Discussion Question--Thanksgiving Edition
Here's one that will encourage us all to consider things we're thankful for:
Which would you rather lose: your mental faculties or your physical prowess?
In other words, would you rather dramatically drop your IQ a la' Charly in _Flowers for Algernon_ or become a quadriplegic?
Bonus points for finding qualifiers that would make a difference in your decision.
Which would you rather lose: your mental faculties or your physical prowess?
In other words, would you rather dramatically drop your IQ a la' Charly in _Flowers for Algernon_ or become a quadriplegic?
Bonus points for finding qualifiers that would make a difference in your decision.
posted by Ted @ 06:13
10 Comments:
At 21/11/07 13:13 ,
Yankee John said...
Easy. I decided this one a long time ago when I worked on the Alzheimer's unit in college:
Always take the combo meal of dying body with a side of intact mind. Supersize that too.
On one hand, you get Tuesdays with Mitch Ablom's self-flagelating ego.
On the other you get Night of the Living Dead with the added indignity of a full load in your pants.
Besides dying with self-awareness ('cause while there is no "dignity" in death, at least there should be some understanding of the process that is uniquely yours), I think its easier on the ones you leave behind. Not to put too fine a point on it - it's better to say goodbye and then to have others say "it's about time."
At 21/11/07 14:54 ,
KAISER ANDY I said...
I would rather John become a 4xpalegic rather than him lose his mind too. At least then he could phone in his beer order...
At 22/11/07 00:04 ,
MomHouston said...
Ok, so 7 years ago I got to try the Charlie role and all you have to do is ask Mary or Heather and they'll tell you how much fun it was for Mom to lose the majority of her brain power...that being said...if I become the quad...I'll be asking for that cocktail of peace and I hope there will be a change in the laws by then to allow me to...or you're going to have to come with me to Switzerland for the long sleep.
But I have so much to be thankful for now, including you as part of the family.
At 22/11/07 05:00 ,
Jenny said...
I'd take quad. Hands down. Pun intended.
At 22/11/07 15:30 ,
Ted said...
And Jenny gets two points for keeping a happy face on a serious discussion!
But the discussion isn't over. Keep those comments coming!
At 25/11/07 22:16 ,
KAISER ANDY I said...
I heard that ted likes to be on all fours- is that the same?
But seriously; I would rather a person's body go out on them before their brains. I remember wiping my grandad's butt because he couldn't reach it. I also remember never dreading it, as he wasn't a poo-flinging 80 year-old head case that yelled at me the entire time I helped me.
Were that the case, I believe I would be currently wearing Jefferson County Orange.
At 25/11/07 22:17 ,
KAISER ANDY I said...
I meant helped him. Don't drink before noon.
At 27/11/07 20:55 ,
Ted said...
You had to help your Granddad drink before noon?
At 28/11/07 20:28 ,
KAISER ANDY I said...
Well, you see he was quadripalegic and couldn't hold the glass...
We've now come full circle. New Topic.
At 1/12/07 22:34 ,
Ted said...
Talking about booze is full circle? I thought it was just a stop on the tour.
Personally, I'm not sure. If I had the resources to keep me healthy (competent nursing and whatnot) I think losing the physical side would be preferable.
If I had to lose my wits, I'd want to do it completely--the Alzheimer's route. If I just lost a bunch of IQ points I imagine I'd become a really bitter person. All the more reason to respect my mother-in-law, who bounced back from just such an event with grace and poise.
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