# Would you want to know when you're destined to die?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-know-when-youre-destined-to-die/196174>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 19, 2003, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-know-when-youre-destined-to-die/196174 "2003-08-19T10:29:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-know-when-youre-destined-to-die/196174/41 "2003-08-21T05:02:28Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Bibliovore \*  
> \*\*Eh? Giant squids? Sorry, guys, but I must have left my surreal hat at home this morning… \*\*

Would like me to make you a tin foil hat, instead?

😃

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**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-know-when-youre-destined-to-die/196174/42 "2003-08-21T08:25:43Z")

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A surreal hat _is_ made of tinfoil, but only on tuesdays. The rest of the time, it’s either a smoked halibut or a scent of rasberries.

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**Author:** ![Angel\_Heart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Angel\_Heart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_Heart)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-know-when-youre-destined-to-die/196174/43 "2003-08-21T17:33:39Z")

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But what about the phrase “Live each day as if it were your last?” 🙂 If everyone was obsessed with negative consequences, we’d never take risks.

We’re all going to die sometime. Knowing the exact time is more depressing, but it’s not like having a black cloud over your head, just the same as if fated happy events wouldn’t make you consistently happy.

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**Author:** ![Angel\_Heart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Angel\_Heart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_Heart)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-know-when-youre-destined-to-die/196174/44 "2003-08-21T17:34:01Z")

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But what about the phrase “Live each day as if it were your last?” If everyone was obsessed with negative consequences, we’d never take risks.

We’re all going to die sometime. Knowing the exact time is more depressing, but it’s not like having a black cloud over your head, just the same as if fated happy events wouldn’t make you consistently happy.

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**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-know-when-youre-destined-to-die/196174/45 "2003-08-21T17:51:29Z")

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Of course, I want to know! The first thing I thought was that I could take up smoking again. I like the credit card idea too! The second thing (and the clincher) was that I could do whatever I wanted, then on the last day, get Jesus (although I don’t believe in him at this point) and die with my butt covered. 🆒

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