What do you think about the idea of knowing when you will die?

Use this forum to discuss the March 2018 Book of the Month, "Final Notice" by Van Fleisher.
Post Reply
User avatar
Sammy_Blaq
Posts: 1
Joined: 15 Mar 2018, 02:30
Bookshelf Size: 0

Re: What do you think about the idea of knowing when you will die?

Post by Sammy_Blaq »

You see knowing when one would die will deprive one of today's joy and does not guaranty tomorrow's joy. But at the same time, it would make me want to use every bit of my time judiciously and obviously one would be under pressure. It could make some people die faster than the said date infact. It's a two faced coin, but, personally i wouldn't want it. :roll:
User avatar
klaudja1998
Posts: 5
Joined: 24 Feb 2018, 03:39
Currently Reading: Patch Man
Bookshelf Size: 63
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-klaudja1998.html
Latest Review: Health Tips, Myths, and Tricks by Morton E Tavel, MD

Post by klaudja1998 »

Me for myself I don't want to know when I'll die. It's just terrifying that's why it's better to let this in hands of God.
User avatar
Edwinowino
Posts: 1
Joined: 15 Mar 2018, 03:09
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by Edwinowino »

I like to know when i will die because it helps us plan and get prepared for this is wisdom
Gerry_9
Posts: 30
Joined: 28 Feb 2018, 08:50
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 11
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-gerry-9.html
Latest Review: McDowell by William H. Coles

Post by Gerry_9 »

To be frank I would not want to have any idea of when I would die. There is a reason why God or nature made it impossible to know exactly when you die. There are arguments for and against. You could argue that such knowledge would give you an opportunity to put your house in order and close business. However look at the detrimental effect it would have on peoples lives. Some people would stop working others would go out settling scores. People and governments would lose commitment and focus in life. Such knowledge would be disruptive. In this issue I am conservative. We are better of not knowing.
User avatar
Misael Carlos
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 2694
Joined: 16 Jan 2018, 17:12
Favorite Book: The Sins of a Master Race
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 214
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-misael-carlos.html
Latest Review: Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures by Catherine A. Pepe

Post by Misael Carlos »

Death is certain; that is a fact. However, knowing when your life will end is not important or necessary. What is more important is how you live it.
User avatar
Kelaine
Posts: 28
Joined: 04 Jan 2018, 00:59
Currently Reading: The Left Hand of Darkness
Bookshelf Size: 36
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kelaine.html
Latest Review: Fish Wielder by J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison

Post by Kelaine »

What a horrifying concept.
You could argue that knowing would allow you to live life to the fullest, say goodbye, wrap things up before you go, etc., but knowing that you will die one day, and that it might be tomorrow, wouldn't you want to be living a full life like that right now? All the time?
You could also argue that if you knew you would live another 50 years, you would live differently now. Take more risks, do more stupid things, go for the crazy experiences because you know you're not going to die anyway.
And then there's the whole concept of changing the future - or at least the intermediate future between now and the time you know you'll die, if your death date really is fixed - because you know when your future ends. But that's a whole other wormhole.
mozamiller
Posts: 10
Joined: 19 Jan 2018, 03:48
Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... 82696">The Murder House</a>
Currently Reading: Golden Prey
Bookshelf Size: 192
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-mozamiller.html
Latest Review: McDowell by William H. Coles

Post by mozamiller »

I believe knowing that you will die may be helpful to some people, but to others it could be harmful. It honestly depends on your personality or beliefs. Everyone knows once their mind has developed to a certain age of understanding that they won't live forever. After that age most people spend most of that time avoiding the subject all together until someone they know passes. If a technology were developed that could narrow down the time frame of death the consequences could be both positive and negative.

On the positive end, you would have the person that would want to spend as much time as possible with family and friends saying their goodbyes. They would probably have their favorite places they want to visit. They would get their affairs in order so their families wouldn't have to worry about anything and their services would be performed just they way they want it. Honestly, any responsible adult should already have these things done anyway, because one never knows what could happen.

