This is something that I have, oddly enough, put some thought into.
Let’s say you are going to be executed for some reason; you did the crime and have exhausted all means of attempting to show otherwise. The judge decides that you are going to be put to death, but you can choose the way. Any way you want, 'cept naturally of course ;).
What do you pick?
Personally, I’d be torn between something really cool that would go down in the history books (“Diosabellissima- Ripped Apart By Great White Sharks”-- Ok, maybe not that, but something equally cool) or something that wouldn’t hurt much (drinking some poison, etc.).
I think I would pick to be shot, just once, by a really good marksman. If he knows what’s up, he could kill me instantly. I’d also prefer that the shooter sneaks up on me, that way I have no idea that it is coming (I remember reading about hangings happening like this way back when-- hell if I remember where, though. They’d bring the person in, pretend that they were fitting them for the execution the next day, and drop the floor out from under 'em).
Oh noes! Not twice!
Gimme 5 liters of nice red wine and smash me in the back of my head with a sledge hammer when I’m unconscious.
Or, better yet, put me to work cleaning up the radioactive area of a reactor and then, when I’m totally contaminated strap about 15 pounds of C4 plastic explosive to me and turn me loose in Neverland!
If they wouldn’t let me pick Death By Old Age, I’d then opt for a firing squad. Quick, final, and I’d have the option of telling them I didn’t want the damn cigarette and to hell with the blindfold.
Apparently drowning is a really relaxing way to die once you stop panicking. Not sure I could handle the panic, though. I’d say drinking poison - no pain, no needles.
C-4 explosive headband. I reckon that the shockwave would travel through my brain faster than could the “Oh Shit!” thought impulse. It would also be very messy which serves those executioners right.
The heat death of the universe ought to do it for me, with a nice sushi dinner as my final meal.
If they simply won’t wait that long, I’d go for falling from a tall height. That’d give me a decent amount of time to see if I can figure out how to fly… and, failing that, there wouldn’t be any time for pain upon impact. Oh, and a sushi dinner beforehand.
I’m torn (no pun intended) between the easy death, and a messy death that will expose the ultimate brutality of any death sentence.
The messy death should be something that punishes society as much as possible. How about being strapped to a table, and killed by the judge & jury, utilizing only plastic spoons. That should traumatize everyone enough.
