Comments | brettw: Inevitability

brettw

Inevitability

Jan 31, 2007 06:45

A question came to me from where ideas usually come from (nowhere). Suppose you visit your doctor about some ailment and after much testing, the doctor says that you have a rare, complicated affliction such that it is almost certain you will die in two month's time. Surgery and so forth would be horrible but not offer a substantial chance of living ( Read more... )

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Comments 6

el_moofo January 30 2007, 23:59:42 UTC

yeah i'd tell mum eventually, though it would take some time, then she'd tell the world

elfishski January 31 2007, 00:07:49 UTC

Too bad about The Dividing Line. I have web space if you want, depending on how easy it is to make that work...

As for the question in question - I don't think I'd tell many people. I wouldn't go out of my way to tell people, but some would surely be owed an explanation.

...

I would start by quitting my PhD (or other hypothetical work). ;)

el_moofo January 31 2007, 01:07:37 UTC

hahaha that's a good way of describing PhD... "hypothetical work" haha

jessknoch January 31 2007, 01:55:35 UTC

I'd tell family, for sure. I guess word might get around, and eventually I'd be forced to answer awkward questions from people I didn't really know, and then I would regret telling anyone, but that's better than trying to keep it to myself.

Bummer about the Dividing Line.

brettw January 31 2007, 05:48:38 UTC

I must be the only person who wouldn't want to tell anyone.

There's a certain romantic notion in knowing but not telling something like that. Of course people will know sooner or later, but it'd be nice to be treated normally rather than people make a special effort. I'd hate to spend my last two months under a big cloud of pity.

Though, I want my funeral to be kickass. :)

bifurcati February 1 2007, 01:09:47 UTC

I'd tell my family, but I'm not sure if I'd tell my friends. Like you say in your comment, I don't want everyone pitying me. Then again, it's kind of unfair for people not to get a chance to say goodbye? Perhaps I'd tell just a couple, swearing them to secrecy :)

(On the other hand, if anyone really pissed me off, I'll add a special comment in my prerecorded farewell speech thanking them for making my last few days miserable...Oooh! Evil! ;) )