Would you take the coin? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

BentNotTwisted · 10-16-2003, 02:57 PM

This is kind of like the Red Pill/Blue Pill question with a twist.
I am going to give you a choice to take a magic coin I have or walk away. If you take the coin you must toss it. If it comes up Heads, you get everything you could possibly want. You get the mansion, the fancy cars, the private island resort, essentially anything and everything you ever wanted or will want. If the toss comes up tails, you disappear. Not die, no going to heaven or hell, no afterlife or reincarnation, just oblivion. It would be as though you had never existed.
So, your choice, do you take the coin or not?

For me, I would leave the coin and walk away. The first time I had this question posed to me my knee jerk reaction was, hell yeah I'd take the coin. Then I thought about it and realized my life isn't so bad, and even if it did suck I could always change it for the better.

teflonian · 10-16-2003, 03:11 PM

Hmm... I said take the coin. Not that I don't like my life, but if I got tails, I wouldn't know I was even alive... Now if I got heads... well...

filtherton · 10-16-2003, 04:40 PM

I think having everything i ever wanted would get somewhat ruined by my guilt at having really done nothing to earn it.

Mr. Spacemonkey · 10-16-2003, 06:23 PM

I'll just let the coin be. I'm not going to take a 50/50 chance with my existence. It'd be kinda tempting though.

Scipio · 10-16-2003, 06:23 PM

Leave it. It's kind of a silly question.

The_Dude · 10-16-2003, 06:29 PM

it's a win-win situation to me.

if i lose the toss, it'd be like i never existed.

i'll take it

BentNotTwisted · 10-16-2003, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scipio
Leave it. It's kind of a silly question.

It may seem like a straight forward answer to you, but it was meant to get people to think about how much they value they put on living.

Macheath · 10-16-2003, 06:46 PM

I need to know whether "everything you could possibly want" gives you the ability to help others. I'm not talking about the power to end human suffering altogether - just the ability to use my wealth and resources to help a bit here and a bit there. If that's the case, then the gamble is somewhat virtuous. You're accepting the risk of sacrifice for the chance to do some good in the world. (and enjoy yourself at the same time

). I definitely wouldn't do it if I could only use my powers and resources selfishly or in a way harmful to others.

BentNotTwisted · 10-16-2003, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Macheath
I need to know whether "everything you could possibly want" gives you the ability to help others. I'm not talking about the power to end human suffering altogether - just the ability to use my wealth and resources to help a bit here and a bit there. If that's the case, then the gamble is somewhat virtuous. You're accepting the risk of sacrifice for the chance to do some good in the world. (and enjoy yourself at the same time ). I definitely wouldn't do it if I could only use my powers and resources selfishly or in a way harmful to others.

I'd say it's up to you what you do with your new found wealth. Heck, give it all away if you want to.

powder · 10-16-2003, 08:04 PM

What if I dissapered but had kids? Do they disappear too? Would everything I did come undone? Would people have memories of me?

I think I'd probably walk away. I've got a pretty good life now.

rogue49 · 10-16-2003, 08:07 PM

I like me & my world.

chavos · 10-16-2003, 08:21 PM

no coin...theres no way to "get" everything i want. i'd like to live out what i want instead...

Moonduck · 10-16-2003, 08:46 PM

Leave it. I like my life. My wife and kids like me living too. Besides that, everything I want includes the satisfaction from having earned what I have.

XenuHubbard · 10-16-2003, 09:10 PM

This question could be replaced with "Would you rob an armoured truck?"

Success: Monetary gains.
Failure: Friends and family calling you an idiot, possibly giving up their relationship with you. Huge disappointment. Jail time effectively destroying your life as you know it.

Me? Nah, just recieved my diploma. I like it where I'm at. And for the first time in my life, I like my chances. No coin for me. No armoured truck either.

bonbonbox · 10-16-2003, 10:30 PM

Given the perimeters I take the coin.

Lebell · 10-16-2003, 11:07 PM

No coin for me.

My life is good right now and getting better

phredgreen · 10-17-2003, 01:13 AM

at the point i'm at in life, i'd take the coin and hope for the best. if the worst that can happen is that the world goes on as if i'd never been, then there's really nothing lost. so in my eyes, you don't lose anything, but you can gain everything. i'm in.

Sleepyjack · 10-17-2003, 04:59 AM

no coin for me, i like my life.

