$17K for doing nothing. Would you?

NASA’s making the offer. Of course, it doesn’t answer some important questions: Will they mount a flatscreen on the ceiling? Hook that up to a computer/internet, etc.? Can you still hold a job as long as you comply with the rules (programmer, telemarketer, etc.)? Does it have to be on the back the whole time, or is shifting allowed? What about conjugal visits (as long as the other partner does all the work)?

I don’t know whether the bedroom photo is accurate or not–if it is, I’d have to have second thoughts since it looks like I’d be a character out of Misery holed up like that. Still, I think I might forward the article to my wife–her clients are driving her nuts and she might invite any opportunity to really, really not do anything for a while (though it would constitute a severe paycut). :wink:

Sounds interesting, but I couldn’t do it because of my GI issues.

90 days without jerking off?

17 grand is too little.

If I had access to the internet/tv/books/video games then probably. If not, no freaking way. Wow would that be boring.

It’s clearly a stock shot of a bed - lazy picture researcher’s dream, this story. :slight_smile:

No flippin’ way. No exercise for 90 days?

“$17K for doing nothing. Would you?”

Hell yes!
$17K for laying in a bed 16 hours a day for 3 months, not a chance.

I could do it. I’m pretty darned inertial that way.

No way. 90 days of bed-rest isn’t healthy for anyone. I’m actually sort of curious how they got this study past an IRB.

Yeah, that’s what it boiled down to for me, too.

I don’t know when it was originally broadcast because it was one of a bunch of podcasts on my iPod, but Ira Flatow on Talk of the Nation/Science Friday interviewed a woman who had done this very thing. (The show was about weird experiments, if you want to try to find the podcast.)

I believe she said she would think long and hard before she ever did it again.

ETA: They could wheel her around to different locations for a change of scenery, so to speak, and they could tip the bed to change her position so she didn’t develop circulatory problems.

I get a stiff neck/back if I lie in bed to many HOURS, much less DAYS!

How bout 4500 for three weeks? That’s all the vacation I have available, and I’d be thrilled to catch up on my sleep.

Well, why the hell not? Now that ski season is over, that pretty much describes how I spend my days anyway.

‘Cept nobodys givin’ me any money!

Hell no. Ever seen someone who’s been bedridden for prolonged periods of time?

Jesus, no. I wouldn’t do it for $100K. I mean, I’m fairly practiced at lazing around, but to lie in bed for three months straight? I think I’d only be able to last a few days before going absolutely batty.

I get reading material and net access, am magically exempted from all my real life responsibilities and it’s for Science?

I’ll take one for the team, sign me up!

I would totally, totally do it.

Hey, I did this when I was pregnant, only I never ogt up. I’d do it!

Seriously, many of my patients do this for 3 or 4 months with complicated pregnancies. they are debilitated when they finally deliver, but bounce back quickly as they are generally young and healthy at the start.

if I wasn’t married with two kids, I’d do it. If this had come up ten years ago, absolutely.