# Do you want the date you'll die? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 14, 2011, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280 "2011-09-14T12:59:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/21 "2011-09-14T21:08:46Z")
YES! I think knowing would get my ass into gear about learning how to LIVE life, and cram in everything I could possibly want to do. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/22 "2011-09-14T21:10:58Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > YES! > > I think knowing would get my ass into gear about learning how to LIVE life, and cram in everything I could possibly want to do. (pssst… learn now, cuz you’re going to die sooner than you think. Not that I _know_ anything…) ---
**Author:** ![Bri2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/48db29/32.png) [@Bri2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bri2k)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/23 "2011-09-14T21:13:23Z")
I’m in my 40s and yes, I’d like to know the exact date and time of my demise. It would help make it certain I’d show my appreciation to those still living who’ve made my time here better. Bri2k ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2011, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/24 "2011-09-14T21:15:40Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > (pssst… learn now, cuz you’re going to die sooner than you think. Not that I _know_ anything…) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![freep5637](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cdc98d/32.png) [@freep5637](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freep5637)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/25 "2011-09-15T03:05:43Z")
Absolutely. If life has taught me anything, it’s that I’m hard headed and won’t change unless the pain becomes too great. I take life for granted; I know it, and I still do. If you told me that I’d die when I was 30, I’d spend the next three years living it up, trying to do everything I could. If you told me It’d be when I’m 80 I’d work harder to secure the kind of life that I truly want and I’d stop at nothing to get it. As it is, I’m 27 so even though I know it’s not forever and not guaranteed I still feel like I’ll always have tomorrow to get that thing done, or next year… ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/26 "2011-09-15T03:24:36Z")
I’d very much like to know. Would make planning a lot more accurate. ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/27 "2011-09-15T04:09:41Z")
Yessssssssssss ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/28 "2011-09-15T04:16:37Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > YES! > > I think knowing would get my ass into gear about learning how to LIVE life, and cram in everything I could possibly want to do. That was my first thought. But then I thought about all those times where I get off work on Friday with big plans of getting a ton of stuff done over the next two days, then suddenly it’s Monday and I did nothing but play video games and watch TV. I think if I knew the day I would die my life would turn into one giant weekend where I did nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/29 "2011-09-15T07:40:59Z")
You hate surprises? Not to worry; you won’t be surprised. ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/30 "2011-09-15T07:49:29Z")
Id rather know my quality of life before I die than the exact date. This scenario was in a twilight zone type story I read in a comic somewhere where the guy finds out he’ll definitely live for another 60 years, so figures he’s invincible, gets torched in a car accident and ends up as a burned quadriplegic for the next 60 years. Without knowing if Ill get a stroke next week or whatever that might have an impact for decades, knowing how much longer Ill live isnt as much use as it might be. And Im not sure Id want to know something like that, if I couldnt possibly avoid it. Otara ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/31 "2011-09-15T08:59:27Z")
For me it’s Tuesday, October 4, 2044 (according to [http://www.deathclock.com/](http://www.deathclock.com/)) To answer the OP - no thanks… ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/32 "2011-09-15T19:29:29Z")
It is possible to get your DNA checked out and find out if you are likely to get some disabling diseases. Do you want to know if Alzheimers is in your future? ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/33 "2011-09-15T19:43:58Z")
Yes, again. ---
**Author:** ![Bri2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/48db29/32.png) [@Bri2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bri2k)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/34 "2011-09-15T20:33:05Z")
> [@grimpixie](#): > > For me it’s Tuesday, October 4, 2044 (according to [http://www.deathclock.com/](http://www.deathclock.com/)) > > To answer the OP - no thanks… According to the death clock, I should’ve passed on _two months_ ago! Bri2k ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/35 "2011-09-16T04:21:48Z")
Yes, as long as my bank doesn’t know. I would be able to get back into sky diving and try recreational drugs knowing I have a certain number of years left. ---
**Author:** ![nachtmusick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac91a4/32.png) [@nachtmusick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nachtmusick)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/36 "2011-09-16T04:45:46Z")
> [@Bri2k](#): > > According to the death clock, I should’ve passed on _two months_ ago! > > Bri2k Welcome to the afterlife. According to the clock, I’ve been dead for 5 years. No, I don’t want to know how much time I’ve got left. My existence would just become an exercise in watching the clock on the wall tick my life away. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/37 "2011-09-16T04:55:20Z")
Yes but… I wouldn’t let well enough alone. I’d try to game the system. I’m not the type of person to take “hypothetical situation” at face value. Once there’s proof of some kind of magical scenario, that opens up the possibility to game that magic to my own purposes and prevent my own death to start, and do other fun magical things to boot. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/38 "2011-09-16T05:01:40Z")
Ok but unrealistically adhering to the artificial parameters, still yes. All info is better than no info. But I’m a procrastinator and likely would wait til my last year to do anything different. And parodoxically I’m a turtle, so I know that quality is better than quantity. I’m not going to rush through random shit and make my life a stress swamp. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/39 "2011-09-16T16:12:54Z")
The _when_ would be as memorable to me as any other important date I’m told and then promptly forget. It’s the _how_ that interests me more. An accurate though fallible software program? A flaky psychic? Or an ethereal being emerging from the mists of the freezer? If it’s on a personalised post-it from the Grim Reaper written in boney hand and stuck on the outside of my door, well, fuck that noise. I want Alan Ball to tell me in 63 episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280/40 "2011-09-16T17:32:22Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > ETA: You can skydive and bungeejump, legally, without too much fear of repercussion. But if you are going to die in a week, what’s to stop you from going on a crime spree? Honor and empathy, I think. I don’t refrain from theft, murder, rape, and so forth because I’m afraid of getting caught. I refrain from them because other human beings are real people to me, and causing pain to them unnecessarily makes me feel bad. In other words, I am basically being selfish; I want to be (and to continue being) a person I like. As to the **Agent Violet** ’s question: no. Too much knowledge of the future is a bad thing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-the-date-youll-die/596280.md?page=3)