Xenomorph · 10-17-2003, 05:30 AM

Nope, wouldn't take it. My life right now is just too good to risk.

Cars and mansions are alright, but friends, family, and a general appreciation of life are priceless.

Kyo · 10-17-2003, 07:25 AM

I would ask to be God (or God-like). To me, it's worth the risk of oblivion for that kind of power. I could walk out into the street tomorrow and have oblivion handed to me by a 70-mph death sentence named 'Mack Truck.' At least with the coin it would be instant, painless (for everyone - since it would be as though you had never existed, all trace of you in people's memories and lives would be erased and history would essentially be re-written), and straightforward.

Win-win situation. I'd definitely take the coin.

Redlemon · 10-17-2003, 07:43 AM

Plenty happy as-is. Not worth it to me even if it were a 1% chance of vanishing instead of 50%.

Jim Kata · 10-17-2003, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by teflonian
Hmm... I said take the coin. Not that I don't like my life, but if I got tails, I wouldn't know I was even alive... Now if I got heads... well...

"

minyn · 10-17-2003, 11:44 AM

yea, playing god with my life sounds a bit unfun. no thanks =)

SiN · 10-17-2003, 12:04 PM

i'd leave it.

sure, my life ain't perfect atm, but i've got a few things i have no desire to lose (my bf for example)

dy156 · 10-17-2003, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lebell
No coin for me.

My life is good right now and getting better

Yup, I'd hedge my bets and take my pretty good life rather than risk it.

anti fishstick · 10-17-2003, 02:20 PM

i'd take the coin bcos there's nothing for me to lose.
i'm not afraid of *never existing* i actually quite like the idea.

RelaX · 10-17-2003, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by anti fishstick
i'd take the coin bcos there's nothing for me to lose.
i'm not afraid of *never existing* i actually quite like the idea.

I'm with anti fishstick here, it seems like a win-win situation.
That and for some stupid reason I ALWAYS win coin tosses

bermuDa · 10-17-2003, 04:16 PM

I'd take the coin. neither possibility sounds too bad.

rainheart · 10-17-2003, 04:26 PM

C'monnnnnn heads heads heads!!

Yeah I'd take.

thumper69 · 10-17-2003, 04:35 PM

Even if I did get heads i wouldn't deserve it. I wouldn't live in happiness if i had everything and didn't earn it.
Life should be what you make of it.
If you do your best then you'll be fine.
If you try, you already failed and only then, i guess, you can take your chances.
Personally, I wouldn't take it. I'd like to see it though, that'd be neat

sexymama · 10-17-2003, 07:48 PM

Quote:

No coin for me.

My life is good right now and getting better

Same here!

ForgottenKnight · 10-17-2003, 08:52 PM

I like things how they are right now. No coin. Thanks anyways.

CSflim · 10-18-2003, 03:26 AM

Well, the whole not existing thing, to me, is just death.
So the coin toss becomes a game of Russian roulette, except with a 1 in 2 chance of dieing instead of 1 in 6.
You don't see me playing Russian Roulette, so I don't think you'll see me taking up this offer.

No doubt about it...it is tempting...but it's just too high a risk to take.
Lower the odds and I may consider risking my life, but in this case, I vote no.

Baldrick · 10-18-2003, 05:30 AM

It would be a little tempting. But the thought of losing all that I have right now and everything I've busted my arse to achieve over the years...

Nah, no thanks. I love what I have now, and how hard I worked and continue to work for it.

papermachesatan · 10-18-2003, 12:34 PM

the coin toss is a win-win situation in the sense that you won't suffer any hardships or emotions regardless of what face the coin shows.

papermachesatan · 10-18-2003, 12:36 PM

btw this post is so interesting, im goiing to start a similiar poll on another forum...

numist · 10-18-2003, 05:07 PM

I love my life, and most of the people in it. I can't put a value on my existence because my SO is part of that very existence, so I think I'd deal with it. Besides, part of being a good person is learning from your crappy life, thats why the worst shit happens to the best people, its a cause effect process, but opposite of how people say it (being good attracts shit, not that shit attracts good).

Giving me the 'perfect life' would just make me a jackass in the end, probably, I dont trust my moral fibre that much. Even if I did, I'd know better than to take the coin anyway.

