I think I may have only seen one or two episodes of Parts Unknown, not because I didn't like the show but because I usually only commit to watching those shows with an ongoing story. I just happened to have the TV on when his show was being aired a couple of times.

Anthony Bourdain was an interesting and somewhat humorous man. I think that if I had met him I would have liked him. Since I heard the news about his death a couple of days ago I have watched several episodes of his show on Netflix. I wanted to learn more about this man who was apparently much more lonely and troubled than anyone realized. I could discern nothing about Mr. Bourdain while watching the show that would indicate he was lonely or depressed. Though he always showed us several local unique dishes, explaining how they are prepared, his show also revealed much about the land, the people, and the culture of the countries, cities, regions, etc. to which he traveled for the show. The show reveals a man who makes quick friends and is gregarious and intelligent. I find I like this show quite a bit.

The article I read didn't indicate whether Mr. Bourdain left a suicide note; it only said he committed suicide. Could the death have been accidental? That's a question that cannot be answered without more information. For now I will accept that the police who discovered the body found sufficient evidence to conclude that he took his own life. I wouldn't ever want to judge someone who is depressed and suffering emotionally. I have struggled through tough times myself. So I won't minimize the feelings or issues he must have been struggling with. I will only make an observation. The people who are left behind, who knew the deceased, suffer terribly when someone takes their own life, left with unanswered questions. Why did they do this? What drove them to it? Why didn't they call me, come see me, tell me they were suffering? Why did they keep their suffering a secret? Didn't they care about me at all? How could they leave me without even saying goodbye? Around the world now there are a great many people who met and liked Mr. Bourdain who are left wondering why he chose to leave this life early, and they find it a terrible tragedy that he did.

Suicide is devastating to those left behind, the loved ones and friends. Anthony Bourdain was a talented and interesting person, much loved by his girlfriend and others who knew him. His death is a tragedy.

[Update: I just read an article which said a friend found Anthony Bourdain hanged in his bathroom, using his bathrobe belt as the rope and noose. This sheds a little more light on his death. I am reminded of the death of David Carradine who was found hanging in the closet of his hotel room. There was speculation he had been murdered. Eventually it was released that his death was accidental. He had been performing erotic auto-asphyxiation, lost consciousness and died that way.
Did Anthony Bourdain engage in this sexual practice? If so it could be that his death was also accidental. Perhaps it seemed better to call his death a suicide than a failed erotic act. There is nothing wrong with a man engaging in this practice, but perhaps the family felt it would seem undignified to disclose such a fact to the world. I have never engaged in this practice. I don't think I ever will either. Perhaps it enhances the erotic feeling as practitioners claim. But given the danger of accidental death, I don't want to try it to find out. I have gotten along just fine all my life without it. Hopefully those who enjoy this practice will refrain from it when alone and only do it when they have a partner there so they can be revived should they pass out.
In any case, this was a senseless death. ]