Death/Immortality - 50/50 (804 hits)
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Submitted by <ThineJericho.at.gmail.com> (View user info) at 2005-08-02 23:57:13 EDT
Question.
If you were handed a glass full of liquid, given to you by someone that couldn't lie, and told that by drinking you had a fifty/fifty chance of dying, or obtaining immortality, would you partake?
No loopholes. The immortality is on earth, not in some kind of warped heaven/hell situation. The dying, is dying, whatever comes of it in any sort of afterlife or the absence thereof, is final and forever. And, the person who gave you the liquid *really* isn't lying, so stop reading into the quesiton.
Just the choice. Would you take it?
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Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2005-08-06 03:10:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Think about it too much, and it just becomes a circular mindfuck
*******
gaaaaaaaaah!
now you tell me!
Submitted by ThineJericho (user info) at 2005-08-03 18:08:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by CoreaPeekay (user info) at 2005-08-03 18:01:20 (#)
Ranking: 0
Could I kill myself if I were immortal?
Would I die when the world ends or would I exist in space?
If I could kill myself, and I'd die when the world dies, I'd do it.
*****
I think you have to assume that even immortality 'ends' if the planet you're living on combusts, or a similar apocalypse.
You can't kill yourself, but if the world ends and humanity is absent, you're going to die .. from lack of mental stimulation if nothing else.
Besides, that opens up another entire argument. Are you dead if there is absolutely no outside stimulus? The only existence you're aware of, can be aware of, is self and perhaps memories from the past (an extended past, granted).
Think about it too much, and it just becomes a circular mindfuck, but its a nice drunk discussion.
Submitted by CoreaPeekay (user info) at 2005-08-03 18:01:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Could I kill myself if I were immortal?
Would I die when the world ends or would I exist in space?
If I could kill myself, and I'd die when the world dies, I'd do it.
Submitted by ThineJericho (user info) at 2005-08-03 17:50:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2005-08-03 15:59:31 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by ThineJericho (user info) at 2005-08-03 14:37:22 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2005-08-03 10:29:42 (#)
Ranking: 0
I would give some of it to an enemy I was about to pour into wet cement to see if they lived. if so they are stuck in cement for eternity, pretty boring huh, and I would take some and enjoy my immortality. If they died, well made my job easier.
*****
All right, you found a semi-loophole. The liquid works different on each person, but gives each person exactly a 50/50 chance. So, it could kill your neighbor, but give the opposite to you.
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Damn you!!!!!!!!!
I don't think I would touch it, but I would keep it around.
*****
I'd still take it, but this is the best second option I've heard, as I believe I commented earlier when it was first brought up.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2005-08-03 15:59:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by ThineJericho (user info) at 2005-08-03 14:37:22 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2005-08-03 10:29:42 (#)
Ranking: 0
I would give some of it to an enemy I was about to pour into wet cement to see if they lived. if so they are stuck in cement for eternity, pretty boring huh, and I would take some and enjoy my immortality. If they died, well made my job easier.
*****
All right, you found a semi-loophole. The liquid works different on each person, but gives each person exactly a 50/50 chance. So, it could kill your neighbor, but give the opposite to you.
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Damn you!!!!!!!!!
I don't think I would touch it, but I would keep it around.
Submitted by ThineJericho (user info) at 2005-08-03 14:37:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2005-08-03 10:29:42 (#)
Ranking: 0
I would give some of it to an enemy I was about to pour into wet cement to see if they lived. if so they are stuck in cement for eternity, pretty boring huh, and I would take some and enjoy my immortality. If they died, well made my job easier.
*****
All right, you found a semi-loophole. The liquid works different on each person, but gives each person exactly a 50/50 chance. So, it could kill your neighbor, but give the opposite to you.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-08-03 12:12:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
YES
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2005-08-03 11:58:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Yes, I would drink it without hesitation or doubt...
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2005-08-03 10:29:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I would give some of it to an enemy I was about to pour into wet cement to see if they lived. if so they are stuck in cement for eternity, pretty boring huh, and I would take some and enjoy my immortality. If they died, well made my job easier.
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2005-08-03 09:00:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I'd take a big fat shit.
Submitted by Phallic_Cymbals (user info) at 2005-08-03 08:35:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Earth is pretty irritating. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-08-03 08:28:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by missflibble (user info) at 2005-08-03 08:24:32 (#)
Ranking: 2
no, I'd not take it. I want imortality about as much as I want instant death- that's not a lot.
