Litiquette V

[Eva_Star]

Please note, the following subject matter is not intended for all audiences. If thinking about or discussing your own mortality cause you concern, best to wander over to the "What's for breakfast?" thread.

If you could be told the exact date of your own death, would you want to know? What if it was not the exact date but the month or maybe just the year? Would you live your life any differently? Would it be a death sentence but with the freedom to live your remaining days as much as you'd like? Could you, as Tim McGraw sings "live like you were dying"?

Turning 40 did this for me...it was a moment of realization that time is passing by and I am just withering away under the pressure to be someone other than who I am.

So I said fuck it! and became who I am with no reservations. I will be this way until my last breath. Free. To answer the question, no. I would not want to know. I don't need to know. I am living the life that I want already.

 

[Lunation]

Please note, the following subject matter is not intended for all audiences. If thinking about or discussing your own mortality cause you concern, best to wander over to the "What's for breakfast?" thread.

If you could be told the exact date of your own death, would you want to know? What if it was not the exact date but the month or maybe just the year? Would you live your life any differently? Would it be a death sentence but with the freedom to live your remaining days as much as you'd like? Could you, as Tim McGraw sings "live like you were dying"?

I'm going to say no, I wouldn't want to know.

Knowing myself, I'm liable to kill myself before the end date, just to prove it wrong. And if our mysterious fortune teller could predict that and adjust the date, it would keep moving back, causing my death to happen essentially simultaneously with my knowledge of it.

But, I'm stubborn.

 

[aussiegeekygal]

Please note, the following subject matter is not intended for all audiences. If thinking about or discussing your own mortality cause you concern, best to wander over to the "What's for breakfast?" thread.

If you could be told the exact date of your own death, would you want to know? What if it was not the exact date but the month or maybe just the year? Would you live your life any differently? Would it be a death sentence but with the freedom to live your remaining days as much as you'd like? Could you, as Tim McGraw sings "live like you were dying"?

I guess I have a fairly comprehensive understanding of my mortality. I've faced it head on a few times over the last few years and it has drastically alerted my approach to life, living and my relationship with the world. I have always been a lover, but became even moreso when I was told there was a chance I could die. I loved on people furiously, and you know what? They loved back just as hard. Being a passive passenger in life is no longer good enough for me. I want to mean what I say, say what I mean and execute all over the place.

Once upon a time I would have said I wouldn't want to know when I was going to die. Now, even if I knew, it wouldn't change a great day. Sure, I may not get to see everything I want to, but I'll leave this place a little more beautiful than I found it, and that's a huge win for me. That's my idea of an afterlife.

 

[Endless_Night]

I wonder if anyone has Jabba the Hut on their bucket list?

Am I allowed to say: Ewwwwwww.

'Cause: Ewwwwwww.


*Apologies to any Jabba the Hut fetishists.

 

[lakesailer_mi]

If you could be told the exact date of your own death, would you want to know? What if it was not the exact date but the month or maybe just the year? Would you live your life any differently? Would it be a death sentence but with the freedom to live your remaining days as much as you'd like? Could you, as Tim McGraw sings "live like you were dying"?

Props to Paul for a great answer. Mine is a lot the same, but with a different conclusion.

I don't care. I wouldn't be upset or change much if I knew (maybe a little sad if you said, "hey, it's tomorrow", I'd miss my son's HS and college graduations, marriage of both kids, etc...but...*shrugs*). Nor does it worry/bother me not to know.

For the most part, and I"m not perfect, I'm living the life I want to. That's not always really been true, but I have always worked toward it. That doesn't mean I get to do everything I want. And if you told me that I had 6 months, I think, largely, I would keep doing what I'm doing. (OK, MAYBE, I'd figure out how to sail that southern ocean leg...but...).

I think I've been a good dad, and given them the lessons I can, when the time is right. I can't cram everything into them all at once (if I could, I'd have already done it...you have to wait for that teachable moment, and it's partly repetitive...you teach them again and again, and eventually it sticks).

I think I've been a decent husband. I wouldn't suddenly want to change my relationship any more than I already do, and I'm already doing the best I can to do that.

I have great friends, including people here. I wouldn't suddenly change that.

And I think...mostly...I'm good with God.

Basically, while I'm not perfect, I've tried to live my life in a way that I have few regrets. I have regrets, but I can't fix most of them anymore anyway. So...the information is not particularly relevant.