So its really a moral issure for me. If I win, I may as well have lost, in my opinion.

Xandor · 10-20-2003, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by thumper69
Even if I did get heads i wouldn't deserve it. I wouldn't live in happiness if i had everything and didn't earn it.

Ah, but there's the rub. You could make yourself happy if the coin came up in your favor, and afterwards you wouldn't know the difference. I think this raises deeper philosophical questions than the value of life.

For example, what if there was a drug that would perpetually alleviate sorrow, would you take it? What if it eliminated your memory of taking it? Stripped of "choice" what have we gained?

The way the question was originally propositioned is a bit ambiguous. Is the choice is between non-existence and godhood, or is it between non-existence and fabulous wealth? I'd never flip for the latter, but I might consider the former.

If one believes that non-existence is inevitable, what is there to lose by flipping the coin?

Very existential.

GakFace · 10-20-2003, 02:34 PM

Personally I'd leave it. If I never existed, then everyone I have influenced may then have never been infuenced. I'm not saying the i'm the most important person in the world, but i'm not worthless either. My existance has so far been worthwhile both for me and for the people around me. To risk disappearing would really fuck things up.

On a smart ass note: Would I be able to "modify" this magic coin before I threw it? If I could, I'd put half a ping pong ball (or equivolent) around the bad half, that way it could never technically land on the disappear side.

I could always just make it a dart and throw it straight up

Stare At The Sun · 10-20-2003, 03:18 PM

I'm a betting man, and *shrugs* it doesnt look like i have anything to loose really....now where is that coin?

View Poll Results: Would you take the coin?
Hell yeah, give to me now!	21	31.82%
No thanks, I'll leave things as they are.	45	68.18%
Voters: 66. You may not vote on this poll

10-16-2003, 02:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
BentNotTwisted Optimistic Skeptic Location: Midway between a Beehive and Centennial	Would you take the coin? This is kind of like the Red Pill/Blue Pill question with a twist. I am going to give you a choice to take a magic coin I have or walk away. If you take the coin you must toss it. If it comes up Heads, you get everything you could possibly want. You get the mansion, the fancy cars, the private island resort, essentially anything and everything you ever wanted or will want. If the toss comes up tails, you disappear. Not die, no going to heaven or hell, no afterlife or reincarnation, just oblivion. It would be as though you had never existed. So, your choice, do you take the coin or not? For me, I would leave the coin and walk away. The first time I had this question posed to me my knee jerk reaction was, hell yeah I'd take the coin. Then I thought about it and realized my life isn't so bad, and even if it did suck I could always change it for the better. __________________ IS THAT IT ???!!! Do you even know what 'it' is? When the last man dies for just words that he said... We Shall Be Free Last edited by BentNotTwisted; 10-16-2003 at 03:01 PM..

10-16-2003, 06:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mr. Spacemonkey Wake up Location: Nowhere special	I'll just let the coin be. I'm not going to take a 50/50 chance with my existence. It'd be kinda tempting though. __________________ "I hope that when the world comes to an end, I can breathe a sigh of relief, because there will be so much to look forward to." -- Donnie Darko

10-16-2003, 06:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
Scipio Mencken Location: College	Leave it. It's kind of a silly question. __________________ "Erections lasting more than 4 hours, though rare, require immediate medical attention."

10-16-2003, 06:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
The_Dude The GrandDaddy of them all! Location: Austin, TX	it's a win-win situation to me. if i lose the toss, it'd be like i never existed. i'll take it __________________ "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

10-16-2003, 03:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
teflonian Appreciative Location: Paradise	Hmm... I said take the coin. Not that I don't like my life, but if I got tails, I wouldn't know I was even alive... Now if I got heads... well...

10-16-2003, 04:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
filtherton Junkie Location: In the land of ice and snow.	I think having everything i ever wanted would get somewhat ruined by my guilt at having really done nothing to earn it.

10-16-2003, 06:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
Macheath Junkie Location: Sydney, Australia	I need to know whether "everything you could possibly want" gives you the ability to help others. I'm not talking about the power to end human suffering altogether - just the ability to use my wealth and resources to help a bit here and a bit there. If that's the case, then the gamble is somewhat virtuous. You're accepting the risk of sacrifice for the chance to do some good in the world. (and enjoy yourself at the same time ). I definitely wouldn't do it if I could only use my powers and resources selfishly or in a way harmful to others.

