Knowledge about certain death?

***Ace Mercury*** · 03-19-2007, 09:30 AM

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/18/he...gewanted=print

The article linked sparked something in my mind. If you don't want to read the article, in short, would you want to know if you'll contract a disease and die within the next couple of decades?

The article paints a sort-of picture why you wouldn't want to know; that knowing would cast a pall on your life, your family, your friends. There's plenty reasons to know, though; planning for your death, making sure you achieve all of your life goals.

I'm of the mind that I would want to know. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want to have it, but if I did have it, I think it'd be prudent to know. I'm interested: would anyone here not want to know? Why?

**Dr. Horrible** · 03-19-2007, 11:06 AM

What?!

Mikhail Gorbachev · 03-19-2007, 06:59 PM

I'd want to know so I could plan my life. I don't see the point in ignoring it.

***ZeldaGirl*** · 03-19-2007, 07:54 PM

I'd want to know, so that I could live my life to the fullest before I went... accomplish things and stuff.

***CaptHayfever*** · 03-20-2007, 01:27 AM

^^^How imminent!?

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

t3hDarkness · 03-20-2007, 01:29 AM

I want to know simply so I can have all my affairs in order.

It is a horrible burden, but well worth the weight...

Koga · 03-20-2007, 03:51 AM

I really wouldn't want to know. The concept of non-existance is still the most frightening I can think of, and therefore I don't think of it very often. Knowing exactly when I would go, would only make me think more of it. Moreover, I don't have any specific life goals, except for the usual be happy, find true love, have children etc.

**Wyborn** · 03-20-2007, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koga

The concept of non-existance is still the most frightening I can think of,

Death scares you that badly, eh?

***Ace Mercury*** · 03-20-2007, 08:21 AM

Isn't it kind of cheating yourself, though? It's like you're taking advantage of future you.

t3hDarkness · 03-20-2007, 09:21 AM

Why shouldn't one take advantage of their future self while they still have the chance?

***Ace Mercury*** · 03-20-2007, 11:54 AM

Because eventually future you becomes you. This is like that "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", except it actually happens this time.

**Wyborn** · 03-20-2007, 12:09 PM

From a completely non-religious perspective...

I'd probably want to know, at heart, just so I could do the stuff I've always wanted to do, appropriate my time, know whether or not I can pass on whatever it is to my children (and thus get a vasectomy), and work out with my loved ones whether or not I should eventually be euthanized.

Lurch1982 · 03-20-2007, 05:08 PM

I wouldn't want to know because I'd go insane waiting for my chance to spend eternity with God in Heaven with butterflies and puppies and ride a T-rex around.

....except animals don't go to heaven and dinosaurs didn't exist........

**Prince Toad** · 03-20-2007, 06:41 PM

It's okay, Lurch.

Koga · 03-21-2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace Mercury

Isn't it kind of cheating yourself, though? It's like you're taking advantage of future you.

What exactly do you mean? That I'm cheating my future self by having come the disease as a shock to him, instead of 'warning' him in advance?

***Ace Mercury*** · 03-21-2007, 01:25 PM

Yeah, something like that. It seems like mortgaging your future. Do you see it better that you, your family, and your friends take the shock in the future? Or is that just something tangential?

Koga · 03-21-2007, 05:27 PM

I'd rather take the shock in the future than take it now and live the rest of my life knowing how and when it's going to end. I don't know if my family and friends would be more comfortable knowing in advance, but I can't really imagine they would. I definitely wouldn't want to know about any relatives or friends of mine when they are to die.

**Wyborn** · 03-21-2007, 06:05 PM

Well, this is a bit different - this isn't something that kills you so much as it makes you shut down and essentially renders you a vegetable. Would you rather know about that in advance?

**L007 is Undecided** · 03-21-2007, 07:36 PM

I'd rather not know. Hell, I tend not to think of death at all. It's my philosophy on life: Live it. I follow Thoreau in enjoying life right now instead of working in order to save up for only one day of enjoyment.

