Do you want to know when you'll die??

[Russell Nash]

There are a lot of pratical reasons to know, but I don't think I could really handle the answer.

[DKT]

Usually, I think the answer is no.  However, once I read a book where the protagonist knew where he was going to die, which troubled him greatly (as I think would be the case).  But when he discussed it with another character, he was given the insight that he could be pretty much fearless up until that point in time, and even then, he could meet his fate with his shoulders squared.  I'm not sure I'm that brave, but it does kind of make sense and I'd like to believe if I did know my fate, I'd react like that. 

[Darwinist]

Definitely not, it would drive me nuts.  The only positive would be that you could get your affairs in order and say goodbye properly to loved ones.  But I'd rather not know.  My mother was given two years to live and lived two years and a month and it just wore on her and our whole family, there were far more bad days than good.  You see the finality of your life approaching.  If you know when you are going to go you tend to think of all the things you are going to miss.   

[FNH]

It would be awful. 

[Thaurismunths]

At first I said "no". But on second thought "hell no."
But on third thought I wouldn't want to know, but only on condition:
I would want to know when I'll die, and how.
The method and time couldn't change, I'd want to see it coming.

Now, on the other, other hand, I would want to know when all of you are going to die.

[Kurt Faler]

Yes. It would help to better plan my day and make up my shopping list.

 

[Bdoomed]

I will die when the great N_sh ordains it.  Until then i will faithfully serve Him.  I do not want to know when I die, for it is a sad thing to know when you cannot serve your Lord anymore.

Some of me wants to know, but most of me does not.  I would like to know so i could do whatever the hell i wanted until then blah blah blah, but then again its pretty morbid knowing when yer gonna die.  and it would take all the surprise and adventure out of life!

then again, you'd be INVINCIBLE until your preordained time of death... that could get interesting.
I'd fight crime.
or jump from high places.
or into traffic.
or start a fight club.
or hold someone hostage, make everyone think im crazy but the guy im holding hostage is in on it. and we just laugh at everyone!
that would be fun.

So is the word of N_sh.

[eytanz]

I would only want to know if the date of my death will happen to be very near (i.e., within the next two weeks), or improbably far off (say, 90 years or more from now, which would make me 120).

If I have only a really short amount of time, I want to know so I can spend it to the fullest.

If I have a very long amount of time, I want to know so I can plan for it properly - divert more money into savings so I won't run out, etc.

On the other hand, if - as is almost certain - I'm not going to die in the immediate future, and on the other hand I'm not going to survive longer than I think at all possible based on medical science and my family history, I have no interest in knowing about it. Won't do me any good, and likely to do me much harm.

[Ocicat]

then again, you'd be INVINCIBLE until your preordained time of death... that could get interesting.
I'd fight crime.
or jump from high places.
or into traffic.
or start a fight club.
or hold someone hostage, make everyone think im crazy but the guy im holding hostage is in on it. and we just laugh at everyone!
that would be fun.

I think if there was an infallible oracle, and you asked it when you were going to die... well, the answer would have to depend on how you'd react to the news.  If you were the sort of person who'd jump from a building today if the oracle told you "in 50 years" - the oracle clearly couldn't tell you "50 years".  It could only say that to the sort of people who would live their lives with reasonable caution despite the knowledge.


Actually, this sort of dilemma is something I've always wanted to write a story about.  Imagine a oracle of some kind (in my story, a self aware computer that can predict the future) that changes the world by telling prophecies that come true only because they were made.  They're always true, but the oracle has some free will in what it tells you.  Because perhaps if it tells you A, A will happen.  But on the other hand, if it tells you B, B will happen.  It can't tell you C which is what would have happened had you never asked the oracle anything, because if you heard about C it would fail to happen for some reason - perhaps because you'd try to make it happen.  Or would stop trying to make it happen, because you'd heard it foretold, so would stop trying to make it happen yourself.

Anyway, it's a good idea, but I've never been able to flesh it out into a good full plotline.  But as you might guess, I don't really want to "know" anything about the future, and would question the source if I did...

