If the world was about to end, would you wash the dishes?

[mojogeorgo]

This comment was made in the overnight thread at Howard-Empowered People...

I need to really get my house straightened up better if the world is ending Aug 22. I did think I had a little more time to get organized.

I know it's just a bit of dark humor, but I can't help taking it and running with it. Now, the reason this first caught my attention is that I immediately thought to myself, "Man, that's the last thing I would be doing if the world were about to end!" But then, as far back as I can remember, thoughts like this would pop, unbidden, into my head, "If the world were to end before Monday, I wouldn't have to finish this paper..."

Yes, I'm big on procrastination, and always have been. I also have a background in psychology, and most quarters I'm at least teaching one course in it. One of these courses is Lifespan Development. In the death and dying section, we discuss a study in which people of different ages what they would do if they learned that they only had six months to live.

The way the textbooks for these courses are set up, the death and dying chapter is typically the last thing covered. Occasionally, students commented that it's kind of a downer note to end on. I've found that a discussion of this study, and student's own responses to the "what would you do if time was short?" question can serve to lighten the mood a bit, as well as providing some food for thought. It can lighten the mood when people say things like, "Well, those are the only conditions under which I would try bungee jumping!" And it can provide food for thought when people think of how important it is to spend time with loved ones, make amends, tell people how much you care about them, and so forth. Because discussing this kind of "what if" brings to mind the fact that there are no guarantees in life. And if it would be important to me to tell people how much they mean to me if I had six months (or 6 days) to live, then it's important to tell them that anyway, isn't it?

So, how would you answer that question?

[Ezlivin]

1. A bottle of chilled Patron Tequila, choice herb and a friend

That's what I want at the end of the world.

I damn sure won't be doing any last minute chores!

[sgxnk]

3. tasty

<spicoli>

tasty waves, and a righteous buzz...

</spicoli>

[Ezlivin]

16. Dude

TGIF.

[EstimatedProphet]

5. Sweet! Me too!

[myrna minx]

2. I would make sure that all of the people that I love

heard that I loved them one last time. :loveya: That would be the most important thing to me. :loveya:

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Absolutely, not. Nor would I clean up anything else in the house.

I would look through all my photographs, listen to my favorite music, drive to the nearest scenic natural wonder with my 3 dogs and watch the sunset/rise, and make my farewells to family and friends.

[man4allcats]

6. I don't even wash the dishes now! n/t

[Nickster]

7. I don't think they meant their comment in the context that you're saying.

"I need to really get my house straightened up better if.."

I thought of the saying, Get your house in order....

Like, "Get your own house in order before you start talking about me"

[MikeDuffy]

8. A better more general question:

Do you try to eliminate or minimize any or most of your unsustainable habits of consumption?

[sandnsea]

9. "making amends"

You know, I had this discussion in a humanities course about 20 years ago. The majority of the class (much younger than me) thought I was a nutball for wanting to know if I was going to die in order to "make amends" and make sure all personal relationships were on a good footing, etc. Do you think that was something specific to the 80's generation or a particular personality type? They all said they'd want to know in order to go do the bungee jumping type stuff.

:shrug:

[mojogeorgo]

10. The results, as I recall

As I recall, on average, younger respondants were more likely to have a list of experiences they'd want to have before they died. Reminds me of an old, old episode of The Simpsons where Homer thinks he has 24 hours to list and has a checklist of things he wants to do in that last day. "Be intimate with Marge" was on the list somewhere, and he almost didn't make it home in time. But I digress. Older participants in the survey were, on average, more likely to talk about time with family, making amends, and so forth.

But that's only averages, so obviously there are young people who would say the serious things, and older people who have things they regret never trying. Other variables are probably things like personality type, and life experiences. Young people who have experienced the death of a close loved one, or had a near death experience themselves, may, for example, be more likely to give the "make amends" sort of answer.

By the way, the "Don't Panic" bumper sticker can be found here

[hobbit709]

11. I would keep doing what I do now

"Every day is a good day to die"

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. Might as well.

After all, for 99% of us, that's how it will happen anyway.

[1620rock]

15. Hmmm, I think I would wash them in the belief that this...

...end of the world crap is just more fundy BS.

[longship]

12. I was thinking of the movie, "Miracle Mile"

What would you do if you knew that the world was going to end in 70 minutes?

No spoilers here...

In spite of the fact that it's very low budget, has a totally ridiculous plot, and has people doing ridiculous things which are completely against their self-interest, it is still a gripping drama with a hard, black comedic edge and an incredible ending. The story unfolds in real time. The no-dull-moments action, punctuated by a great Tangerine Dream soundtrack keeps your heart pumping.

If you've never seen "Miracle Mile", I highly recommend it. A true low-budget gem.

Miracle Mile at IMDB

[porphyrian]

18. Forget everything you just heard, and go back to sleep.

That's a great movie, if horrible.

[bigbrother05]

14. If you have 6 months or 6 days

you are probably to sick to bungee jump. No regrets, no making amends, why waste your time, if there was a situation that caused a riff, your decision was probably already made. These golden rules that we were brought up on, are super fiscal, they have about the same significance as the easter bunny. So I say live guilt free now.

[porphyrian]

17. I hope it's after my divorce is finalized...

It'll be in court on that day.

[LSK]

19. damn fools

Thats who thinks the World will end on August 22.

[rasputin1952]

20. Death is really not the problem, since it is inevitable...the method of

transition however, can leave a lot to be desired.

If I KNEW, I was going to be incinerated in a nuclear fireball in 10 minutes, I'd go outside and just look in the direction of the oncoming missle...there's no way I'm gonna miss this. If I were dying of cancer, I would be seeing family, friends and others, making sure they felt OK about the whole thing, and that tables were cleared of "bad" items.

But if I KNEW that the world was ending on 22 Aug, I would be out there trying to find a way to stop it, and condemning those that brought the situation about; after all, it is a very few that have power that could possibly bring about a cataclysmic event like that into fruition. I find it disquieting that those who enable such an event, would likely survive...do we really need "people" like this to survive?

In any case I would feel great remorse for those who I would leave behind, my son, my brothers, my friends.

As for the dishes...let the survivors clean 'em...that way, they'll have something to do.

[BluePatriot]

21. If I had advance notice

I'd find a way to spend all my $$$...

I'd head up to Spec's and buy ultra-premium liquors, cigars, tasty cheeses, caviar, kalamata olives, clementines, mmm...credit? Why yes, put it on that credit card *muahaha*

Maybe I'd get a nice, fun outfit for my last day. We'd gorge on the premium stuff.

Last meal? That's a tough call. I think after gorging on the above I'd just go for southern comfort food...fried catfish, malt vinegar, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, hush puppies.

Then I'd cuddle my hubby and watch the mushroom clouds in the distance.

All in all, not a bad way to go.

[renate]

22. I was surprised that the link was to The Guardian...

Then I read it and realized that the author was making sense. Oh, Guardian, you never let me down!

This sort of quasi-religious scaremongering always finds a receptive audience in the United States, especially among Christians of the jihadist persuasion. At 90 years old, Professor Lewis may have completely lost his marbles, but he is still feted by the White House (vice-president Dick Cheney was guest of honour at his birthday party in April), and the Wall Street Journal describes him as "a sage".

:rofl:

[ecstatic]

23. I would clean up incriminating/embarassing items and files

Anything that would cause post-mortem embarassment would have to be destroyed. Having a spotless house would be nice, as God only knows how many people would track through it once I was gone. I would also erase my computer hard drive. LOL... Not saying I do anything that weird but still, I don't want anyone to know my surfing habits.