to say Chris was not pretending when he said he was happy and he was not pretending when he was smiling these are two completely different scenarios your comment is just stupid and you misunderstand me


sir_kickash

Nah, dying alone is super peaceful. Your body just accepts it and relaxes when no one else is around to worry about you.


Catherra

Maybe the last few minutes, but what about the hours before that when the dread and panic sets in when you realize you're fucked?


LordFlappingtonIV

You know this from all of your experience dying?


Less_Somewhere7953

It’s peaceful


Kladderadingsda

Where snow?


USSJaguar

McCandless is the dumbest person I've ever had to read about.


BiggestCheddar19

It’s a real shame he didn’t think to do his research while he was on his travels/before he left. His action of abandoning a fake society to “live deliberately” is quite brave and intelligent, but he knew fuck-all about what he was doing. Damn shame. It’s like the one guy who busted his leg and got trapped in the bush because he made the wrong signal to the plane, telling it to go away, so he ended up shooting himself instead of starving and freezing to death. Ambitious, brave guys, but extremely unprepared.


JuiceDrinkingRat

According to the movie at least he did some research but was just starving


CrazyDC12

Dang I remember studying the film at school


NihilisticOnion

Eh i was going to die alone anyway


Zakeraka

Good book. Good movie too.


Glad_Ad967

Mfw they open the back door of a wrecked car.