| The ethics of suicide came up for considerable discussion at the time of the pseuicide. In a high-strung bunch like fans are, it's not surprising that suicide has reportedly been contemplated by some fans, causing some worry to their friends, but the actual deed is probably rarer than among most introverts. Joseph Hatch and Robert E. Howard, weirdists, killed themselves during the 30s; Robert Barlow and an unknown Detroit fan suicided in the 40s. The most shocking suicides, tho, were those of Kent Moomaw and Bill Courval, who, as told under The Year of the Jackpot, apparently killed themselves (1958-9) in despondency over their draft status and joblessness. Unlike others they had made themselves pretty widely known in fandom and were looked on as promising BNFs.
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