Would you try dying?

Yes, I came up with a thread after thinking of a snowclone title at random.

-AHEM-

Imagine that before you rests a machine. The machine is a simple chair and has a helmet. The machine is a device that gathers memories from people as they experience things, then plays them back for people, such that they are placed directly in the shoes of the one the memories were collected from.

This particular machine was connected to a person as they died from "natural causes", and it is (somehow) known that the machine also recorded the afterlife.

Would you use this machine, thereby experiencing death and seeing what comes next, if anything comes at all?

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! ~ GOD

Of course.

...eventually, we will reach a maximum entropy state where nobody has their own socks or underwear, or knows who to ask to get them back.

I'm sure it'll be quite an enlightening experience — but.. no. Not right now. I hear it's traumatizing watching your brain shut down.

That would be my main gripe.

You could wind up being seriously messed up, in spite of the apparent reward.

edited 18th Feb '11 9:33:43 PM by TheMightyAnonym

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! ~ GOD

I hear when people die, their brains release this natural DMT chemicals (DMT as in the hallucination drug), and thus the mind trips you hear associated with near-death experiences. Babies, at first birth, have this occuring DMT in their brains until 17 days or so, where this DMT separation takes place. I read that maybe the molecule that makes you have dreams is the DMT that you have inside your brain.

edited 18th Feb '11 9:37:17 PM by QQQQQ

But how do you collect the memories of a brain that no longer creates them?

My other signature is a Gundam.

Wait, misread. Instead: Stop being pedantic?

edited 18th Feb '11 9:42:24 PM by Tzetze

[1] This facsimile operated in part by synAC.

The brain takes a while to shut down, even after the blood stops beating.

edited 18th Feb '11 9:42:50 PM by QQQQQ

Of course.

| DA Page | Sketchbook |

I did say "(somehow)", for the sake of our thought experiment.

The machine is ~magic~. The person is also devoid of the biology and psychology that would show a near death experience.

For the sake of the question, assume that the supposed afterlife is the real deal.

edited 18th Feb '11 10:39:23 PM by TheMightyAnonym

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! ~ GOD

This raises some interesting theological questions. I tend to agree with the school of thought that belief is only really belief if there is no proof. So if there is proof of an afterlife or lack thereof, what will that do to religion?

Be not afraid...

People tend to interpret events as reaffirming their held beliefs. If anything, the religious will have all the more reason to look to God, and the atheists will likely feel puzzled over this new fact.

edited 18th Feb '11 10:46:02 PM by QQQQQ

Nevermind.

edited 18th Feb '11 10:48:20 PM by Grain

Anime geemu wo shinasai!

Oh, hell, yeah, I'd do it. Knowing what comes after death? Yes, please. Someone go build this thing.

Scepticism and doubt lead to study and investigation, and investigation is the beginning of wisdom. - Clarence Darrow

No, thanks.

The thought of a life after death scares the shit out of me. I mean, I emphatically don't believe in one, but there is a chance, however slim, that I am wrong, and I really, really hope I'm not. Anyway, the point is, I definitely would like to be either reassured that I'm right and I'm going to be able to stop existing at some point, or to find out that I'm wrong, and reassess my priorities and/or worldview.

Scepticism and doubt lead to study and investigation, and investigation is the beginning of wisdom. - Clarence Darrow

And conversely, if there were a lack of proof, I'm expect a lot of religious people would find a rationale around that.

Personally I don't know that I would or wouldn't. From a very young age I've thought about this and been really quite certain there's nothing afterward, but I've grown fond of the tiny bit of doubt- it's sensible to keep these things around sometimes.

This whole thread makes me think of Waking Life.

...is out to lunch.

I admit it, curiosity is one of my big flaws and strengths.

Why wouldn't I want to find out? I can't see how that benefits me. Then again, I might be too lazy to do it myself and rely on testimony from those who have.

Magic as in violating the universe's known physical laws? Yes, I'd be willing to test that. Sure it would be uncomfortable, but...

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.

Fix it.

...eventually, we will reach a maximum entropy state where nobody has their own socks or underwear, or knows who to ask to get them back.

I would jump at the chance to use such a machine.

I think I'd probably be scared, but my curiosity would overcome my better judgement, at least at first. Probably wouldn't have second thoughts about it until I was hooked up to the thing. But then, people learn best by experience.

I'm working on it.

Oh hell yes.

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw

I'd do it if no one else would. Otherwise... I'll take their word for it when they get out of the machine.

The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.