Simply put, I want to enjoy life and have the thought that I still have another day to enjoy.

Koga · 03-22-2007, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wyborn

Well, this is a bit different - this isn't something that kills you so much as it makes you shut down and essentially renders you a vegetable. Would you rather know about that in advance?

I didn't read the article, and I didn't deduce from Ace's post that it was about being in a vegetative state. Even then, I still wouldn't want to know in advance. I'd like to let my family know what I would like them to do to me should (though I really think it's their decision), but I definitely wouldn't want to know when my life effectively ends.

03-19-2007, 09:30 AM	#1
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 19,023 Thanks: 366 Thanked 1,544 Times in 800 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Points: 104,411.62 Bank: 16,422,353.71 Total Points: 16,526,765.33 Donate	Knowledge about certain death? http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/18/he...gewanted=print The article linked sparked something in my mind. If you don't want to read the article, in short, would you want to know if you'll contract a disease and die within the next couple of decades? The article paints a sort-of picture why you wouldn't want to know; that knowing would cast a pall on your life, your family, your friends. There's plenty reasons to know, though; planning for your death, making sure you achieve all of your life goals. I'm of the mind that I would want to know. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want to have it, but if I did have it, I think it'd be prudent to know. I'm interested: would anyone here not want to know? Why?

03-21-2007, 07:36 PM	#19
L007 is Undecided Axe Shreddin' Mod Join Date: May 2001 Location: Farmerland. Gender: Posts: 7,440 Thanks: 98 Thanked 316 Times in 186 Posts Points: 6,356.93 Bank: 22,793.61 Total Points: 29,150.54 Donate	I'd rather not know. Hell, I tend not to think of death at all. It's my philosophy on life: Live it. I follow Thoreau in enjoying life right now instead of working in order to save up for only one day of enjoyment. Simply put, I want to enjoy life and have the thought that I still have another day to enjoy. __________________ Can I has signature?

03-19-2007, 11:06 AM	#2
Dr. Horrible PP&R Mod Current Events Mod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: More important than where is when.... Gender: Posts: 6,545 Thanks: 112 Thanked 412 Times in 278 Posts Points: 3,956.20 Bank: 2,566,913.15 Total Points: 2,570,869.35 Donate	What?!

03-19-2007, 06:59 PM	#3
Mikhail Gorbachev Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Gender: Posts: 9,593 Thanks: 30 Thanked 81 Times in 65 Posts Points: 292.54 Bank: 32,290.67 Total Points: 32,583.21 Donate	I'd want to know so I could plan my life. I don't see the point in ignoring it.

03-19-2007, 07:54 PM	#4
*ZeldaGirl* Venting SuperMod Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Why do YOU want to know...? Gender: Posts: 12,042 Thanks: 512 Thanked 846 Times in 579 Posts Points: 28,480.24 Bank: 428,487.62 Total Points: 456,967.85 Donate	I'd want to know, so that I could live my life to the fullest before I went... accomplish things and stuff.

03-20-2007, 01:27 AM	#5
*CaptHayfever* Smash Supermod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 19,534 Thanks: 181 Thanked 835 Times in 528 Posts Points: 111,750.99 Bank: 1,268.17 Total Points: 113,019.16 Donate	^^^How imminent!? And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

03-20-2007, 01:29 AM	#6
t3hDarkness Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I've been lost here before Gender: Posts: 4,154 Thanks: 43 Thanked 109 Times in 87 Posts Points: 13,052.57 Bank: 86,321.85 Total Points: 99,374.42 Donate	I want to know simply so I can have all my affairs in order. It is a horrible burden, but well worth the weight...