 

[SMNaughtywife]

Absolutely not, no way do I want to know when my time is up. Always having that date in the back of my mind, measuring every moment and justifying its worthiness would get tiring.
I also think there would be a sadness inside you that would be hard to shake. Always knowing your days are ticking away.

 

[ChainedUp]

I don't normally answer my own topics but SMN gave an answer that states my position on knowing my own death. I think that being sentenced to death row, would be the absolute worst punishment not because of being killed by because you'd have to live with that constant countdown.

 

[ChainedUp]

I'm curious in how we all satisfy our Lit needs. Clearly we make an effort to come here, many of us every day, several times a day, and for extended periods of time. But how do you decide when to sign in? Is it when your day happens to present you some free time? Do you make time to be on? Do you use it as filler between work commitments/home chores?

And how many of you check Lit within the first 15minutes after you've woken up for the day?

 

[Trekka]

I'm flaky and streaky. No real pattern.

The only consistent thread in my Lit activity is that I tend to get quiet when the shit is hitting the fan.

 

[SMNaughtywife]

I'm like T-chica above me, no patterns to my Lit madness.
Guilty of multitasking and mindwandering throughout the day, that's all I'll admit to.
And negative on this being my first morning stop, news and email always first.

 

[Paul_Chance]

I don't check Lit within 15 minutes of waking up.

On an average day I tend to get up, go for a run*, then make my first cup of coffee, meditate, eat breakfast, go to work and then - if the morning wave of work allows, I'll pop over to Lit and see what is going on.

During the day, depending on the way the day's moving, I'll go ahead pop over to Lit and wander about looking for tasty goodness. If I get caught up in a particular thread, or in a PM conversation with someone, I'll pop back more frequently.

*LOL - I have on my brain a t-shirt one of my co-runners in the neighborhood was wearing earlier this week. "I run. I don't run far. I don't run fast. But I run."

 

[Hornblende]

And how many of you check Lit within the first 15minutes after you've woken up for the day?

Not quite that quickly. Email first, then BBC News, then other social media. Sometimes the Guardian, too. Then Lit, but it takes a while to get through all the Lit backlog!

 

[Endless_Night]

I'm curious in how we all satisfy our Lit needs. Clearly we make an effort to come here, many of us every day, several times a day, and for extended periods of time. But how do you decide when to sign in? Is it when your day happens to present you some free time? Do you make time to be on? Do you use it as filler between work commitments/home chores?

And how many of you check Lit within the first 15minutes after you've woken up for the day?

I used to check in first thing. It gave me something to do while I mainlined my first cup of coffee and got my eyes to focus. These days I typically head to email and other social media, before settling in to check the question threads.

How I use the site varies. I'd say all the above choices apply, each dependent on my level of free time and how actively I am engaged on the site.

 

[ChainedUp]

It's Friday, I can be late.

How do you define being bad/naughty/dirty for yourself? Would you like to be more that way than you already are or are you "bad" enough?

 

[Endless_Night]

It's Friday, I can be late.

How do you define being bad/naughty/dirty for yourself? Would you like to be more that way than you already are or are you "bad" enough?

I don't define myself that way. I realize many do, but I...just don't. Things or actions may be bad/naughty/dirty, but those are separate from myself.

#oddballkitten

 

[Suz_anne]

It's Friday, I can be late.

How do you define being bad/naughty/dirty for yourself? Would you like to be more that way than you already are or are you "bad" enough?

I'm good.


(trying to be all vague and mysterious with what that means exactly)

 

[ChainedUp]

Well, that was a topic of little interest.

Driverless cars. Are you ready for them? Can you give up control and let the machine drive itself? It will be a better driver than you and you won't have to worry about all the other drivers that are worse than you. Everyone will be equal.

Really? You're normally all about technology....

 

[lakesailer_mi]

It's Friday, I can be late.

How do you define being bad/naughty/dirty for yourself? Would you like to be more that way than you already are or are you "bad" enough?

Sorry man, I wasn't around as much yesterday as I would have liked.
I think of being "naughty" and "dirty" generally as doing sexual things. And the word is more playful in my mind.

I guess "bad" I think of as more like, breaking my diet or blowing off a meeting I should go to. Sort of abdicating responsibility.

Well, that was a topic of little interest.