I like my life at the moment, so don't want to die. but i would not want to be immortal because everyone I love and am close to would eventually die and I can't face being alone.
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You'd be able to watch over your descendants and make new freinds. What you've basically said could also be interpereted as 'I'm not making any freinds because if the get squished by a car then I'll be sad and I want to avoid that pain', 'cause it is a statistical likelihood that one of your mates will die soon.
Submitted by missflibble (user info) at 2005-08-03 08:24:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
no, I'd not take it. I want imortality about as much as I want instant death- that's not a lot.
I like my life at the moment, so don't want to die. but i would not want to be immortal because everyone I love and am close to would eventually die and I can't face being alone.
Submitted by Flying_buttmonkey (user info) at 2005-08-03 07:49:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I don't know. I can imagine that even if I was immortal, I wouldn't get around to actually doing anything.
Although I WOULD be guaranteed a Ray-Gun at some point......
Submitted by TheGirlWithoutATitle (user info) at 2005-08-03 07:27:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
What happens during the Big Crunch?
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-08-03 06:29:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Hadn't given it an incredible amount of thought. Something similar to regeneration perhaps, with a time period needed for greater wounds, possibly a coma-type affair for however long and then waking up fully refreshed.
Although, if you cut yourself into tiny pieces just to see if you'll regenerate, you deserve the agony of a lifetime in a couple thousand bits.
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So I'd be like Captain Scarlet? Only obviously I'd be Captain Black 'cause I'm not a big gay 'air. It's a shame I won't be able to crush coal into diamond and shit but maybe that's for the best.
You know it's an interesting question because it's really just a gauge of how people view life in general. Most people really can't be fucked with any of it and where it not for a dedicated marketing campaign most people would put an end to themselves. Hence that whole 'Goodness knows I wouldn't have to get up, plaster on a fake smile and plow through this shit for the rest of time.'
In all seriousness though, if I was immortal then the world would be a better place. Berty is teh roxxors and all that.
Submitted by ThineJericho (user info) at 2005-08-03 06:18:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-08-03 05:59:21 (#)
Ranking: 2
Do I regenerate really quickly like Wolverine?
*****
Hadn't given it an incredible amount of thought. Something similar to regeneration perhaps, with a time period needed for greater wounds, possibly a coma-type affair for however long and then waking up fully refreshed.
Although, if you cut yourself into tiny pieces just to see if you'll regenerate, you deserve the agony of a lifetime in a couple thousand bits.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-08-03 05:59:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Do I regenerate really quickly like Wolverine?
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-08-03 05:58:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Jericho, do I get to be an Uber, Mecha badass or perhaps be imperveous to harm (unbreakable skin and stuff) or do I just live in agonising pain for eternity 'cause I crippled myself jumping off the Sears tower without a parachute?
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-08-03 05:51:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by williamson (user info) at 2005-08-03 05:43:38 (#)
Ranking: 2
I don't want to live forever...
Neither in this world or the next.
The soul needs to die.
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How depressing. My soul kicks ass and I hope it carries on to illuminate the meta-verse for all time.
Submitted by ThineJericho (user info) at 2005-08-03 05:48:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Bellebrown (user info) at 2005-08-03 05:38:33 (#)
Ranking: 0
The questions isn't would I do it, it's how much would they pay me to drink this experimental drug water?
*****
Erm, you *are* getting immortality, or at least the possibility of it. I'm going to say that if you gain the ability to live forever, money won't exactly be a problem.
Submitted by williamson (user info) at 2005-08-03 05:43:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I don't want to live forever...
Neither in this world or the next.
The soul needs to die.
Submitted by Bellebrown (user info) at 2005-08-03 05:38:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
The questions isn't would I do it, it's how much would they pay me to drink this experimental drug water?
Submitted by ThineJericho (user info) at 2005-08-03 05:15:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by w_t_a_y_s_t_r_m (user info) at 2005-08-03 04:44:43 (#)
Ranking: 0
Eternity is so much scarier than death
*****
Death, *is* eternity. Granted, there's a higher chance of not being conscious of it than if you were to live forever, but still the chance.
Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2005-08-03 05:08:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by w_t_a_y_s_t_r_m
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It just occured to me, that must be a bitch to type in each login.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-08-03 05:02:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
So let me get this straight; I have a 50% chance of becoming invulnerable, Godlike if you will. I can fuck off to tibet and learn to kick ass in a seriously stylish way, come back to blighty and just walk the violent streets dispensing my own form of cruel justice. I could live in a film noir world where I don't have to eat just being a serious, serious legend. Over time I can become the gaurdian of humainty through my immortal kickassedness and explore the stars infinitly with the entire of humanity, whom I shall treat as my beloved children, worshiping me as a divine saviour (a lá Mr. T).
Or I could croak and just save a whole lot of uncertainty and fear. I would definatly go for it.
Submitted by w_t_a_y_s_t_r_m (user info) at 2005-08-03 04:44:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Eternity is so much scarier than death
Submitted by fallenangel (user info) at 2005-08-03 04:44:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Nope. Living forever would suck ass and dying right now would suck worse.
Submitted by lordofthedance (user info) at 2005-08-03 04:27:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Whoops.
Submitted by lordofthedance (user info) at 2005-08-03 04:27:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Good question.
The reason the answer isn't obvious i.e. drink it on your deathbed...is because immortality could suck arse. If you had the option of electing to die then it would be a definite goer.
Submitted by ThineJericho (user info) at 2005-08-03 02:43:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2005-08-03 02:18:33 (#)
Ranking: 0
Uh...the upside is?
*****
There's not an upside for everyone. Obviously, you're included in that group. For me, both equate to eternity, infinity. Death/life, in this scenario, both are endless.
I can honestly say I'd drink the liquid. As for which side of the coin I'd prefer to land on .. I can't even venture to guess.
Submitted by williamson (user info) at 2005-08-03 02:29:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh, it's the live-forever-no-matter-what kind...
No, i wouldn't do it... and if i was forced to I'd pray that I'd get death.
Submitted by williamson (user info) at 2005-08-03 02:22:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Define immortality...
Was it just age that couldn't kill me or anything?
Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2005-08-03 02:18:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Uh...the upside is?
Submitted by crizza (user info) at 2005-08-03 02:09:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Think, space travel. Sure, nothing to think about in even five hundred years. But five thousand? Shouldn't we have discovered enough worlds that even with an infinity ahead of you, it'd be damned hard to do *everything?*
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Yes good point, I did consider the space travel element but dismissed it in favour of my doomer theory mwuahaha.
Submitted by ThineJericho (user info) at 2005-08-03 02:03:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Chroniclysm (user info) at 2005-08-03 01:52:14 (#)
Ranking: 2
Yes then. I'd throw it down, but not because I want immortality. Given the opportunity for immortality, I would see it as a responsibility, an unprecedented responsibility to all of mankind.
*****
Perhaps, but given infinity, there'll always be time for selfish pleasures as well.
Eventually though, altruism would probably be the only worthy "goal" of your extended life.
Submitted by Chroniclysm (user info) at 2005-08-03 01:52:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Yes then. I'd throw it down, but not because I want immortality. Given the opportunity for immortality, I would see it as a responsibility, an unprecedented responsibility to all of mankind.
Submitted by ThineJericho (user info) at 2005-08-03 01:43:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by crizza (user info) at 2005-08-03 01:34:09 (#)
Ranking: 2
No way would I drink it. Living for eternity sounds like hell to me.
Besides, It would seem there is only a finite amount of things one can do in this world and after a (long) time you would accomplish them all. What then? Bored for eternity? Sounds like a blast!
However, I wouldn't mind sticking around to see some future technology.
*****
I'm going to guess that, as fucked up as the human race seems to be, we'll be around for quite some time.
Not to mention, that with even with an infinite amount of time, humanity is going to continue increasing at a rather interesting rate.
Think, space travel. Sure, nothing to think about in even five hundred years. But five thousand? Shouldn't we have discovered enough worlds that even with an infinity ahead of you, it'd be damned hard to do *everything?*
Granted, this is a rather optimistic look at things .. but there's always something new.
Submitted by crizza (user info) at 2005-08-03 01:35:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
And what happens when the human race finally eradicates itself? You're left on a burnt rock alone.
Submitted by crizza (user info) at 2005-08-03 01:34:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No way would I drink it. Living for eternity sounds like hell to me.
Besides, It would seem there is only a finite amount of things one can do in this world and after a (long) time you would accomplish them all. What then? Bored for eternity? Sounds like a blast!
However, I wouldn't mind sticking around to see some future technology.
Submitted by alex.lifeson (user info) at 2005-08-03 01:30:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:00:08 (#)
Ranking: 2
I'd take it, keep it, and then drink it on my deathbed =P
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Can't improve on that.
