Poll

8 votes (50%)
8 votes (50%)

16 members have voted

Rigondeaux
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December 13th, 2018 at 12:05:34 PM permalink
This is how the bet was described on 2+2.

As some of you may be aware, us poker players like to bet on everything & anything. This is one of the crazier ones I’ve heard of in a while. Figured I’d share for those interested in this crazy world..

A guy I play with has bet another player 100k he can stay in a DARK bathroom, with no human interaction for 30 days. I’m not 100% on the specifics of the bet, but from what I understand:

*Door will remain unlocked and he can choose to leave (& lose the bet) at anytime.
*There will be literally no light & therefore no real way to gauge day/night/time left in the bet.
*He has a refrigerator (w/no light) & will have ample food/water. Fresh food will be delivered sporadically but it’s somehow being done without him having any human interaction?
*He has toiletries, towels, some sort of a bed/pillow, a paddleball & Rubik’s cube?
*No alcohol/sleep aids/drugs are allowed.
*He will be given whatever vitamins are needed.
*There is some sort of livestream/camera set-up to ensure no cheating.
*If he stays in the room the full 30 days, he wins 100k. If he gives up, it costs him 100k.

Personally, I think he’s an underdog to succeed. I wouldn’t do this bet for any amount of money as I think there’s danger of lasting psychological damage for anyone not very experienced with meditation & isolation.

He started a few days ago. I’ll update if I hear anything exciting. What do you guys think? Easy money or drawing dead?
Gialmere
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December 13th, 2018 at 12:18:59 PM permalink
So basically the bet is can you go 30 days without your cellphone? Easy money for me. My kids? No way.
Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
Rigondeaux
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December 13th, 2018 at 12:20:15 PM permalink
Quote: Gialmere

So basically the bet is can you go 30 days without your cellphone? Easy money for me. My kids? No way.



No light. No human contact.
billryan
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December 13th, 2018 at 12:39:18 PM permalink
It really depends on the man and if he has had training/ experience. My military training taught me to do much more than I thought I could do. It comes down to self- discipline.
I'd think anyone that has been through SEER training could do it sitting on their thumbs. Likewise, many hardened convicts.
Could I do it? No way. I flipped out during the last MRI I had.

I'd freeroll it for 100K, hoping to get through somehow but no way I'd put up a sizable amount as a wager.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
rxwine
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December 13th, 2018 at 12:41:22 PM permalink
Let's see, an hour in the dark awake will probably seem like 1.5, So may seem like 45 days.
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GWAE
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December 13th, 2018 at 1:12:03 PM permalink
Intriguing.

First thought is how hard could it be. For me 100k is life changing so I think I could do it. People get stuck in the hole in prison all the time and survive. This would be easier than thst.
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billryan
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December 13th, 2018 at 1:19:09 PM permalink
Quote: GWAE

Intriguing.

First thought is how hard could it be. For me 100k is life changing so I think I could do it. People get stuck in the hole in prison all the time and survive. This would be easier than thst.




I'll book that bet.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
DRich
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December 13th, 2018 at 1:19:21 PM permalink
What good is a Rubik's cube with no light? If you can't see the faces, it better have some braille style markings.
At my age, a "Life In Prison" sentence is not much of a deterrent.
billryan
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December 13th, 2018 at 1:26:02 PM permalink
Quote: DRich

What good is a Rubik's cube with no light? If you can't see the faces, it better have some braille style markings.



I'd solve it in the first thirty seconds, only to be disappointed later.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
Ayecarumba
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December 13th, 2018 at 1:39:33 PM permalink
How big is the space? Is the bathroom the size you find on an airplane, or at the LVCC?

If there is space to move, it is certainly doable. I'd lean toward 66% more likely to succeed than fail. If you are willing to escrow $100k against my 0, I'd give it a go, as long as the bathroom had enough space to stretch out.
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OnceDear
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December 13th, 2018 at 1:48:59 PM permalink
Quote: DRich

What good is a Rubik's cube with no light? If you can't see the faces, it better have some braille style markings.