Driverless cars. Are you ready for them? Can you give up control and let the machine drive itself? It will be a better driver than you and you won't have to worry about all the other drivers that are worse than you. Everyone will be equal.

Really? You're normally all about technology....

I actually am kind of looking forward to it. I think it will make commutes easier and faster, plus I can read while I'm on my way.
There are so many places already where technology is in charge. Generally, it's humans who mess things up.

I don't define myself that way. I realize many do, but I...just don't. Things or actions may be bad/naughty/dirty, but those are separate from myself.

#oddballkitten

I like this.

 

[beachbaby179]

Driverless cars...just no. I like the control and would hate to give it up. Plus, unless the entire country switched over at once, there would be chaos. Driverless cars v asshole drivers. Who wins?

 

[hotwords229]

On *vintage* gay porn?!

Subquestion: the cocks involved in vintage gay porn appear much larger than average. Anyone have any ideas why?

I think it's basic math. Assuming the average penis is 6 inches and you take that penis, put it on a guy who is 6'3" 225lbs. it will look small. But if you put that same penis on a guy who is 5'9" 140lbs. He will look hung like a moose.

In the old days, people were shorter with thinner frames, thus, they looked like they had bigger, thicker and juicier schlongs.

At least that's my scientific theory based on no facts or research.

Or, maybe gay guys just have huge cranks, I don't know.

 

[SMNaughtywife]

Well, that was a topic of little interest.

Driverless cars. Are you ready for them? Can you give up control and let the machine drive itself? It will be a better driver than you and you won't have to worry about all the other drivers that are worse than you. Everyone will be equal.

Really? You're normally all about technology....

Give me a few years when the back order calms down and I'll be driving around in a Tesla. I've seen them on the interstate several times, the driver just chillin and enjoying the auto pilot system. Even had some awkward longer than normal eye contact going on.

 

[Suz_anne]

Well, that was a topic of little interest.

Driverless cars. Are you ready for them? Can you give up control and let the machine drive itself? It will be a better driver than you and you won't have to worry about all the other drivers that are worse than you. Everyone will be equal.

Really? You're normally all about technology....

In general, I enjoy driving. Especially when we take road trips or head up north. So I would want the option of being able to decide when I drive or when I let the car do its thing.

I think they should market luxury vans that are driverless. Offer options for decked out interiors...think sumptuous, yet cheesy/porno style, beds in the back with mirrored ceilings, red velvet and cheetah print faux fur.

Hell yeah, let the van drive itself 3 hours to the lake house. We got things to do in the back.

 

[ChainedUp]

It's slow around these parts. Maybe it's the dog days of summer.....why does summer only get the animal related days? Shouldn't there be something like the bear days of winter, or the squirrel days of fall?

 

[Paul_Chance]

It's Friday, I can be late.

How do you define being bad/naughty/dirty for yourself? Would you like to be more that way than you already are or are you "bad" enough?

I pretty much don't use the words bad or dirty when in comes to sexuality. I don't like the judgemental connotations. I have used the work naughty, generally in a flirtatious context. I'm comfortable with my own sexuality, so I imagine I am sexual enough. It is a big part of my life, but it is balanced along the middle way.

Well, that was a topic of little interest.

Driverless cars. Are you ready for them? Can you give up control and let the machine drive itself? It will be a better driver than you and you won't have to worry about all the other drivers that are worse than you. Everyone will be equal.

Really? You're normally all about technology....

I am! I sometimes drive long distances which is where I think driverless cars are going to be awesome. The ability to get in, set the destination, and then take a nap or watch a movie or do some work - that is just going to be awesome.

 

[Paul_Chance]

It's slow around these parts. Maybe it's the dog days of summer.....why does summer only get the animal related days? Shouldn't there be something like the bear days of winter, or the squirrel days of fall?

Growing up I remember the expression "Wolf Winter" to describe a winter where the snow was deep and it was very cold. (This would have been Nebraska in the 60's and 70's). I also remember some winters being described as "Killing Winters" - that is when the weather alters between being warm and then suddenly cold.

If you ever want to read a good book about how severe those winters could be, I would recommend "The Children's Blizzard". It was about the blizzard of 1888, which hit the midwest (South Dakota and Nebraska) and killed several hundred people and had such a negative impact that the population of those states actually got smaller for subsequent years as people left.