# You wake up one day trapped in a house.. with a stranger. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 15, 2014, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395 "2014-10-15T13:08:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/21 "2014-10-15T17:25:22Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > If they are looking to me for breeding stock, they are going to be disappointed. > > Regards, > Shodan the Vasectomized Alien scientist: _Grumbles_ “Subject #56 won’t do. On to Subject #57, then.” ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/22 "2014-10-15T17:28:54Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Oh, God. This will end badly. No one can stand being stuck with me in a house for long. A year, tops, then the murder-suiciding will begin. Cite: All my previous romantic relationships and roommates, until I wised up and figured out that I need to live alone. If you don’t mind my asking, why? Messy? Need personal space? Talk a lot about obscure scientific topics? (that describes me) ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/23 "2014-10-15T17:35:32Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > If you don’t mind my asking, why? Messy? Need personal space? Talk a lot about obscure scientific topics? > > (that describes me) Mostly just a combination of being fiercely territorial, massively introverted, gloomy, and having zero regard for other people’s needs. I can put on a normal face around people during the day, as long as I get to go hide by myself at the end of the day. But if there are people _in my house_ when I get home… yeah, I get stabby. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/24 "2014-10-15T17:41:04Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > Wary of the stranger. Wary of the aliens. I’d investigate the house, and what I could see outdoors. But time is on my side, since I don’t really have any decisions to make. > ETA: So are there TV shows on the TV? Do I have video games to play? Do I have a computer? Internet to all the other houses with pairs of humans? More details I meant to add: When you look out the window you see whatever you would see in your ideal location. So if you’re a fan of the mountains, than that’s what you see. What you DON"T see is any apparent evidence that _outside_ is uninhabitable. And while you can see plenty of flora it is rather odd that you never see any critters such as birds or insects, etc… You can communicate with the other humans (assuming you can find each other) via the internet. The thing is, it’s text only. There will be no video chat or sending of pictures. As implied, the internet will still be working, but there will be no updates since the event. So I hope Hulu and Netflix have enough movies in their queue to keep you entertained for life!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/25 "2014-10-15T17:52:26Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Mostly just a combination of being fiercely territorial, massively introverted, gloomy, and having zero regard for other people’s needs. > > I can put on a normal face around people during the day, as long as I get to go hide by myself at the end of the day. But if there are people _in my house_ when I get home… yeah, I get stabby. Aw. ☹ Yeah, social life isn’t natural for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/26 "2014-10-15T18:17:51Z")
I’d start off wary and look for whatever evidence I could find one way or the other. I’d probably make some attempt to escape. If it’s really true that I can’t escape, that the other person also never leaves, that the Internet has stopped updating, and that I can’t find some way to confirm the truth… well, what do I gain by distrusting everything at that point? I guess I’d try to make the best of it. As long as the person I’m trapped with isn’t some abusive, crazy, toxic she-devil we might as well enjoy each others company. It would take me months (at the earliest) to settle down to that point, though. (And if the other person is abusive, crazy and/or toxic, Stockholm Syndrome will probably achieve the same result eventually.) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/27 "2014-10-15T19:23:54Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > More details I meant to add: > > When you look out the window you see whatever you would see in your ideal location. So if you’re a fan of the mountains, than that’s what you see. What you DON"T see is any apparent evidence that _outside_ is uninhabitable. And while you can see plenty of flora it is rather odd that you never see any critters such as birds or insects, etc… > > You can communicate with the other humans (assuming you can find each other) via the internet. The thing is, it’s text only. There will be no video chat or sending of pictures. As implied, the internet will still be working, but there will be no updates since the event. So I hope Hulu and Netflix have enough movies in their queue to keep you entertained for life!🙂 Now you’re making it _more_ suspicious. Why are these supposed aliens being so coy? Why are they filtering what facts I get? Why have they degraded the internet? WHAT ARE THEY HIDING? I would choose not to play their game. I would assume I am being watched 100% of the time. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/28 "2014-10-15T19:27:31Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > If they are looking to me for breeding stock, they are going to be disappointed. > > Regards, > Shodan the Vasectomized Ditto. Bunny the Perimenopausal And those Aliens had BETTER have packed a good supply of my hormones, or there will be some serial killings! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/29 "2014-10-15T19:29:25Z")