03-20-2007, 03:51 AM	#7
Koga Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: The Netherlands Gender: Posts: 17,093 Thanks: 104 Thanked 173 Times in 116 Posts Points: 106,180.41 Bank: 19,992.10 Total Points: 126,172.51 Donate	I really wouldn't want to know. The concept of non-existance is still the most frightening I can think of, and therefore I don't think of it very often. Knowing exactly when I would go, would only make me think more of it. Moreover, I don't have any specific life goals, except for the usual be happy, find true love, have children etc.

03-20-2007, 08:21 AM	#9
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 19,023 Thanks: 366 Thanked 1,544 Times in 800 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Points: 104,411.62 Bank: 16,422,353.71 Total Points: 16,526,765.33 Donate	Isn't it kind of cheating yourself, though? It's like you're taking advantage of future you.

03-20-2007, 09:21 AM	#10
t3hDarkness Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I've been lost here before Gender: Posts: 4,154 Thanks: 43 Thanked 109 Times in 87 Posts Points: 13,052.57 Bank: 86,321.85 Total Points: 99,374.42 Donate	Why shouldn't one take advantage of their future self while they still have the chance?

03-20-2007, 11:54 AM	#11
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 19,023 Thanks: 366 Thanked 1,544 Times in 800 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Points: 104,411.62 Bank: 16,422,353.71 Total Points: 16,526,765.33 Donate	Because eventually future you becomes you. This is like that "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", except it actually happens this time.

03-20-2007, 12:09 PM	#12
Wyborn Zelda Mod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: All over the place Gender: Posts: 12,326 Thanks: 86 Thanked 439 Times in 269 Posts Points: 17,284.94 Bank: 82,155.51 Total Points: 99,440.45 Donate	From a completely non-religious perspective... I'd probably want to know, at heart, just so I could do the stuff I've always wanted to do, appropriate my time, know whether or not I can pass on whatever it is to my children (and thus get a vasectomy), and work out with my loved ones whether or not I should eventually be euthanized.

03-20-2007, 05:08 PM	#13
Lurch1982 Senior Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Katrinaland, USA Gender: Posts: 9,150 Thanks: 119 Thanked 204 Times in 126 Posts Points: 27,603.51 Bank: 172,759.35 Total Points: 200,362.86 Donate	I wouldn't want to know because I'd go insane waiting for my chance to spend eternity with God in Heaven with butterflies and puppies and ride a T-rex around. ....except animals don't go to heaven and dinosaurs didn't exist........

03-20-2007, 06:41 PM	#14
Prince Toad PC Mod Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Rookery Gender: Posts: 11,418 Thanks: 43 Thanked 56 Times in 47 Posts Points: 44,730.38 Bank: 22,313.30 Total Points: 67,043.68 Donate	It's okay, Lurch.

03-21-2007, 01:25 PM	#16
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 19,023 Thanks: 366 Thanked 1,544 Times in 800 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Points: 104,411.62 Bank: 16,422,353.71 Total Points: 16,526,765.33 Donate	Yeah, something like that. It seems like mortgaging your future. Do you see it better that you, your family, and your friends take the shock in the future? Or is that just something tangential?

03-21-2007, 05:27 PM	#17
Koga Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: The Netherlands Gender: Posts: 17,093 Thanks: 104 Thanked 173 Times in 116 Posts Points: 106,180.41 Bank: 19,992.10 Total Points: 126,172.51 Donate	I'd rather take the shock in the future than take it now and live the rest of my life knowing how and when it's going to end. I don't know if my family and friends would be more comfortable knowing in advance, but I can't really imagine they would. I definitely wouldn't want to know about any relatives or friends of mine when they are to die.

03-21-2007, 06:05 PM	#18
Wyborn Zelda Mod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: All over the place Gender: Posts: 12,326 Thanks: 86 Thanked 439 Times in 269 Posts Points: 17,284.94 Bank: 82,155.51 Total Points: 99,440.45 Donate	Well, this is a bit different - this isn't something that kills you so much as it makes you shut down and essentially renders you a vegetable. Would you rather know about that in advance?