Would you agree to a year of blindness for half a million bucks?

Okay, darn. My biggest obstacle is that I couldn’t do my job (an actual blind person probably could, but I doubt I could learn to do it quickly enough that I could still be productive throughout the year), and half a million bucks isn’t going to change the fact that I will need the job after the year ends.

But let’s say I could arrange for a sabbatical from work for a year, I would definitely do this. My biggest driver is that I have always been fascinated by Braille, and this would be a great motivator to learn it.

In a heartbeat. 48 hours should be enough time to get the red leotards sewn together and commission the making of a walking stick/billy club/grappling hook.

Nope.

And why not just have something on the goggles that automatically tell the handlers that the person is in that bathroom?

[How about an option, instead of goggles, if the person is amenable they can have a suite that is in total blackout, with one of those spinning passthroughs for supplies that you used to see in darkrooms?]

Math is a little off, that would be a $380,000 bonus.

Is this before or after taxes?

And for that kind of money, you could just sew my eyelids shut for a year, so long as it wouldn’t cause permanent damage. But I suppose I could deal with the goggles.

Oops misread the title. No way for half a million. For a million with the ability to go back to my job without a problem after? We are starting to get into the ballpark.

You’re right; I should have written $20K a month.

[QUOTE=MoonMoon]
Blind people get to go to college.
[/QUOTE]

Of course they do, but I wouldn’t be blind, would I? I’m not proficient in Braille, and I would have no idea how to compensate in a classroom setting. My field is reading and writing, and while I’m a decent touch-typer and the software I suggested would go a long way, I don’t know how long it would take me to get used to it, and I’m not sure I would be satisfied with producing less-than-ideal work.

[QUOTE=Skald]
You couldn’t take a year off? For a million bucks?
[/QUOTE]

Firstly, you said half a million. Secondly, I’d have no problem whatsoever taking a year off work. But school? Hell no. I’m going for a reason, and more than that, I enjoy my classes. If I couldn’t otherwise afford them I’d consider using the money to finance my education, but since it’s paid for already and I’d risk losing that funding if I took time off or my grades dropped, it’s definitely something worth worrying about.

One of my friends has to use a wheelchair, and needs a carer 24-hrs. I’d have thought that you could hire a full-time carer (or get a relative to do it) and still come out a lot ahead. Plus you’d have a lot more empathy for people with vision problems: I almost feel like everyone should try it (for at least a couple of days)…

So I did. Sorry about that.

million, with an “m”?

That’s a one with just 6 zeros?

Hell no.

I would certainly try to do it. I am sure I could make it through a month or two at least.

My work would be tricky but I am sure my boss would let me take a year off.

Not unless I got the full Daredevil power set for the year and my eyes were healed up to 20/10 vision at the end of the year.

This is an eccentric billionaire thread, not a Rhymer Inc thread. If RI were behind the offer, everybody would be busy looking for the boobytrap.

Well, that’s 16 years of my current salary. Why not? I’d certainly give it a shot, although I don’t know if I could make it the whole year. Even if I didn’t, I’m sure I could make it a month or 2 (or 6!). And that’s still a lot of money. It would be awkward to explain to my roommate and family members, though.

I’d be pretty bored at first without the ability to read or play computer games, but after getting the first month’s pay, I could get some great accessibility software and a housekeeper.

Not interested. My current standard of living is perfectly acceptable, and I get to see whilst doing the work that supports it. Unless you’re offering enough money to finance (at least) a Senate run, it isn’t worth the bother.

Assuming I could get my job back at the end of the year, hell yes. I’d do it for half that, just for the experience, except that then I couldn’t do my job. How cool would I look walking around all day in mirror swim goggles. Could I get bonus pay if I wore a speedo?

My plan: Buy the best radio available, check out a lot of audio books, clean up some of the clutter in my house to avoid bashed shins, sit back and enjoy.

I like my job and my life and my current standard of living. Plus, I like video games way too much to give them up for a year <_<.

Count me out if it’s only 500k. If it were several million, then sure I’d probably do it.

Hmmm, it’s difficult, I’m just starting to get into film making which you definitely need your eyes for, and I can’t animate or do 3D moddelling without my eyes. But I could still listen to audio books, use my computer, browse the net, programme. I think I’d take it, at least for a couple of months, could really do with 40k (you changed it to 20k a month didn’t you). Maybe I’d develop some of the magical powers my blind friends have, which would be cool.

Maybe if you gave him a cut?

I’d probably do it. People are blind every day and live perfectly normal and interesting lives. I think it would be a good learning experience.

You’d have to add two zeros. $500,000? Fuck that. I can’t believe any of you people are saying yes.