Submitted by ThineJericho (user info) at 2005-08-03 01:01:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Chroniclysm (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:44:59 (#)
Ranking: 2
Would I be immortal in my physical prime. Or would I age?
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I'd call it a graceful aging, as in around 28 or so, you simply stop. But .. that part really doesn't matter, just it won't be a slowly rotting/decaying process. No zombies in this quandrary.
Submitted by Chroniclysm (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:44:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Would I be immortal in my physical prime. Or would I age?
Submitted by Flaahgra (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:44:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by QueenAshlee (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:34:38 (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by Flaahgra (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:19:42 (#)
Ranking: 2
I wouldn't take it. It'd be unimaginably difficult to watch as everyone you grew up with, every member of your family, and everyone you had an association with in any way die. Most people have to watch their parents die. Some watch their siblings die. Few watch their children die. Fewer still see their grandchildren die. Even fewer see their great grandchildren die. Not to mention all the cousins, nieces, nephews, wives, friends, heroes, mentors, proteges, and so forth. I can deal with my own death, but I don't want to see everyone that I've ever cared about die. I'd call immortality a hell before I'd call it a heaven.
You've given this a lot of thought, haven't you?
I'd take it. Way I see it, as long as the dying doesn't actually hurt, it's not really gonna affect me after the fact, and if I become immortal, then I have literally all the time in the world to do anything I could ever want to do.
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No, I just thought that up, more or less. But you have to consider, after you've done everything you wanted to do, what then? You're stuck here. It'd get really boring. And depressing. But that's me. Maybe after so long, being dead gets boring as well. Who knows. I'd just rather not live forever. A few hundred years, maybe even a thousand, would be nice if everyone lived that long, but whatever.
Submitted by QueenAshlee (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:34:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by Flaahgra (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:19:42 (#)
Ranking: 2
I wouldn't take it. It'd be unimaginably difficult to watch as everyone you grew up with, every member of your family, and everyone you had an association with in any way die. Most people have to watch their parents die. Some watch their siblings die. Few watch their children die. Fewer still see their grandchildren die. Even fewer see their great grandchildren die. Not to mention all the cousins, nieces, nephews, wives, friends, heroes, mentors, proteges, and so forth. I can deal with my own death, but I don't want to see everyone that I've ever cared about die. I'd call immortality a hell before I'd call it a heaven.
You've given this a lot of thought, haven't you?
I'd take it. Way I see it, as long as the dying doesn't actually hurt, it's not really gonna affect me after the fact, and if I become immortal, then I have literally all the time in the world to do anything I could ever want to do.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:24:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Hell, I'd take it.
Only chance I'll ever have on getting on Uber's MVA.
Submitted by Flaahgra (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:19:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I wouldn't take it. It'd be unimaginably difficult to watch as everyone you grew up with, every member of your family, and everyone you had an association with in any way die. Most people have to watch their parents die. Some watch their siblings die. Few watch their children die. Fewer still see their grandchildren die. Even fewer see their great grandchildren die. Not to mention all the cousins, nieces, nephews, wives, friends, heroes, mentors, proteges, and so forth. I can deal with my own death, but I don't want to see everyone that I've ever cared about die. I'd call immortality a hell before I'd call it a heaven.
Submitted by ThineJericho (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:15:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Heh, this is an answer I've not seen before though:
"Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:00:08 (#)
Ranking: 2
I'd take it, keep it, and then drink it on my deathbed =P "
I'm thinking I like it more than the typical. Keeps the spice in life, but with an 'add-on' time if you so choose.
Submitted by ThineJericho (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:13:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Something I've thought on for a while.
And, no, you can't decide to die if you get tired. That'd take most of the qualms out of the decision. You're stuck, here, forever.
Submitted by ConorJS (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:09:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Fuck that's a toughy. You get a 1:6 shot in Russian roulette, but that's only for cash. If I could chose not to live for ever, but just for a really long time until i got bored, I think I'd do it. Good question.
Submitted by BillsSBChamps (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:08:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No, because the fear of death makes doing stupid shit more fun.
Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:07:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Could, if I was 14 000 or so, say, die if I choose to?
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:03:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Nope.
Death doesn't scare me, but fuck living here for eternity.
Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:00:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'd take it, keep it, and then drink it on my deathbed =P
Submitted by Herpes (user info) at 2005-08-02 23:59:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Yes. We're all gonna die sometime. We're all never given the chance at immortality.