Would you want to know when you're going to die?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Let’s say that God does a mass mailing to everyone on Earth with each envelope containing the date and time that the recipient will die. There’s no escaping it-- you will die on the appointed date no matter how you try to avoid it. Would you open the envelope?

Me, personally, I want my death to be a total surprise, because if I knew when, I would be in a state of dread and panic as the day approached. I can’t imagine what it must be like for a person condemned to execution, watching the clock slowly tick down . . .

A friend of mine, on the other hand says she’d like to know when she’s going to die so she can cram as much in the remaining time as possible and get her affairs in order before she goes.

So what do you guys think?

2

I definitely would. That way I can be sure to leave no unresolved issues with God, family, friends, enemies, etc. I want to be able to say goodbye to people that matter, tell off people who don’t and so on. :slight_smile: Being able to cram as much life into your time and choose your method of dying (my preferences would be either firing squad or long, long fall) would be good as well.

Disadvantages:

Procrastination.
“Oh, it’s ok. I won’t die for another 27 years…I have plenty of time.” I know that would be a mantra for many people. Probably myself included.

Hedonism. Many people would probably go wild the last week or so, stealing, killing, raping, doing whatever, since there will be no perceived consequences (after all, life imprisonment would add up to what, 7 days?).

So who knows. Maybe it’s good that we don’t have the letter to open.

3

I’d definately wanna know. If it turned out to be soon, I could start pigging out and drinking excess quantities, cholesterol be damned. If it was to be some time from now, I could more realisticly plan for the future moneywise, etc. Seems like a win-win situation either way. (Obviously I’m not one of those people who are all hung up an the whole “being alive” thing.)