Does this “stand on your own” thing include not reading survivalist books, bringing maps or assorted tools? Because that’s what I would do if I wanted to live in the wilds. Seems more likely that he was suicidal but changed his mind when it was already too late.
Comment on Anon reads Into the Wild
bearboiblake@pawb.social 3 weeks ago
I have a theory that his family was abusive and he learned to distrust strangers and became convinced that he needed to always stand on his own two feet because nobody would ever truly have his back. I’ve been through a similar phase in my life caused by neglect and abuse throughout my childhood and adolescence. Could be totally wrong ofc but it seems to fit for me
rumschlumpel@feddit.org 3 weeks ago
bearboiblake@pawb.social 3 weeks ago
He did read survivalist books, there was a book about identifying edible plants he had with him when he died. He even hired a botany/foraging tutor I believe. Ultimately though it’s kinda the same thing, if he was suicidal, it would have been because of the abuse, most likely. Personally, I don’t think it holds much water, suicidal people don’t typically go off and live in the wildernees to starve to death, they usually kill themselves a bit more directly
Pandantic@midwest.social 3 weeks ago
And the final note vibes with that. Why kill yourself slowly if you want to die? And why change your mind at the last minute?
topherclay@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Is that theory based on a hunch you had, or is it maybe based on the memoir that his sister wrote where she says so?
bearboiblake@pawb.social 3 weeks ago
It was a hunch, I didn’t know about any memoir, what’s it called?
topherclay@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
The Wild Truth
bearboiblake@pawb.social 3 weeks ago
Dang, thanks so much for mentioning that, it’s lowkey crazy to have this theory I’ve kinda kept to myself be confirmed all these years later. I’ll edit my original comment