10-16-2003, 08:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
powder Loser Location: ski town	What if I dissapered but had kids? Do they disappear too? Would everything I did come undone? Would people have memories of me? I think I'd probably walk away. I've got a pretty good life now.

10-16-2003, 08:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
rogue49 Loser	I like me & my world.

10-16-2003, 08:21 PM	#12 (permalink)
chavos Banned Location: St. Paul, MN	no coin...theres no way to "get" everything i want. i'd like to live out what i want instead...

10-16-2003, 08:46 PM	#13 (permalink)
Moonduck Junkie Location: SE USA	Leave it. I like my life. My wife and kids like me living too. Besides that, everything I want includes the satisfaction from having earned what I have.

10-16-2003, 09:10 PM	#14 (permalink)
XenuHubbard Cute and Cuddly Location: Teegeeack.	This question could be replaced with "Would you rob an armoured truck?" Success: Monetary gains. Failure: Friends and family calling you an idiot, possibly giving up their relationship with you. Huge disappointment. Jail time effectively destroying your life as you know it. Me? Nah, just recieved my diploma. I like it where I'm at. And for the first time in my life, I like my chances. No coin for me. No armoured truck either. __________________ The above was written by a true prophet. Trust me. "What doesn't kill you, makes you bitter and paranoid". - SB2000

10-16-2003, 10:30 PM	#15 (permalink)
bonbonbox Banned	Given the perimeters I take the coin.

10-16-2003, 11:07 PM	#16 (permalink)
Lebell Cracking the Whip Location: Sexymama's arms...	No coin for me. My life is good right now and getting better __________________ "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU! Please Donate!

10-17-2003, 04:59 AM	#18 (permalink)
Sleepyjack Fast'n'Bulbous Location: Australia, Perth	no coin for me, i like my life.

10-17-2003, 11:44 AM	#23 (permalink)
minyn young and in bloom Location: under the bodhi tree.... bling	yea, playing god with my life sounds a bit unfun. no thanks =) __________________ "Woke up this morning with a blue moon in my eye" ~A3 "woke up this morning" "Don't compromise yourself, you're all you've got." -Janis Joplin

10-17-2003, 01:13 AM	#17 (permalink)
phredgreen who? Location: the phoenix metro	at the point i'm at in life, i'd take the coin and hope for the best. if the worst that can happen is that the world goes on as if i'd never been, then there's really nothing lost. so in my eyes, you don't lose anything, but you can gain everything. i'm in. __________________ My country is the world, and my religion is to do good. - Thomas Paine

10-17-2003, 05:30 AM	#19 (permalink)
Xenomorph Crazy Location: St. Louis, MO	Nope, wouldn't take it. My life right now is just too good to risk. Cars and mansions are alright, but friends, family, and a general appreciation of life are priceless. __________________ The facehugger is short-lived outside the egg which normally protects it. Armed with a long grasping tail, a spray of highly-concentrated acid and the single-minded desire to impregnate a single selected prey using its extending probe, it will fearlessly pursue and attack a single selected target until it has succeeded in attachment or it or its target is dead

10-17-2003, 07:25 AM	#20 (permalink)
Kyo Crazy	I would ask to be God (or God-like). To me, it's worth the risk of oblivion for that kind of power. I could walk out into the street tomorrow and have oblivion handed to me by a 70-mph death sentence named 'Mack Truck.' At least with the coin it would be instant, painless (for everyone - since it would be as though you had never existed, all trace of you in people's memories and lives would be erased and history would essentially be re-written), and straightforward. Win-win situation. I'd definitely take the coin. __________________ Sure I have a heart; it's floating in a jar in my closet, along with my tonsils, my appendix, and all of the other useless organs I ripped out.

10-17-2003, 07:43 AM	#21 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	Plenty happy as-is. Not worth it to me even if it were a 1% chance of vanishing instead of 50%. __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

10-17-2003, 12:04 PM	#24 (permalink)
SiN strangelove Location: ...more here than there...	i'd leave it. sure, my life ain't perfect atm, but i've got a few things i have no desire to lose (my bf for example) __________________ - + - ° GiRLie GeeK ° - + - ° 01110010011011110110111101110100001000000110110101100101 Therell be days/When Ill stray/I may appear to be/Constantly out of reach/I give in to sin/Because I like to practise what I preach

10-17-2003, 02:20 PM	#26 (permalink)
anti fishstick Post-modernism meets Individualism AKA the Clash Location: oregon	i'd take the coin bcos there's nothing for me to lose. i'm not afraid of never existing i actually quite like the idea. __________________ And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~Anais Nin

10-17-2003, 04:16 PM	#28 (permalink)
bermuDa don't ignore this--> Location: CA	I'd take the coin. neither possibility sounds too bad. __________________ I am the very model of a moderator gentleman.

