Sideways topic, Adrian brought it up in another one.

What if you were able to somehow find out when you are going to die. Let's assume this death is a fact of life, there is no way you can change your behavior to -with this knowledge- change the outcome and prevent your death, it WILL happen on the day it is set.

Would you want to know? This is similar to a wondering of: if you knew up front what all was going to happen to you, wouldn't you just jump off a bridge already? That I have had with a client.

However.. knowing when you die.. would you want to know?


I would dread that day alright, I'd be nervous for it for the rest of my life thinking about it. I would change things if I knew though, I mean.. if I were to die in say.. a year, I would not continue working I think, but then still.. I'd have no money to do the things I WANTED to do, like visit people around the globe (I can't even do that WITH the job bar from saving up lots, but that aside )

I don't think I would want to know. Let my life do what it wishes and let me believe I had some say in it. I think my life will be fuller without the knowledge than with, since I'd not be worrying about it all the time, and letting it get in the way of more important things.

Knowledge is power, knowing how long you have to live would empower you to plan for you life (not for you death). I mean I would like at least to know the range... if I'm to live 1 more month, 1 year, 10, 30, or 50 more years. At least I would make sure that I leave this world with the maximum about of debt! (just don't tell my banker) What's the use to have dollars in your account when worms are dining on you.

Of course that would imply some type of predestination that I don't believe in. But in the other thread I was talking about terminal illnesses I personally would prefer to know that I'm dying than to live with "hope". I hate hope. Hope is probably one of the worst thing there is. Hope in general makes you do things that you regret if you live to regret them it also stops you from doing things that you'd rather do if you wouldn't have hope.

I would.

It is one of the things I have asked people about before though in a different context. I for one would want to know. It would give me much time to ready those around me for my demise, put to rest all those annoying legalities that go with death these days and to find some actual time to R&R and enjoy what is left of my life. Also, if others don't know, I could make some money on the side for my family and friends to get them comfortable. Five million in life insurance would change the lives of alot of people I know.

Addendum:

A question along these lines arose when we found out the pay master at the mill, who interviewed my brother but not me, had actually died of cancer in the few months between our interviews. He knew about it a long time in advanced and yet he kept working right up till the day he died.