Game: Would you rather ... ?

[CADstraps]

C.

[Bolaberlim]

I was hoping the game would be more fun.
But the choices - and their conditions - are way too simplistic for the purpose of this game.

Not to be a Poindexter about it, but simply put, we don't have a game here - it's more like a 2 item menu - because it violates the very founding principle of games, which is that you have to have something to lose: rank, title, standing, reputation, money, authority, life, loved ones, property, etc.
You can't have 2 equally good, or bad, choices.
In order to have a game, you have to have a situation where you have to strive in order to avoid the consequences of poor playing.

This is why 'The Genie and the Three Wishes' is still a fun game. You think you are wishing for something you want, only to discover it's something else entirely, but you did not see far enough ahead to see this unpleasant possibility. So you lose. Etc.

Example: A gazillion dollars. (To pick a common commoner's wish.)
Granted.
Then, the Genie, being a demon, arranges things for you to become mired in one lawsuit after another, or be bed-ridden. Etc.

Shall we play 3 Wishes?
I'll go first: you be the Genie and find a way to create an unpleasant situation out of it.

1. Mastery of ALL methods of *communication* that exists, has ever existed, on this planet: the languages of the world - human and animal - including, musical instruments and forms.
2. Material wherewithal to practice said mastery for fun and profit as I wish. (If I need an orchestra, I have it. Etc.)
3. There will be NO alteration for any person to the course of life - longevity, degree of happiness, virtues, vices, character flaws - as ordained by fate prior to having those 2 wishes come true.
(In other words, no mad cow disease after a year (unless I was supposed to die at that age), or my family wiped out by a meteor, or something equally freaky.)

You would master all forms of communication, but you would have ALL of it ALL the time.
The stream of information would be nonstop, 24/7 and you would have no power to stop it, you would try to talk to someone in front of you but you would be hearing millions of constant conversations at the same time, know what everyone would be saying, hear all musics, all dog barks and understand all of it simultaneously. You would be in short, doomed to know all and never have a second to yourself, not even in your sleep. You should have asked for mastery AND control. :)

[Monocrom]

Heroic act. I'd choose the UK as the country (but no Patriot Games, please.)

1. Win a Nobel prize in your choice of category.

2. Qualify for the Baseball Hall of Fame in some capacity.

I want to answer this "Would you rather . . . "

A No-brainer this time. Definitely #2. But not just because I enjoy the game.

Alfred B. Nobel was a genius scientist who couldn't even comprehend basic human psychology. He thought that by developing dynamite, he'd make war so horrific that no nation on the planet would ever use war as a means of settling disputes. He learned too late how incredibly wrong he was. Didn't want to be known as the guy who made war even more horrific than before. So he established the Nobel Peace Prize. Used the money from his dynamite sales to fund it.

The Nobel Prize used to mean something once. However, Gandhi never received one. Arafat however, did. When a former winner of the Prize learned that the committee had awarded the Peace Prize to a known terrorist, he send his back along with a letter informing the committee that the Prize was now completely meaningless. Without getting too political, I have to admit that the former winner was absolutely right.

Here's an interesting one:

A) Beat up one person who did a terrible wrong to you in the past, without any legal consequences at all.

OR

B) Have the power to cure any 1 addict of his addiction. And if so, which single individual would it be; and why.

EDIT:

Would like to add that as an amateur Writer with a small but loyal following on a different site, I used to smile at the thought of one day winning the Nobel Prize for literature. I don't anymore though.

[Mikeman]

I once saw six men beating up the mother in law, my wife asked if i was going to help but i thought no, six should be enough....

What do you do if you see your mother in law stumbling in the back yard??............reload.

[xevious]

Here's an interesting one:

A) Beat up one person who did a terrible wrong to you in the past, without any legal consequences at all.

OR

B) Have the power to cure any 1 addict of his addiction. And if so, which single individual would it be; and why.

Well, "A" would have been tempting for me about 10 years ago, but I gave up the hate baggage since then and thus have no need to beat up anyone.

I'd definitely take "B". You didn't qualify whether or not it was someone living today or if I could go back in time and cure someone who died of their addiction. But I suspect you mean whoever is alive today.

I thought perhaps Charlie Sheen. He is such a train wreck. If he doesn't stop getting wasted, he'll eventually kill himself. I would envision that if I cured him, he'd turn around and be thankful. A changed man. And use his fame for good. Perhaps another celebrity philanthropist. But deep down, I don't think he's that kind of guy.

And what about Lindsay Lohan? Well, she has decent acting talent (not terrific though) and very appealing looks. She keeps digging herself back into the ground--a real shame. But I think if I cured her, she wouldn't let go of her self indulgent behavior. She'd act it out in other ways.


I think I'll be selfish on this one. I have a niece who is addicted to video games and social networking. It is extremely hard to curtail her behavior. Her mother is inept and managing her. I wish there was something I could do because she's not my daughter. So yes... I'd want to cure her addiction, so she can stay focused on more productive pursuits in her life.

[Statius]

I'll offer one from the life of Achilles. Would you rather live a long but quiet and obscure (to the world) life in peace and tranquility or go to your 'Troy' and, though you die young (and painfully), gain immortal glory and have your name sung for ages to come?

[Monocrom]

I think I'll be selfish on this one. I have a niece who is addicted to video games and social networking. It is extremely hard to curtail her behavior. Her mother is inept and managing her. I wish there was something I could do because she's not my daughter. So yes... I'd want to cure her addiction, so she can stay focused on more productive pursuits in her life.

Only selfish if you use it on yourself. I have a niece too. She's not addicted to anything. Hope it stays that way as she grows up.

[Monocrom]

I'll offer one from the life of Achilles. Would you rather live a long but quiet and obscure (to the world) life in peace and tranquility or go to your 'Troy' and, though you die young (and painfully), gain immortal glory and have your name sung for ages to come?

We all know what the other guy chose. I'll go with the opposite, and pick the long life. Ironically, that's exactly what it feels as though I'm living. But minus the peace and tranquility part. Some peace, but not a lot. So, that would be an improvement. Also, just as there are watch collectors who prefer to wear an understated Rolex Explorer instead of a diamond-encrusted Daytona model; there are also those who don't want to be recognized everywhere they go. Try having a nice quiet walk through the park on a sunny day with a loved one . . . Now imagine being recognized by one person and then being mobbed by everyone in the park wanting an autograph. Or, simply wanting to tear off a piece of your jacket or hair from your head in order to sell it on e-Bay.

No thanks, I'll take obscurity; and enjoy my walks in the park while living a good long Life to enjoy being around my loved ones.

Okay . . .

A) Destroy your most prized possession.

OR

B) Receive a sizable scar on your face in order to hold onto it.

[Chronopolis]

I'll offer one from the life of Achilles. Would you rather live a long but quiet and obscure (to the world) life in peace and tranquility or go to your 'Troy' and, though you die young (and painfully), gain immortal glory and have your name sung for ages to come?

Achilles chose the right course. I woulda done the same in his shoes. Or sandals.
During his time, and until recently, people only SANG of his glory, which means the bards could change/forget a wording or two here and there.
But today they blog you. It's forever. And there is the paparazzi.
No thanks.

[Will_f]

.

Okay . . .

A) Destroy your most prized possession.

OR

B) Receive a sizable scar on your face in order to hold onto it.

I'd go for the scar. It would look nice with the other ones I think. My question:

A) have the power to seduce any and all women, one time only.

B) have the power to seduce only one woman, but no limit on number of times.