And they better have saved my felines as well as me, or I’m going to be very pissed off. > [@Shakes](#): > > You can communicate with the other humans (assuming you can find each other) via the internet. The thing is, it’s text only. There will be no video chat or sending of pictures. As implied, the internet will still be working, but there will be no updates since the event. So I hope Hulu and Netflix have enough movies in their queue to keep you entertained for life!🙂 If the stupid aliens can’t get the damn Internet up and running, I \*\*\*really \*\*\*don’t trust them to get the entire planet back to normal. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/30 "2014-10-15T20:49:58Z")
FTL travel is physically impossible as far as we can tell, so aliens can’t visit us. Therefore any alien race to whom it _were_ possible would be casual violators of physical possibility and would not be bound by any petty “we could only save a handful of you” restrictions. Such an advanced alien race would know I’d know this, so would build a better prison (I mean, have they no holodecks?) Therefore these are not aliens. Therefore this is either a human or an AI plot. I trust nobody. I sleep with nobody. I watch and I wait. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/31 "2014-10-15T20:57:07Z")
I’m basically nuts without my meds, and sometimes even so with them. Unless that other person is a therapist trained in anxieties, we’ve both in a lot bigger trouble than not having the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/32 "2014-10-15T22:13:08Z")
This situation would be an improvement. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/33 "2014-10-15T23:15:51Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > If they are looking to me for breeding stock, they are going to be disappointed. > > Regards, > Shodan the Vasectomized Ditto, aru the hysterctomied. Someone upstream mentioned finding and securing a sanctuary with supplies - I would guess something like a bedroom with an en suite bathroom would work. Anything more depends on what I can scrounge up for food, some utensils [a jug to hold water, plates, bowls and cups and flatware] and a good carving knife. Something that can be used as a prybar would be nice too - just in case I get locked into a room I don’t want to be in. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/34 "2014-10-15T23:32:08Z")
My first presumption would be of an elaborate practical joke by one or more of my friends, closely followed on by being roped into some sort of reality television or something like [The Game](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119174/). I’d play along for 3 or 4 days to see where the script was supposed to go. Then I’d make a serious effort to create a door or skylight exit after confirming the windows are as unbreakable as advertised. ETA: Ditto the Christmas ornament testicles. For decorative purposes only. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/35 "2014-10-15T23:42:53Z")
> [@](#): > > of the opposite sex Not as specified in the OP. Merely “physically attractive.” Susan the queerbo ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/36 "2014-10-16T06:51:01Z")
My immediate question is: Why was I paired with this other guy? If I’m gonna live the rest of my life with him, I have to at least know whether I can trust him. Then, in what sense are we compatible, if at all? But the “aliens”, or whatever they really are? No, I do not trust them at all. And how long do they expect me to live without my meds? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/37 "2014-10-16T07:48:42Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > My immediate question is: Why was I paired with this other guy? If I’m gonna live the rest of my life with him, I have to at least know whether I can trust him. Then, in what sense are we compatible, if at all? > > But the “aliens”, or whatever they really are? No, I do not trust them at all. And how long do they expect me to live without my meds? Medical needs falls under the “You will be well cared for” statement. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/38 "2014-10-16T10:59:28Z")
I would assume that everything’s a lie and begin looking for weapons to fight off the zombie hoard that I’m sure is waiting outside. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/39 "2014-10-16T13:52:52Z")
* * * You wake up one day trapped in a very large, posh house\*\*\* This fact alone places one in a position in which it is obvious that he is under the control of a formidable power, capable of doing anything imaginable or even unimaginable. So, really, all bets are off as far as being able to exercise any control over your life, unless and untkl new information comes to bear. Which given the circumstances, seem very unlilely. So it would be better to just accept that this is the way things are, and make lemonade with the only available sugar. And wait with eager anticipation to see what kind of obstetrical services your captors have available. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395/40 "2014-10-16T17:17:37Z")
\ When life gives you lemons … find someone whose life has given them vodka! \ For this scenario, well, we’re gonna need a whole lotta vodka. I, too, do not **j** ust the stranger 😃 but I voted “wary for now.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-wake-up-one-day-trapped-in-a-house-with-a-stranger/701395.md?page=3)