Would you want to know the time & date that you're going to die?

JubalJubal
edited June 2024 in General

I just finished re-reading "Life-Line" a few days ago, and last night I turned the TV on, and almost serendipitously, the first program featured was Disney's "Tomorrowland". Both pose the question in the thread title.

More specifically, if it were possible to know, with absolute certainty, the exact date and time of your death, would you want to know? You wouldn't have any other information, like where or how it happens.

After I read the book, I was thinking that I'd probably like to be surprised when it happens ... but then about midway through watching the movie, I kind of felt that it would be nice to know exactly when it's going to happen so I could be completely prepared for the moment - spiritually, emotionally, etc - and be able to experience it. It would also be kind of cool to be able to plan my retirement savings and spending so that I could enjoy every last penny and leave debt collectors high and dry lol

With my luck, I'll probably die in my sleep and completely miss it happening.

Comments

  • [Deleted User]Fematheist (deleted user)

    I would definitely like to know the exact date and time I'd be transitioning from this incarnation!!! There's a scene in an old movie, "Soylent Green," where people are lined up like they're at an airport ticket counter---only they're really in line for death appointments! For some reason, that always made far more sense to me than watching people suffer until they die.

    So, yes, I would..

  • pmvinespmvines

    Nah.

  • [Deleted User]FriendlyFemale (deleted user)

    Negative.

  • pmvinespmvines
    edited June 2024

    I have about 8 yrs hospice experience . As a social worker a big part of my role is helping people and families adjust emotionally to their terminal illness and mortality. Some cope really well, with a clear head and conscience, and have peace in knowing that they have had a good life and will no longer be suffering. They approach their end with open arms and a full heart. While others are very much in a state of despair and crisis, and every waking moment for them is spent in a state of panic and conflict that they are approaching the end. They are afraid to even go to sleep because they are afraid they won't wake up. So I am very happy to not know when or how's my last days will be, and will continue to love and appreciate each day I have whether it's 1 or 100,000

  • JohnR1972JohnR1972

    @Jubal
    Fascinating question. I lean toward yes, I would like to know when.

    I once had a lucid dream of my last day on Earth. In the dream, I could not tell anything about when it happened other than it was a long time in the future based on what I could see of my hands and legs (there was no mirror around so I could not see my own face and I was alone so I couldn’t gage the date by anyone else’s apparent age).

    The general location of where it happened and the manner in which it happened were beautiful and peaceful. I would be happy if, when my time comes, it played happened like it did in my dream.

  • starrynitecudsstarrynitecuds

    My dumb luck, the time zone would be wrong.
    If I had to know, I'd rent a bus that day and personally drive it around with some of my most unfavorite people...

  • ReltvlyCanshesReltvlyCanshes

    I'd like to know the time and date i stop feeling pain and fatigue. Hopefully it's not certain that means death, hope it could mean happiness and comfort.

  • JohnR1972JohnR1972

    @starrynitecuds - Your comment reminds me of an episode of the Twilight Zone called “The obsolete man”. It is a classic.

  • Will564Will564

    A very complex question for me. As @pmvines said, everyone reacts differently to this kind of information. I really don’t know if I would make more out of my life because I knew i had limited time, or if the knowledge would stress me out so badly that it would make it harder.

    Life is tricky because we should try to maximize each day, never knowing which one will be our last. On the other hand, we can’t live recklessly and not plan for the future.

    I think one of the bets things we can all do with this thought is to be as grateful as possible for what we do have, and realize that time is our most valuable asset. Once it’s gone, it never comes back, and we never know how much we’ll have.

  • waynewvwaynewv

    I think if you knew it would speed up your bucket list . I had a vision of my own funeral so I know of what age I will die.
    So I’m working on my bucket list now.
    I feel if I live beyond that age then I’m a head of the game I guess.
    When I was in the hospital for 5 weeks I did have 2 out of body experiences . I often wondered if they were real, I can say for sure yes they are real.

  • JohnR1972JohnR1972

    @waynewv - I don’t have a bucket list but I have a “Bike it” list and it is a mile long. Getting ready to start hitting some epic bike trails all across the Midwest in July.

  • waynewvwaynewv

    @JohnR1972 , sounds like fun. I did a similar thing with my motorcycle, black hills out west and the Skyline Drive and even flew it to Germany and run the Autobahn at wide open throttle. I still ride when I can.

  • ShaneSchruteShaneSchrute

    Who would tell me when I die? The world’s meanest time travelers?
    Thanks evil Doc and Marty; you are both horrible.

  • BearBear

    @starrynitecuds love your answer. It put a smile on my face.

  • IronicMaidenIronicMaiden

    If I knew when I was going to die, I might take risks that I otherwise wouldn't have, which may cause me to die sooner than I should. And because I wasn't supposed to die yet, I wouldn't have written up a will. A little knowledge of the future can be a dangerous thing.

  • JohnR1972JohnR1972

    The more I think about the original question, the more I think about the TV series documentary “Parks and Rec”. A lot of people thought that show was a comedy but having lived in Indiana nearly all my life, I can attest it is closer to a documentary 😂

    Anyway, in one episode a new, creepy character named Orin attends a party hosted by 2 of the main characters. In one scene you see one of the other main characters saying to him, "No, Orin, I don't know how I'm going to die. Wait, are you asking me or telling me?" 😂😂😂

  • CuddleHugs01234CuddleHugs01234

    No, I wouldn’t want to know. Enjoying each day and trying to make the most of life knowing I won’t be here forever/our days are numbered.

  • JubalJubal

    @ShaneSchrute in the short story "Life-Line", the protagonist (Professor Hugo Pinero) had built a machine that measured one's lifespan through the fourth dimension. People went to him if they wanted to know. Otherwise he kept it to himself.

    But I could envision a sadistic Timelord, like Missy/the Master, flitting about in an evil TARDIS, dropping in randomly on people and telling them exactly when they would die.

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