"Cut down" himself

William Mulcahy, a specialist in insurance mathematics (and thus, a specialist in the field of probability): "Theoretically it is possible. But this is unlikely to happen in reality. Let me explain. Man is very difficult, but at the same time - very simple. Mankind quickly disappear if we did not have basic reflexes that protect us from hurting ourselves. We are not talking about suicide: intelligence can defeat the survival instinct, but you can not beat reflexes. For example, if you lean forward and begin to fall, fall, do not put his hands forward, almost impossible. Here's an example of what I'm trying to explain. During World War II, British spies caught by the Germans, often took a cyanide pill and died. Their intelligence told them that it was better to die well than to be tortured to death. However, those spies who had no pills or it was not possible to accept them, had to find other ways to kill yourself. Some have tried to hold my breath, but that's what actually happened: they can hold their breath long enough to pass out, but then began to breathe reflexively. Thus deceive these reflections is almost impossible, and therefore virtually impossible to "cut down" himself as his own fist - even if you try to do this stupid thing, nothing happens. If you succeed and overcome your instinct of self-preservation, to hit yourself, to overcome the reflex, which protects you from getting the pain just will not succeed. »

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