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Steve Coates
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 November 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 745
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| Posted: 24 January 2020 at 1:16pm | IP Logged | 1
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Try again...
No, I would not want to know. I like surprises!
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John Popa
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 20 March 2008
Posts: 4369
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| Posted: 24 January 2020 at 1:25pm | IP Logged | 2
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I wouldn't want to know. It would drive me crazy.
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Brian Miller
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 28 July 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 30888
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| Posted: 24 January 2020 at 1:45pm | IP Logged | 3
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I absolutely would not want to know.
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Steve Coates
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 November 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 745
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| Posted: 24 January 2020 at 2:09pm | IP Logged | 4
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Hey, Wasn't there a story about a man who invented a machine which could foretell the time of a person's death. The insurance companies had him killed, not that he wasn't expecting his own death.
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Marc Foxx
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 5571
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| Posted: 24 January 2020 at 2:14pm | IP Logged | 5
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@Steve Coates, yes, it was a short story by Robert Heinlein, called "Timeline", I believe.
Edit - it was actually his first published story and it was called Life-Line
Edited by Marc Foxx on 24 January 2020 at 2:16pm
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Brennan Voboril
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 15 January 2011
Posts: 1734
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| Posted: 24 January 2020 at 5:13pm | IP Logged | 6
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I wouldn't want to know either. I wonder about how it will end a lot, but knowing how, and when, with certainty? The stress of the countdown would give me a heart attack!
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Matt Hawes
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 16428
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| Posted: 24 January 2020 at 5:27pm | IP Logged | 7
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I wouldn't want to know.
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Shane Matlock
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 12 August 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 1760
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| Posted: 24 January 2020 at 6:19pm | IP Logged | 8
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I don't want to know. I would dwell on that too much.
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Peter Martin
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 March 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 15783
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| Posted: 24 January 2020 at 7:54pm | IP Logged | 9
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It would prey on your mind as the fateful time drew
nearer, especially if you knew it was going to be a
painful death.
The certainty of knowing when would make financial
planning a lot more efficient. My head says yes, my heart
says no. So, I'd have to say no, even though it would be
useful information to have. Say you knew you were going
to die 10 hours into an aeroplane journey... Imagine the
stress sitting on that plane! Deeply unpleasant to have
the knowledge. That rare case of ignorance being bliss.
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John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 132240
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| Posted: 24 January 2020 at 8:19pm | IP Logged | 10
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...a painful death...••• Short of instant vaporization, I don’t really think there’s any other kind.
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Eric Sofer
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 31 January 2014
Location: United States
Posts: 4789
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| Posted: 24 January 2020 at 8:28pm | IP Logged | 11
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In no way, shape, or form would I want to know. On the second hand, in a similar manner to that described by Christianity, I would spend that day apologizing, doing good, praying, and all those things that - if performed at the VERY end - I would go to heaven, even if I've been a hellbound reprobate my whole life. I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life apologizing to everyone I know, doing good deeds, and asking others for forgiveness. Why not do it now, when I've no idea when my death is coming - but when now's a good time for it anyhow?
But in the first place - it would be a literal deadline. I wouldn't want to live dreading Feb 30*, 2061, because that's all. What would every day, every hour, every second of the rest of my life be but dreading that date? I don't want to spend the time in dread. Better far to enjoy life as it is, and as I can, without knowing when last call is. Even subtle or gross celebrations would pale in recognition of the end.
*Yeah, yeah, I know.
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Tim O Neill
Byrne Robotics Security
Joined: 16 April 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 10924
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| Posted: 24 January 2020 at 8:53pm | IP Logged | 12
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My first instinct is that I don't want to know.
But the reality of the last few years is that I have been working constantly, and
if I know I have a finite time, I would not want to spend it working. I would want
to have fun and visit with family and friends.
And of course, spending time with you fine people...
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