I pondered that same question after 9/11, and it featured in a number of dreams (no, nightmares) for a while afterward.
My own position is that if one's death is imminent and unavoidable, one has to make a terrifying choice, but to me it is a clear one.
Burning to death is horribly painful and takes time, during which the suffering is immense. By contrast, jumping out of a skyscraper means about 5 seconds of falling (which is scary but not physically painful) and then a more or less instantaneous death, certainly if one lands flat or head-first. In my dreams I always chose to fly, and woke up before I hit the ground.
The Falling Man photo presents this scenario and compels the viewer to confront that terrifying choice, both for the man, and for themself. I believe the resulting discomfort is what makes people want to censor the photo.
I suppose you’re right, the Falling Man picture is something to uncomfortable for a lot of people to deal with, for me personally, I want to see the picture, not dwell on it but see and wonder what thoughts were running through his mind and praying I’m never in that situation.
I always picture that photo in my head this way: the man is falling head first, one leg slightly bent, but I see his soul bursting upwards towards the heavens.
What it the ground was just the shell of a man. There was nothing alive in it. He was already gone.
That’s just me though.
Which is why their deaths are listed as murder, not suicide
Thanks for posting your thoughts and feelings.
Most people it seems would at least eventually physically leave, if they are able, the physical location in which they are being overwhelmed by smoke, or roasted, either by direct or indirect exposure to the extreme heat of a nearby conflagration.
When one thinks about it, this seems natural. It explains why so many emerged through windows high in the tower. To escape excessive heat and smoke, or, alternatively, to be able to access and breathe clear, ordinary temperature, atmospheric air. Even for a short time.