In my case, I would choose #3 *before *the horrible end symptoms that require the coma.
It’s not that people with mental challenges can’t be happy. They can, and I’m sure some of them are. The point is that I could not tolerate living under thsoe conditions, knowing what I used to be.
A two year old’s mental abilities would be an improvement for me. However I had a habit of going around and poking people in the butt. Boy, that got a reaction! Course I wouldn’t look like a two year old and would probably get arrested for it. Hmm. They’d still let me post on the SDMB, wouldn’t they?
But why? Personally, I’d worry about fucking it up. (It’s entirely possible to get shot in the head and not die.)
Death, all the way. :::shudder:::
I wondered when somebody else would notice that.
I included it in the OP because I’m not certain being in the coma would keep me from feeling the pain; it might just keep me from complaining about it.
Like some others have said, it would depend on whether I had a good caretaker, who I felt would genuinely not be annoyed or feel burdened by taking care of me. It’s not ideal, of course, but if you’re under good care, you can be happy being mentally challenged. It’s better to be happy in a diminished way than to not exist anymore, in my opinion – especially because being mentally retarded isn’t Alzheimer’s where you don’t remember anything – you just have trouble understanding things. You’re you, just not as smart as you were.
Ambrosia? Isn’t that the fruit salad with marshmellows? Mighty tasty stuff! Makes the decision that much harder!
That’s the part I can’t handle. Who wants to be Wolverine without the regeneration and claws? Reed Richards without the Marvelous Magical Wonder Dong (What, you thought Invisible Girl liked his brain? C’mon.)? If I can’t be the best frakkin Oakie in the fleet, time to shuffle off this mortal coil.
Though thinking about it more thoroughly, maybe I wouldn’t go the suicide route. Might go find me a serial killer or somebody and pick a fight with them. That way, I’d qualify for Valhalla, as a way to hedge my atheism bet.
See, you’re hitting the points that wouldmake me opt to join the choir invisible. I wouldn’t want my wife or stepdaughter or sisters to have to take care of me that way, especially not if I could REMEMBER what I used to be. It would be endlessly humilating, and without hope. Remember, you’d have reverted to a two-year-old developmental stage because of serious brain damage; you’re not going to get better.
I’d want my wife or stepdaughter to choose to live, of course. But I think it already says in the FAQ that I’m a hypocrite.
Would someone with the mental capacity of a two year old be able to have any meaningful memories of adult experiences?
I’m not trying to sound conceited, but being smart is a major part of who I am. I’d rather not lose it.
Oddly enough, I suspect that at least one of my parents would choose to live, even under these conditions. Also suspect that parent would have no doubt of my own choice, and would accept it bravely, regardless of the pain it would cause that parent.
Yes…how would you experience said memories? And could you just close yourself off and remember your…memories, or would that not work?
ETA: I’m envisioning something like Johnny Got His Gun where it’s like all memories. If you had a lot of good memories, I’m not really sure that would be a bad thing.
This is what I was going to ask. If my memories were truly completely intact, that would mean that I would remember how to drive a car, ride a motorcycle, sail, draw, write, read, use a computer, play the guitar, etc. And even if I could remember doing these things in my past life without actually understanding HOW I did them, the very concepts of things like computers or sailboats or having sex are beyond the understanding of a two year old. Which would mean that I would, necessarily, have to have more than a 2-year-old’s mental capacity if these memories were to truly be intact.
The OP is a clever if morbid scenario, but this is the big logical flaw in it.
Well, the original poster is notoriously silly and not nearly as funny to others as to himself. Why he hasn’t been banned yet is a continual mystery.
Well, presumably you’d be hooked up to scanners that could show if you were conscious. Or how about a “get a nice doctor to give me a morphine overdose” option?
Well, having worked with and known plenty of 2 yr olds, it wouldn’t be so terrible to have the “mental capacities” of one, imo. They are pretty darn sharp.
But I find it extremely difficult to answer this question because if I retained my MEMORIES (very unlike Alzheimers, btw) of adulthood thinking and actions, I would NOT have the mind of a 2 yr old, and the only actual limitations would be due to BRAIN development, which while far from complete at that age, is far from disabling. :dubious:
Sort of like asking if I were in say, Stephen Hawking’s position, would I prefer death, since his MIND is fine and dandy but he is limited by his body.
A 2 yr old with the memories and body of an adult could function at a pretty high level, with the possible disabilities of requiring more sleep, having a shorter tolerance for frustration and less impulse control than the average adult. So a few extra naps and tantrums…big deal! 
Now, if the question were between actually having the mind/mental capacities of a toddler (sans memories, which are a large part of what separates us from toddlers, since we have aquired the experiences and skills that allow us to speak fluently, read, do math, use the potty, etc…most of the skills of adult life are physically possible for a 2 yr old mind/brain…they just haven’t LEARNED them yet and have no memory to refer to and, in some cases, lack the PHYSICAL/BODY development to do them) it would depend on whether or not I would be able to assure good care for myself and the impact on any family I had.
If neither were problematic, I’d probably choose to live out my lifespan as a 2 yr old. I don’t underestimate the potential for a rich, fullfilling experience from that perspective. 
Ain’t no mystery there. I’ve promised to cut the mother of all promos on the Admin silly enough to ban you. My wrath is terrible and awesome and stuff.
Because, as I implied, I don’t want the horrible symptoms that come before the coma.
“Entirely possible” doesn’t necessarily mean “likely.” And “shoot myself” is not the same as “get shot.” I’m pretty confident that placing a shotgun barrel in my mouth and pulling the trigger will do the job.