# Your death: would you rather know when or how? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 1, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-death-would-you-rather-know-when-or-how/700037 "2014-10-01T00:18:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **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 2, 2014, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-death-would-you-rather-know-when-or-how/700037/21 "2014-10-02T02:48:50Z")
I have a phobia of certain methods of death. If I knew I’d die by burning alive - just about the most hideous way to die - I think I’d live the rest of my life in dread. Even if that death were 50 years away. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-death-would-you-rather-know-when-or-how/700037/22 "2014-10-02T03:16:01Z")
I want to know when, then I can plan ahead, tell the family so it’s all out in the open and settle back enjoying the time left. If I know I’m going to live until 90, I plan to make sure I have enough money for that to happen. If I’m going to die at 60 I’m quitting work tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-death-would-you-rather-know-when-or-how/700037/23 "2014-10-02T05:44:30Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Knowing when, I can do some sensible scheduling, investments, vacation planning, etc. This. And not being worried until the time is coming close. I wish I would know that. So, contrarily to the many posters who think you’re an asshole, I’d thank you profusely. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-death-would-you-rather-know-when-or-how/700037/24 "2014-10-02T07:59:15Z")
I’ve already died a hundred times during this life. Its no big deal… ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-death-would-you-rather-know-when-or-how/700037/25 "2014-10-02T13:21:51Z")
I’m thinking my answer would change as I got older. As a younger man I’d be more interested in the “when,” but as I passed maybe 60 (assuming I get there), the “how” would be of greater interest. But I could also see a compelling argument for the opposite. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-death-would-you-rather-know-when-or-how/700037/26 "2014-10-02T14:45:12Z")
When. That way I get decide how. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-death-would-you-rather-know-when-or-how/700037/27 "2014-10-03T16:01:30Z")
I went with how because this is how the scenario played out in my mind: “I choose when!” AoD looks at watch. Or, “I choose how!” AoD looks up. Craps either way, really. **Anaamika** is right, you are a dick, AoD. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Toothpaste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@James\_Toothpaste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Toothpaste)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-death-would-you-rather-know-when-or-how/700037/28 "2014-10-03T21:27:36Z")
I chose when. How doesn’t make sense because if they said you would die, in, say, a plane crash, you could just never fly again and avoid that! ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-death-would-you-rather-know-when-or-how/700037/29 "2014-10-03T21:40:19Z")
I know it isn’t one of the options, but I’d rather know \*where \*I’m going to die than \*when \*or _how_. Then I simply wouldn’t go there. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-death-would-you-rather-know-when-or-how/700037/30 "2014-10-03T21:44:48Z")
> [@James\_Toothpaste](#): > > I chose when. How doesn’t make sense because if they said you would die, in, say, a plane crash, you could just never fly again and avoid that! Then the plane would crash on top of you. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-death-would-you-rather-know-when-or-how/700037/31 "2014-10-03T21:46:40Z")
> [@James\_Toothpaste](#): > > I chose when. How doesn’t make sense because if they said you would die, in, say, a plane crash, you could just never fly again and avoid that! > [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I know it isn’t one of the options, but I’d rather know \*where \*I’m going to die than \*when \*or _how_. > > Then I simply wouldn’t go there. Of course, the answer will presumably _take into account_ your pre-knowledge of the how or the where. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-death-would-you-rather-know-when-or-how/700037.md?page=1)