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Jinjre
06-11-2004, 10:58 AM
We all have a birthday every year. We all also have a death day which comes around each year, we just don't know what it is.

If you knew the date, but not the year, of your death day, how do you think your life would change? Do you think people would behave better, having an annual reminder that we don't have forever to live? Would you throw a party to celebrate your death day (and if that year happens to be your year, you'd at least be surrounded by friends)? Would you hide in your house on your death day, terrified to go outside (bearing in mind, you WILL die on your death day, and there is nothing you can do to prevent it).

I think I would live differently. I wouldn't put off all the stuff I keep saying "When I retire I'm going to...." I'd do it now, because I'd have that constant reminder. I'd probably give more people the benefit of the doubt. I would volunteer more so I"d feel like I'd given something back to humanity. I'd resolve issues instead of letting them drag on.

Do you think it would be akin to drinking in that it would only make stronger the personality traits of people: if they are selfish and mean it would only make them moreso?

Interesting thought.

Panamah
06-11-2004, 01:45 PM
I was answering and I got interrupted with work! How rude.

Anyway, I always thought it'd be sort of neat to know when you're going to die, then you could plan your life MUCH better.

Hmmm... but your question is, would you celebrate if you knew your death day. Yeah, I suppose I would. I do like the idea of having friends around. I'd probably end up doing all kinds of things that would lead to my death on my death day, like get drunk, pick up a cute stranger in a bar, experiment with drugs. You know, if it was your day, there you go! If it wasn't... you'd definitely know for SURE you could do anything and not die. Heck... I'd go sky-diving!

Aidon
06-11-2004, 03:53 PM
If I knew my death day...I think I'd try to rise up against God and overthrow him as one cruel hearted son of a bitch.

Tudamorf
06-11-2004, 03:56 PM
Do you mean, in your hypothetical, that a person <i>couldn't</i> die on any other day (some kind of predestination assumption)? With fear of death out of the way for 364.25 days, the world would be a scary place. People would fight endless wars, for example, if they knew they couldn't die. Fear of death is an important factor in keeping society working.

Panamah
06-11-2004, 04:16 PM
Shoot yeah! I'd go to an amusement park and ride on the scary rides!

Jinjre
06-11-2004, 05:22 PM
Yes, I do mean that you would know, with certainty, that you would not die on any other day than, say, August 11th.

I hadn't thought about that aspect before, you're right Tudamorf, the world would be much scarier. The people who hold their behaviors in check only due to fear of death would no longer do so. Ugh.

OTOH, some folks might be more concerned about lifelong paralysis/handicaps than they would be about dying. I mean, I'd rather be dead than be a vegetable or be a quadraplegic. So if it's not your death day, and you decide to go dive off a really high bridge to see what it feels like, you might end up never being able to walk/speak etc again, but you wouldn't be dead.

Panamah
06-11-2004, 05:59 PM
Hmmm... good point, Jinjre.

B_Delacroix
06-14-2004, 09:05 AM
HAH, remember all those idiots who do whatever they want to online because they are anonymous and free of any consequences to their actions? Now put them in real life. Holy cow, I couldn't even resort to shooting them because they wouldn't be allowed to die before their day.

Panamah
06-14-2004, 10:52 AM
Well, there is always maiming for life!

That makes me think though... perhaps instead of having a death penalty in MMO's they should wire your chair to the computer and deliver a very painful electrical jolt every time you die. :)

B_Delacroix
06-14-2004, 11:06 AM
Well, there is always maiming for life!

I do own a large sword.... On the battlefield, people are just like a side of meat anyway.

There would be fewer players, obviously. Also, there would be a lot more standing around and, gee, imagine the bug that could happen with that.

Patch message

- We fixed the electrical zap effect that would not stop. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

- Fixed the zaps occuring to some people who weren't really dead.

Now, all things must be in balance. What do we hook up to the chair or player for when they do something right?

Panamah
06-14-2004, 11:51 AM
Now, all things must be in balance. What do we hook up to the chair or player for when they do something right?

I think in Sleeper they called that device the orgasmatron. :)

Now, what if you could take the zap or the death penalty. I wonder at what point people would take the zap over the death penalty. That'd be an interesting experiment.

Aerokella
06-14-2004, 01:41 PM
I think in Sleeper they called that device the orgasmatron. :)

*has changed and no longer has evil ways* :grin: :grin: