# Hypothetical situation: You're going to be alone in a room for ten years but have points for perks. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 26, 2013, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367 "2013-05-26T02:33:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/81 "2013-05-27T15:26:40Z")
… if i like my meat fresh and ordered lifestock, can i take my time to kill them? am i to understand from this thread that people would rather sacrifice ten years of their life than give up internet access? it is interesting. ---
**Author:** ![R3d\_Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/82 "2013-05-27T15:47:58Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Just to let everyone know–all of the talk in here about pools in workout rooms and balconies and using the cook to make things for you that you need; basically everything that’s been tossed around and thought of–is all allowed. That’s sort of what I was hoping for this topic, too…for people to use their points to develop interesting ways to get other things that they need by using other facilities for the stuff. > Very well done and interesting replies. So I can get my 1,000,000 points by paying 50 points? ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/83 "2013-05-27T16:11:01Z")
[quote=“Anonymous User, post:82, topic:659367”] So I can Except that. : p Because then everyone could just use it for that and it renders the whole thing pointless, heh. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/84 "2013-05-27T16:44:32Z")
Herewith my choices: 40 - Internet - pretty much a given. I’m going to have to insist that the PC be a higher-end gaming spec PC with desk and chair and refreshed every other year. That said, I’d probably use it to look at webcams of the outside for much of the time. 10 - Fast food - fruit smoothies, watermelon slices, and the like qualify as fast food. IOW it’s fast food, not junk food. Indeed, cocktails could be considered fast food. 10 - Shower / sink - got to wash 20 - Hygiene stuff - got to keep clean 10 - Workout room - I need that swimming pool; given time I might take up weights. 10 - Books - not everything’s on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/85 "2013-05-27T18:16:06Z")
Well in that case the best answer so far was definitely 50 points for cryogenic sleep chamber (or more realistically, a medically induced coma for 10 years overseen by the best doctors in the world) 50 points for 100 billion dollars. It’s like a free 100 billion dollars and all you have to do is give up 10 years of your life in a coma. Not too bad of a deal, really! ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/86 "2013-05-27T18:23:26Z")
Question on food: For medical (survival) reasons, I have a list of common stuff that I cannot eat. Do I have to upgrade to the ‘make it myself’ package due to this, or is ‘Food you can survive eating’ a given for the lower levels? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/87 "2013-05-27T20:51:27Z")
The limit for me is my kids. The idea of spending ten years out of touch with them is unbearable. Five years is also unbearable, but perhaps tolerable with nightly videochats (still horrible, but possibly tolerable). But 5 years + video chats means I starve to death. But if 50 points will get me a habitat over which I have almost complete control–except for being able to leave it–then I’ll take that. Then I get daily visits with my family. And I change my second 50 points from the deaths of the villains to $100 billion. That means I can afford to hire hit men plus put my family up in style :). ---
**Author:** ![R3d\_Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/88 "2013-05-27T21:15:54Z")
How about paying 50 points to be executed quickly and in a humane manner, and then be resurrected and brought back to the condition you were in before going into the ten-year death? ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/89 "2013-05-27T22:18:44Z")
50 - **Left Hand of Dorkness’s** open door, through which I can receive visitors and get anything I want, which I assume can include food. My husband can visit me all the time, to bring me food, clothes, soap and stuff, and bring the cat. 40 - Computer/internet - I couldn’t (well, wouldn’t want to) live without it. 10 - Workout room - not because I’m a fitness buff, but I want the extra space. I’d want the most high-tech and ultra-fitted gym complex imaginable, including all the fancy machines and a running track, though I probably wouldn’t use them. It would need a racquetball/handball court too, which I would use. I do love being in water so what I’d really want is the Olympic-sized pool, a lap pool, and a wading pool, not to mention a whirlpool, a jacuzzi, and a sauna. Fully-outfitted gyms also include a shower so that takes care of that. I’d also need a waterproof robot lifeguard for when I’m in the water, since I don’t actually know how to swim. I can float well enough, especially with the help of noodles, but I’d probably need my life saved a couple-three times. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/90 "2013-05-27T23:09:11Z")
40 points - the computer with Internet (I was going to choose the radio, books, or CD, but you could get many of those things on the internet. I also figure I can interact with people online.) 20 points - hygiene items 30 points - any food that I can make myself 10 points - medical kit with any medications/medical supplies in it ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/91 "2013-05-28T03:42:16Z")
If **Left Hand’s** 50 point doorway is an option, then: 50 - Doorway 40 - Computer/internet (mostly for writing/working now, since the doorway handles visits) 10 - workout room (pool, also jacuzzi and steam room). If not, then: 40 - computer/internet (Skype and Hangout for visual companionship; emails, texts, and voip for communication) 10 - every book ever. (hate reading books on screens) 10 - workout room (pool, also jacuzzi and steam room) 30 - food and tools (full chef’s kitchen, and many implements) 10 - medical kit (mostly ibuprofen, bandaids, tweezers) Not too horrible. The big downside of the second option is the lack of physical companionship, but if I can cook anything, then I’m asking for a succession of various fuzzy animals that I’ll \*eventually \*cook after I’ve fed them the right foods for long enough. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Scholar\_Beardpig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Scholar\_Beardpig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scholar_Beardpig)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/92 "2013-05-28T06:42:15Z")
You know, I have dreams where I do this all the time, except I don’t age in there and I have a few more points. 10 points - tobacco 10 points - all books 20 points - all food 30 - random doper 5 - writing implements 10 - shower and sink 10 - workouts 5 - left over I’m going to come out of this tone, fit, and extremely erudite. Hell, I’ll get an MBA while I’m in there. Plus, when one of you comes to visit me, we can talk about books. I’m sure that somewhere in the health food, there will be crunchy cereal that I can eat in lieu of brushing my teeth, and I can just use lard instead of soap. Gotta be industrious about this. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/93 "2013-05-28T07:23:39Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > am i to understand from this thread that people would rather sacrifice ten years of their life than give up internet access? it is interesting. No, 5 years. But yes, I’d rather 10 years of comfortable conditions and regular contact with all my loved ones than 5 years with nothing to do, since it would feel like an eternity to me. You wouldn’t be completely sacrificing it either, you could use the time productively. ---
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/94 "2013-05-28T07:35:06Z")
Am I the only one who might stop using the dope completely if the price of posting on this forum was increased to include being randomly chosen to be forced to travel ‘somewhere?’ to spend an hour with a person typically lacking hygiene locked in a cell? Who knows what might happen to the dope in 10 or even 5 years Time? In a few years the only dopers to be randomly chosen from might be Bubba, Zed and the Gimp. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/95 "2013-05-28T11:01:19Z")
> [@This\_Just\_In\_2](#): > > Am I the only one who might stop using the dope completely if the price of posting on this forum was increased to include being randomly chosen to be forced to travel ‘somewhere?’ to spend an hour with a person typically lacking hygiene locked in a cell? > Who knows what might happen to the dope in 10 or even 5 years Time? In a few years the only dopers to be randomly chosen from might be Bubba, Zed and the Gimp. Yeah, I thought about that. One workaround to seeing my family might be explaining my plight to the first Doper that came in and trying to get a humanitarian mission started, following this plan: 1. Dopers all migrate over to another board, and their membership here is deleted. 2. My family registers here. 3. Profit! FYI, I’d do the same for you. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/96 "2013-05-28T15:39:53Z")
Is it within the rules to spend 50 points on some miraculous future technology, like a cure for cancer (or a bunch of nanobots that keeps you young and healthy forever, while we’re at it)? I bet there are a lot of sick and/or dying people who would gladly do this if they could cure their problem(s). ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/97 "2013-05-28T19:56:36Z")
Cards 5 Books 10 Computer, etc. 40 Fast Food 20 Shower/sink 10 Cat 10 Paper & pen 5 =100 When do we start? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/98 "2013-05-28T20:15:01Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > Before I spend my last ten points I have a question: can the kitchen have hops, good brewing yeast and other brewing supplies? That’s a legit loophole, right? None of that stuff is actually booze. All you really need is yeast and honey, both legitimate foodstuffs, and you can have all the mead you want. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/99 "2013-05-28T20:23:12Z")
> [@Anonymous User](#): > > Too hard. I give up: rage quit. Ha, right? You have to spend points on a shower, hygiene products and _food_? By the time you do that, you can’t afford the attractive person or anything else that’d make it worthwhile. Some basics should have been included. I quit as presented. Kill everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367/100 "2013-05-28T20:24:07Z")
> [@Pabitel](#): > > Cards 5 > Books 10 > Computer, etc. 40 > Fast Food 20 > Shower/sink 10 > Cat 10 > Paper & pen 5 > > =100 > > When do we start? 😃 Did this without reading the rest of the posts. After consideration I’ll take the workout room loophole and give back the shower. **Workout Room Wishlist** Olympic size pool Velodrome 3 hole golf course (domed) Bowling Alley Skating Rink [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-situation-youre-going-to-be-alone-in-a-room-for-ten-years-but-have-points-for-perks/659367.md?page=6)