On the negative end, a person could go off the deep end and do law bending extravagant things that can endanger others as well as themselves because they feel they have nothing to lose because they are going to die anyway. They are on borrowed time or death row so who cares? There is always the chance the technology could wrong. I had an cousin that was given 6 months to live twice. She lived 6 more years.
User avatar
Smokey-383
Posts: 17
Joined: 18 Feb 2018, 20:52
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 9
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-smokey-383.html
Latest Review: The Sword Swallower and a Chico Kid by Gary Robinson
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU

Post by Smokey-383 »

I would hate to know when I am going to die. Too much pressure to finish things and/or do things. Instead, I am a firm believer in " live each day as if you are dying". If the technology were available, I would decline.
User avatar
Idokobestman
Posts: 1
Joined: 15 Mar 2018, 17:25
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by Idokobestman »

I don't support the motion of knowing when you will die
User avatar
BadEditions
Posts: 19
Joined: 24 Jan 2018, 09:27
Currently Reading: Becoming
Bookshelf Size: 18
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-badeditions.html
Latest Review: The 11.05 Murders by Brian O'Hare

Post by BadEditions »

I think a good way to gauge what it's like to know when you will die is looking at people who receive terminal illness diagnoses. Granted, they don't know exactly when they will die but that's the closest real life example we have. In many cases, they go into deep depression and struggle to find meaning in life. A few scramble to enjoy their time left, but all make their decisions based almost exclusively on their death.

Knowing when you will die is like being diagnosed with a terminal illness. Reactions may vary, but it will always be an anxiety-inducing dark cloud looming over your head. No, I think just knowing that I'll die is enough. Knowing exactly when is too much.
User avatar
grasshopper1
Posts: 1
Joined: 15 Mar 2018, 18:15
Bookshelf Size: 0

Post by grasshopper1 »

I think it is scary. I would not like someone telling me when I was going to die. Mind you, freedom is at question here. The freedom to enjoy life without having to worry about when you are going to die. I think Gerry_9 hit it on the head.
User avatar
holsam_87
Posts: 858
Joined: 03 Feb 2018, 15:45
Currently Reading: The Unbound Soul
Bookshelf Size: 1691
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-holsam-87.html
Latest Review: Herai by Aaron D Key
Reading Device: B00IKPYKWG

Post by holsam_87 »

I'm not sure if I would like to know when I die. On the one hand, it would be nice because then I could get my personal affairs handled and things would be set in motion. However, I feel like people should also live for the now and do it the fullest that they are capable, and not with the idea that one day they're going to die. It's a very ambiguous idea, but it was also interesting to see how the characters were handling it in their daily lives. I think that I would mostly panic and then be in denial before accepting it.
Samantha Holtsclaw

“We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are.”

—J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Latest Review: Herai by Aaron D Key
User avatar
onixpam
Posts: 318
Joined: 14 Feb 2018, 00:19
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 150
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-onixpam.html
Latest Review: Toni the Superhero by R.D. Base

Post by onixpam »

I do not want to know when I will die because life is full of choices and these decisions are what shape a life, and those are the decisions that make you as a person, without that possibility life loses meaning.
User avatar
drexter1_sembreno
Posts: 1
Joined: 15 Mar 2018, 21:46
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 13

Post by drexter1_sembreno »

Dying is an inevitable phenomena. It is like an epic poetry that will end with a period. but knowing the fact of the day you will die is another thing. it is both black and white. it also depends. i thinks it is a subjective thing. the action will totally be dependent to the person. i what way he or she will take the idea of him or her dying on the expected day. but after all to die is what is meant to happen.
User avatar
dgallois
Posts: 81
Joined: 14 Mar 2018, 20:03
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 147
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-dgallois.html
Latest Review: Betrayal of Faith by Mark M. Bello
Reading Device: B00KC6I06S

Post by dgallois »

I would not like to know and that actually played a part in why I didn't pick that book to review. Books make me think what if... so if anything written by the author comes close to what is actually happening at the time it would freak me out a little. And I think that if you "peek" ahead, you forget to see the here and now.
Post Reply

Return to “Discuss "Final Notice" by Van Fleisher”