The Atonement doesn't count.

I can think of several categories of human suffering:

Natural disasters

Disease (including mental health problems)

Slavery (including totalitarian governments and religions)

Violence (including sexual violence)

Anything that violates a basic human right could also be considered a cause of suffering, to one degree or another.

I think that severe, chronic trauma of any kinds easily beats even extremely severe, acute trauma (although that can leave a mark, so to speak). I think that victims of protracted sexual slavery/predation may be the most victimized persons in human history. Of course, there will be proponents of the Gulag/Concentration camps as being examples of exceptional suffering. I don't disagree. I just think that the solitary confinement of a "sexual slave" (such as have appeared in the news of late) combined with extreme physical violence may be the highest level of suffering possible. Of course, I haven't experienced it, I'm just trying to imagine.

What do you think? Other categories of suffering?

Severe burns
Toothache
Sciatic nerve

Starvation accompanied by forced testimony session.

Burns or nerve pain.

Speaking of nerve pain, interstitial cystitis - want to die pain.

Carol

Being bound, blindfolded, stripped, bathed in honey and
then repeatedly set down upon a fire ant nest for ten minutes
at a time might be up there near the top, along with treading
water in a pool, along with a dozen piranhas for companions.

UD

The middle seat on a long crowded flight.

I have to admit that I was expecting more serious answers, but so be it.

losing a child
betrayal
uncertainty

Siting through one of BKP talks.

Concentration camps in Nazi Germany would be right up there at the top.

Severe physical pain that doesn't abate. You can put up with severe pain if you get a periodic break from it. When you don't get any break, it's mind bending.

When your child dies.

Severe burns, and the treatment for same.

Slide down a single edge razor blade into a vat of alcohol

That's a difficult question to answer.

I've not experienced much physical pain in my life, but plenty of mental-emotional suffering. Grief, loss, heartbreak, OCD have been very painful for me but in my personal experience, suffering a major depressive episode was a hell I hope I never visit again.

I agree with those who say: Losing a child

Not to many Mormons. They would rather their child die than have chastity issues. At least that way they can get into the CK and be part of their eternal sacrament meeting. "Hold to the rod"

Isn't that disgusting? So many tbm parents treat their children like they're disposable. Sickens me. The concept of unconditional love completely escapes them.

To be fair, mormons don't see their children as their children. They see them as adult alien spirits who have had their memories wiped on their way from kolob.

Instead of being parents, they're really stewards who are responsible for making sure this mind-wiped alien is only exposed to mormon-related propaganda until they turn 18 so that later on they can't be blamed for not giving their kolobian brother or sister the best chance at mortality.

So yeah, they'd prefer those under their supervision die young so they only have to worry about working out their own exaltation.

Twisted religion..

Severe opiate withdrawal.

You can get some kratom for that. Fix you right up. Seriously! I wouldn't pull your leg on this subject.

Can you say stuff like that on this site? Isn't that sexual?

3 hours of Manilow Magic.

Hey I have a nice collection of Manilow you can secretly download from my website...I know you love him!

My 5 year old grandson fell off his scooter and skinned his knee. You'd swear by his screaming and crying as we treated it that it was the most painful thing possible. It was exactly the reaction you'd see from a person under torture. From his point of view, it appeared to be extreme.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/2013 11:39PM by rationalguy.

Any suffering that isn't understood by another human being.

If you can't find that, your suffering is for naught, and is never ending.

Losing a child.
Outliving a beloved spouse/companion, especially if you have been together a long time.
Having a parent or sibling die.

Divorce was my worst. But I've never had a child or spouse die.

What those three ladies/girls went through in Cleveland.

Post traumatic stress. The gift (of suffering) that keeps on giving.

Betrayal

Hearing your 13-year old describe in court how she was raped and sodomized by a pedophile.

Neuropathy (nerve pain). It's like being burned, stabbed, sawed, dunked in acid, jabbed with cactus needles, and walking on glass all at the same time.

Losing a child is the worst so far. And the guilt that follows.
Back when I was a TBM our oldest was 19 and he was living at home and working after graduating high school. He started smoking and drinking but was a good kid past that.
Being a good TBM that I was trying to be, this was not acceptable behavior especially around the younger kids. We asked him to move out if he was to continue this behavior. So he did.

He committed suicide the day after Father's Day. I remember the look he gave me as he left our home that Sunday. It was not good, to my horror it was the last time I would see my son alive.

I had to view his body to see if an open casket was going to be possible from dehydration caused by his body being in a hot car before he was found. He was laying on a table, naked with only a blue medical cloth covering his mid section.

I walked out to meet my wife after the viewing. As soon as I saw her I collapsed on a stone wall and just sat there. I could not breath, I was shaking and it felt like the weight of the world was sitting on my chest. This was 14 years ago and still haunts me as I have to deal with this pain.

I am always thinking of what might have been different if I was not a TBM. Would I have been more understanding? The would have should have questions are continually present.

This stories details could fill a book, I just gave the short version for this post.

The only good coming from this event was a change in my parenting. We don't remove our loved ones from our home because they... Sorry I can't continue...

This in part is why I am no longer a TBM...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/17/2013 09:36AM by oldklunker.