10-17-2003, 04:26 PM	#29 (permalink)
rainheart Psycho	C'monnnnnn heads heads heads!! Yeah I'd take.

10-17-2003, 04:35 PM	#30 (permalink)
thumper69 Tilted Location: Texas	Even if I did get heads i wouldn't deserve it. I wouldn't live in happiness if i had everything and didn't earn it. Life should be what you make of it. If you do your best then you'll be fine. If you try, you already failed and only then, i guess, you can take your chances. Personally, I wouldn't take it. I'd like to see it though, that'd be neat __________________ Ohh Yeah Baby All Night Long! (' . ^) Look at Kirby---> <(' . '<)

10-17-2003, 08:52 PM	#32 (permalink)
ForgottenKnight Jesus Freak Location: Following the light...	I like things how they are right now. No coin. Thanks anyways. __________________ "People say I'm strange, does that make me a stranger?"

10-18-2003, 03:26 AM	#33 (permalink)
CSflim Sky Piercer Location: Ireland	Well, the whole not existing thing, to me, is just death. So the coin toss becomes a game of Russian roulette, except with a 1 in 2 chance of dieing instead of 1 in 6. You don't see me playing Russian Roulette, so I don't think you'll see me taking up this offer. No doubt about it...it is tempting...but it's just too high a risk to take. Lower the odds and I may consider risking my life, but in this case, I vote no. __________________

10-18-2003, 05:30 AM	#34 (permalink)
Baldrick We are everywhere... Location: Barrie, Ontario	It would be a little tempting. But the thought of losing all that I have right now and everything I've busted my arse to achieve over the years... Nah, no thanks. I love what I have now, and how hard I worked and continue to work for it. __________________ You can be young only once, but you can be immature for the rest of your life...

10-18-2003, 12:34 PM	#35 (permalink)
papermachesatan Psycho Location: Texas	the coin toss is a win-win situation in the sense that you won't suffer any hardships or emotions regardless of what face the coin shows.

10-18-2003, 12:36 PM	#36 (permalink)
papermachesatan Psycho Location: Texas	btw this post is so interesting, im goiing to start a similiar poll on another forum...

10-18-2003, 05:07 PM	#37 (permalink)
numist Banned Location: UCSD, 510.49 miles from my love	I love my life, and most of the people in it. I can't put a value on my existence because my SO is part of that very existence, so I think I'd deal with it. Besides, part of being a good person is learning from your crappy life, thats why the worst shit happens to the best people, its a cause effect process, but opposite of how people say it (being good attracts shit, not that shit attracts good). Giving me the 'perfect life' would just make me a jackass in the end, probably, I dont trust my moral fibre that much. Even if I did, I'd know better than to take the coin anyway. So its really a moral issure for me. If I win, I may as well have lost, in my opinion.

10-20-2003, 02:34 PM	#39 (permalink)
GakFace Go Ninja, Go Ninja Go!! Location: IN, USA	Personally I'd leave it. If I never existed, then everyone I have influenced may then have never been infuenced. I'm not saying the i'm the most important person in the world, but i'm not worthless either. My existance has so far been worthwhile both for me and for the people around me. To risk disappearing would really fuck things up. On a smart ass note: Would I be able to "modify" this magic coin before I threw it? If I could, I'd put half a ping pong ball (or equivolent) around the bad half, that way it could never technically land on the disappear side. I could always just make it a dart and throw it straight up __________________ RoboBlaster: Welcome to the club! Not that I'm in the club. And there really isn'a a club in the first place. But if there was a club and if I was in it, I would definitely welcome you to it.

10-20-2003, 03:18 PM	#40 (permalink)
Stare At The Sun Eh? Location: Somewhere over the rainbow	I'm a betting man, and shrugs it doesnt look like i have anything to loose really....now where is that coin?