The summer what if game

[CaptainCrunch]

So it is the off season, and we usually see hockey discussions and other discussions dwindle a bit. So I thought that it would be interesting to play a game.


The game is called what if.


In this game you can ask three questions, they all have to start with what ifs. If you want to aim the questions at a specific member you can, but it can't be mean spirited or questions linked to their reality. If you choose to answer the questions, be thoughtful and explain your answers. I'll start with three questions


1) What if you could be granted immortality and unlimited wealth, but the cost of this devils arrangement is that every day you have to live with agonizing pain. I'm not talking about a head ache pain, I'm talking a pain like every nerve on your body is on fire. Would you take the deal?


2) What if I (in the role of the devil) could introduce you to your perfect soul mate, the unquestioned ying to your yang, and when I introduce you, the both of you fall passionately and instantly in love? What if the cost of this deal is that you will die in exactly two weeks after you fall in love? Would you take the deal?


3) What if I could give you the ultimate power of good? What if I could give you the power to end starvation, disease, war and poverty? What if this power would usher in a period of peace that would last 100 years, and science and technology would advance at an accelerated rate? But the cost for the deal is that at the end of the 100 years, your power vanishes and it guarantees that mankind would descend back into war and man doing unthinkable things to his fellow man? Would you take this bargain?


These three questions are aimed at anyone in this thread.

[bizaro86]

1) agonizing pain that goes on forever is pretty much what I imagine being in hell would be like, so that's a pass.

[nik-]

Those first two aren't even close to being tough choices, wtf.

[Completely]

Literally said no to all 3,

1. Screw pain
2. Soul mate for 2 weeks then die? nope
3. Why would i let the world advance incredibly, just for them all to kill themselves in 100 years.

[N-E-B]

Maybe some amendments to the questions to make them tougher choices?

For example, infinite life and wealth but everybody hates you, or you can’t ever have sexual relations of any kind with anyone (including yourself) ever again.

Or you can find your soul mate but you will die in say, 10-15 years?

You can cure the world but have to sacrifice your own life to do so? Or the life of a loved one?

Those probably still aren’t perfect but as of right now it was a pretty quick and easy no to all three.

[woob]

No to all three. Was this supposed to be thoughtful and difficult to answer?

[Inglewood Jack]

yeah all 3 of the originals are a hard no, what with the "catch" part of the question being either eternal suffering or almost immediate death. but it reminded me of a similar thing I saw a couple years back:

https://waitbutwhy.com/table/sun-heaven-quandary

Scenario 1: experience the pain of being immersed in lava (without being able to die) for one minute in exchange for next year being a fantastic one, in relative terms to your normal life

Scenario 2: experience the pain of being placed at the centre of the sun for a full year in exchange for 100 million years of heaven/paradise for you and your loved ones

at first, probably both of these would seem like a yes to most people, but it gets complicated the more you think about it. for example:

- as you are being burned, will your nerve sensation dull, or will you be forced to feel that same intensity for the entire period?

- if you decide the pain is too much, can you back out? assuming the reward gets rescinded if you do

- is it even possible to create a heaven that would feel that amazing for 100 million years, or would you quickly get bored and want to end it early?

I'm kind of leaning towards nah on the first one, and 50/50 on the second, depending on how the details of the agreement work.

[Yamer]

1) You will be granted health, wealth, happiness, and set-up with your true soulmate.

But first you have to have sex with one of your parents.

2) You will be granted eternal life and unlimited wealth.

But first you have to give up either your sight or hearing.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by yamer

2) you will be granted eternal life and unlimited wealth.

But first you have to give up either your sight or hearing.

What???????

[Fuzz]

[Scroopy Noopers]

Eternal life sounds more like a curse than anything.

[Russic]

In Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter it makes the point that immortal beings live in constant fear of entering a structure that can collapse onto them (like a cave or something). I think about that all the time during would-you-like-to-live-forever discussions.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Russic

In Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter it makes the point that immortal beings live in constant fear of entering a structure that can collapse onto them (like a cave or something). I think about that all the time during would-you-like-to-live-forever discussions.

Whoa... that’s scary. Never thought of that.

[PepsiFree]

1. Obviously yes, i’d have enough wealth to get drenched in whatever drugs necessary that wouldn’t be able to kill me.
2. No, that’s stupid. What good is finding “the one” (whatever that means to you) if you don’t get to spend any meaningful time with said person.
3. Yes, since we’ve lived through times of war before where mankind has done terrible things to each other, I don’t see the downside in locking down 100 years of advancement and peace

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Eternal life sounds more like a curse than anything.

Yeah, it's probably the most anticipated wish that evil Genies have. You know, the ones who grant your wish but twist it in a way that it's a curse (like wishing to be the best hockey player in the world, but then having to play for the Oilers...we're onto you McDavid).

Eternal life, but you age? Imagine being 150, just begging to die as you rot from diseases and your mind goes.

And then if that's not enough, you get to live through the heat death of the universe with nothing but yourself for several billion years? Just a terrible thought.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Yamer

1) You will be granted health, wealth, happiness, and set-up with your true soulmate.

But first you have to have sex with one of your parents.

And then you find out that your soulmate was said parent all along.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

And then you find out that your soulmate was said parent all along.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

...And then if that's not enough, you get to live through the heat death of the universe with nothing but yourself for several billion years? Just a terrible thought.

This last part is horrifying. I guess I never put that much thought into any immortal storylines. Almost makes death (from age) much less scary.

[CaptainCrunch]

"You discern a fraction of reality. Beyond these stars exist other galaxies, other worlds, other beings. I will experience or ignore them as I wish. I will spend eternity becoming everything: a farmer, an artist, a simple man. When the last living thing in the universe finally dies, I will enjoy peace and wait for the cycle to begin again."

[GGG]

If we live in a deterministic universe and a being gave you the choice to be able to see into the future would you accept this choice knowing that because the universe is deterministic you couldn’t change anything