[Thaurismunths]

I will die when the great N_sh ordains it.  Until then i will faithfully serve Him.  I do not want to know when I die, for it is a sad thing to know when you cannot serve your Lord anymore.

Some of me wants to know, but most of me does not.  I would like to know so i could do whatever the hell i wanted until then blah blah blah, but then again its pretty morbid knowing when yer gonna die.  and it would take all the surprise and adventure out of life!

then again, you'd be INVINCIBLE until your preordained time of death... that could get interesting.
I'd fight crime.
or jump from high places.
or into traffic.
or start a fight club.
or hold someone hostage, make everyone think im crazy but the guy im holding hostage is in on it. and we just laugh at everyone!
that would be fun.

So is the word of N_sh.

Young Acolyte, N-sh would be pleased by your exuberance, but I think we have all overlooked the most terrifying aspect of knowing ones death: not knowing what comes before.
You may die from heart failure at the ripe old age of 109... after having been in a coma for 89 years after getting shot trying to stop a robber.
You may get hit by a cross-town bus when you're 60... after spending your life in a wheel chair having lost your legs jumping off a building.
You could die surrounded by friends and loved ones... after losing both your kidneys to blunt force trauma.

[shwankie]

Absolutely not.

Actually, this came up today on one of my podiobooks: "How to Disappear Completely." One of the main characters somewhat accidentally learned his fate, and never had a "perfect" moment again. I quite enjoyed the explanation, but won't go into it here (listen to the book, it's great!!!).

[Tango Alpha Delta]

What I really wanna know is... Are You Gonna Go My Way?

[Bdoomed]

coincidence or miracle from N_sh that this weeks Escape Pod was about this?

[shwankie]

coincidence or miracle from N_sh that this weeks Escape Pod was about this?

There are no coincidences, just the Word of N_SH. All Praise the Mighty N_SH, and honor his name with your many prayers*.



*TCoRN wishes all members--or those wishing to become members--to know that prayers, as per the infallible interpretation by the High Priestess of N_SH, do NOT need to be sent on the backs of $100 bills in order to be Received In His Grace, as previous stated. Two fifties will be fine.

[eytanz]

Okay, it's one thing to let this chruch of Nash stuff take over threads that have devolved from intelligent discussion to pointless bickering, but now it's starting to kill threads where actual interesting stuff is still being discussed.  Please stop.

[Tango Alpha Delta]

Okay, it's one thing to let this chruch of Nash stuff take over threads that have devolved from intelligent discussion to pointless bickering, but now it's starting to kill threads where actual interesting stuff is still being discussed.  Please stop.

Shhh!!!  He'll hear you, eytanz, and then the wolves will come out of the walls and it will be all over!

Did you mean "crutch of Nash", by the way?  Because that's all that religion is, you know: a big crutch for those who have twisted spiritual ankles. 

[Bdoomed]

I was being serious.
I found it incredibly interesting that this weeks EP was along the same little train of thought as this thread.
a little different but the same gist.
haha i feel stupid.  I didnt realize the EP episode came out beforehand (since i didnt get the episode on my iTunes till after i had posted on this thread).
i thought this thread came before the episode, not as a spinoff.

tho i do have to warn you about the wolves, good call TAD.

Young Acolyte, N-sh would be pleased by your exuberance, but I think we have all overlooked the most terrifying aspect of knowing ones death: not knowing what comes before.
You may die from heart failure at the ripe old age of 109... after having been in a coma for 89 years after getting shot trying to stop a robber.
You may get hit by a cross-town bus when you're 60... after spending your life in a wheel chair having lost your legs jumping off a building.
You could die surrounded by friends and loved ones... after losing both your kidneys to blunt force trauma.

gasp. didnt think of that one.

I think if there was an infallible oracle, and you asked it when you were going to die... well, the answer would have to depend on how you'd react to the news.  If you were the sort of person who'd jump from a building today if the oracle told you "in 50 years" - the oracle clearly couldn't tell you "50 years".  It could only say that to the sort of people who would live their lives with reasonable caution despite the knowledge.


Actually, this sort of dilemma is something I've always wanted to write a story about.  Imagine a oracle of some kind (in my story, a self aware computer that can predict the future) that changes the world by telling prophecies that come true only because they were made.  They're always true, but the oracle has some free will in what it tells you.  Because perhaps if it tells you A, A will happen.  But on the other hand, if it tells you B, B will happen.  It can't tell you C which is what would have happened had you never asked the oracle anything, because if you heard about C it would fail to happen for some reason - perhaps because you'd try to make it happen.  Or would stop trying to make it happen, because you'd heard it foretold, so would stop trying to make it happen yourself.

Anyway, it's a good idea, but I've never been able to flesh it out into a good full plotline.  But as you might guess, I don't really want to "know" anything about the future, and would question the source if I did...

I have also thought about that.  I didnt think of writing a story on it but ive thought on that line of thought.  it would be interesting yet pretty confusing to have it in a story.  i wish you the best of luck on writing that.

[sirana]

I'd want to know it if it was very close. I'm sure it wouldn't help me live my life to the fullest and I would be miserable for the short time span I had left, but still, I would like to know. I'd prefer miserable to just being there one moment and then being gone. At least when it's only for a short time span.
If it was longer away then, let's say two months, I wouldn't want to know at all.

But most of all I just don't want to die.

[Bdoomed]

If you REALLY want to know when you'll die...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpb3l0bKa7I

[Darwinist]

Did you mean "crutch of Nash", by the way?  Because that's all that religion is, you know: a big crutch for those who have twisted spiritual ankles. 

Hey, that reminds me of the Jesse Ventura quote:

Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers.

Not to be topped by this zinger:

I asked Dalai Lama the most important question that I think you could ask - if he had ever seen Caddyshack.

[wakela]

I would only want to know if the date of my death will happen to be very near (i.e., within the next two weeks), or improbably far off (say, 90 years or more from now, which would make me 120).

If I have only a really short amount of time, I want to know so I can spend it to the fullest.

If I have a very long amount of time, I want to know so I can plan for it properly - divert more money into savings so I won't run out, etc.

On the other hand, if - as is almost certain - I'm not going to die in the immediate future, and on the other hand I'm not going to survive longer than I think at all possible based on medical science and my family history, I have no interest in knowing about it. Won't do me any good, and likely to do me much harm.

So then what do you do when you are holding the envelope with the answer inside?

[Bdoomed]

I would only want to know if the date of my death will happen to be very near (i.e., within the next two weeks), or improbably far off (say, 90 years or more from now, which would make me 120).

If I have only a really short amount of time, I want to know so I can spend it to the fullest.

If I have a very long amount of time, I want to know so I can plan for it properly - divert more money into savings so I won't run out, etc.

On the other hand, if - as is almost certain - I'm not going to die in the immediate future, and on the other hand I'm not going to survive longer than I think at all possible based on medical science and my family history, I have no interest in knowing about it. Won't do me any good, and likely to do me much harm.

So then what do you do when you are holding the envelope with the answer inside?

flip a coin

[eytanz]

I would only want to know if the date of my death will happen to be very near (i.e., within the next two weeks), or improbably far off (say, 90 years or more from now, which would make me 120).

If I have only a really short amount of time, I want to know so I can spend it to the fullest.

If I have a very long amount of time, I want to know so I can plan for it properly - divert more money into savings so I won't run out, etc.

On the other hand, if - as is almost certain - I'm not going to die in the immediate future, and on the other hand I'm not going to survive longer than I think at all possible based on medical science and my family history, I have no interest in knowing about it. Won't do me any good, and likely to do me much harm.

So then what do you do when you are holding the envelope with the answer inside?

If I don't know it's one of those two cases, I won't open the envelope. The whole point is that I consider those outcomes to be low-probability, and am living my life as if the answer is in the middle ground. I'd only want to know if that's a mistaken assumption. Thus, the chances of the envelope containing an answer which justifies opening it are very small and I won't gamble on it.

(disclaimer: this is of course assuming curiousity won't get the better of my judgement, as it often does in the real-world as opposed to hypothetical thought experiments)

[stePH]

I'll take the blue pill, Morpheus.  Ignorance is bliss.