If you had the opportunity to know the exact moment of your death, would you take it?

Question

If suddenly there was technology that allowed people to see when and how they were going to die, would you take the opportunity? Why or why not?

Answer 1

No because I would then spend the rest of my life thinking about it, then stressing about it, then trying to change it I guess....and if I'm doing all that then I'm not really living my life to the fullest

Answer 2

I would probably because I think that one of my greatest fears is instant death. When I was a kid, I never had a problem with airplanes. Now I can't help but worry that it's going to crash even though I fly so much and know that it's an absolutely irrational fear (well, not totally irrational, but I have no problem driving, which is statistically much more deadly than flying). Instant death. I can't get my mind around it. Here one minute. Gone the next.

My wife's cat (mine too, but she brought him in to our house) died with absolutely zero warning about two months ago. On a strange whim, my wife took a cab home that night instead of public transportation. Had she not, he would have died alone. I was out of town when it happened (ironic, since I work from home and am home 90% of the time). She checked her email, and heard a strange noise in the kitchen--she described it as a metal scraping against metal sound almost, something unatural, and thought it was outside. But when she came to the kitchen, the animal was laying on the floor, tongue hanging out, the light in its eyes fading rapidly. It breathed its last breaths in her arms.

Instant death. No warning. I don't want to go like that.

So if I could see the moment of my own death, I think I would. I know I would. Time would feel more precious to me (and I know enough to know that time is precious). Art is long; life is short; and all that jazz. I live that philosophy, but I think knowing the exact moment, would crystalize it for me.

It begs the question, however, that if you knew your own death, would that knowledge help bring it about the way it was foretold?

I think I'd still want to know. Cheers!

Answer 3

Nope, I had this one nightmare before about getting burned with acid in a bathroom that was gray.... needless to say if I walk into a bathroom and it is grey atall, I quickly hurry backwards!.. If I knew about my death then I would live miserable and paranoid... I just want it to happen, and I want to live every single day like it is my last one... if I actually knew when I was going to die then my everyday life would be pointless and boring!... and besides when that day comes what am I suppose to do... not go to the place where Im going to die at... what i I die because of sudden cardiac arrest...and doctors couldn't reverse back anything.... it would just stink.... so...No I don't want to know!

Answer 4

yes i would jump on it because then you would learn the real value of life, what is important and what has little value in the long run. To know the exact moment you would die and how would really be a blessing I think for then I do not think that people would be nearly as mean and cruel to others

Answer 5

Honestly, yes, I would take the opportunity.
A lot of people spend most of their lives working their butts off, making sure their future family will be financilly secure in live and as well as when they die [money for funeral, ect]. To me, that's no way to live. Spending all of your life working and working and working? I realize that's how the world works, but if I had a chance to see when I'm going to die, I'd live my life accordingly. If I were to die in sixty years, then I would make sure to do the best I could to make sure those next sixty years would be good ones. I'd make sure to graduate high school, go to college, get a good job, and so on. But if I were to die next month, then I'd go out and live life as much as I could. Not just with big things either. I'd take time to go watch a movie with my friends, sit down and eat dinner with my family, and just make sure I spent it with the most important people in my life. Then, after the little things were taken care of, I'd go pick out a coffin. I'd go make sure the arrangements were already taken care of, so I wouldn't burden other people with them. Then, just go out and life live to the fullest until the day comes where I'll be stiffer than an uptight father.

Answer 6

Interesting question. No, I would not take it. BEcause it will create more problems for me and people around me when the last breath comes. Also, the purpose of nature is in not knowing how and when you are going to die. With God all things are possible and we are simply His best creatures.

Answer 7

Well, it depends. Probably not but maybe if there was some hope of altering the outcome. I mean, if somehow I was going to die in a mass genocide or something, I'd want to do everything in my power to change it. But if I was going to inevitably die of 'natural causes', thinking about it would torment me.

Answer 8

yes, I would take it. I would take it to thank everyone that has been my friends and make sure everyone knows that I'm thankful to know them. I would also give all of my money to find a cure for cancer and I would give my body to the doctors to help find a cure. I have cancer and it sucks. I would like to know if I"m going to have a long slow painful death or a quick one because I would rather have a quick one instead.

Answer 9

I would take this opportunity. I'd allocate my money and property to my loved ones and leave some to enjoy before I die.

Answer 10

Sure. Sign me up for it.

It would allow for perspective... to not get caught up in all the petty, mean and ultimately unimportant stuff that makes up our everyday lives.

Plus, I'm thinking about retiring. It'd be nice to know exactly how much money I'd have to have. :)

Answer 11

No, I would want it to be a surprise because I wouldn't want to spend every moment just thinking how much longer it would be before I would die.