Lol rubiks cube. Only just occurred to me how spiteful that gift would be. Would there be magazines, crossword puzzles, newspapers, sudoko too?

I wouldn't try it for 100k straight bet. Maybe for a million to my 10k, but I doubt I'd manage even then.
Psalm 25:16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Proverbs 18:2 A fool finds no satisfaction in trying to understand, for he would rather express his own opinion.
Wizard
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December 13th, 2018 at 2:24:39 PM permalink
First, there is a story of a similar bet in The Man With the $100,000 Breasts: And Other Gambling Stories, which is a fun read. I read it years ago, but as I recall the challenger had to stay in a casino bathroom for a specified period of time, which I think was more than a month. So, no, the bathroom obviously wasn't dark in that bet and people were allowed to visit the challenger and I think he could read books and other things to kill the time. In the end, it looked like he would be successful so they settled the bet early, with the challenger getting most of the money.

Second, I was just watching an episode of Black Mirror (an outstanding show) this morning, with a similar situation, where a woman was trapped in a room for six months with nothing to do. However, the room was at least lit.

Third, for a swing of $200,000 (difference between winning and losing $100,000), I think he'll do it. I'm open to betting on it too, contingent on verifying that bet amount. As indicated, I favor the "yes."
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
billryan
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December 13th, 2018 at 2:37:52 PM permalink
I'm trying to decide if being able to keep track of time would be a good thing or not.
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Aussie
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December 13th, 2018 at 2:56:52 PM permalink
Hasn’t this already been resolved? Started in late November and he chose to leave a couple of days ago.
Ayecarumba
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December 13th, 2018 at 3:03:39 PM permalink
Quote: Aussie

Hasn’t this already been resolved? Started in late November and he chose to leave a couple of days ago.



Yes. The bet was settled after 20 days.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
RS
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December 13th, 2018 at 3:08:31 PM permalink
Even if he gets the $68k or whatever, I’ve still probably made more money in a bathroom than him. #NoHomo
Rigondeaux
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December 13th, 2018 at 3:38:52 PM permalink
This raises a second discussion.

Given that he settled for over half the money, how would a side bet be settled.

Say The Wiz bet $100 against the guy vs my $100 on him.
beachbumbabs
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December 13th, 2018 at 3:43:55 PM permalink
Quote: Rigondeaux

This raises a second discussion.

Given that he settled for over half the money, how would a side bet be settled.

Say The Wiz bet $100 against the guy vs my $100 on him.



What do you/they do when you have a side bet on a guy to win a poker tournament and he chops the pot?

Seems the same to me, as far as resolving the sidebet.
If the House lost every hand, they wouldn't deal the game.
michael99000
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December 13th, 2018 at 3:59:46 PM permalink
Quote: beachbumbabs

What do you/they do when you have a side bet on a guy to win a poker tournament and he chops the pot?

Seems the same to me, as far as resolving the sidebet.



Wonder what the effect on your eyes would be. No exposure to light for that long , and is it safe to emerge into full light when it’s over.

Also sleep/wake cycle gets screwed up.
terapined
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December 13th, 2018 at 4:26:36 PM permalink
Brian Zembic won a similar bet
The crazy guy that got breast implants on a 100k bet
yup, he's that crazy. Look him up.
I read his book a long time ago
I think it was 30 days in a vegas hotel bathroom
There was light and human interaction
The guy he bet with would send all his buddies to take dumps in that bathroom
Brian said it was brutal but he made it.
FinsRule
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December 13th, 2018 at 4:48:38 PM permalink
There was a twilight zone episode about this. Guy bet he couldn’t talk for like 6 months.

I won’t spoil the ending.
Ayecarumba
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December 13th, 2018 at 5:16:24 PM permalink
Quote: michael99000

Wonder what the effect on your eyes would be. No exposure to light for that long , and is it safe to emerge into full light when it’s over.

Also sleep/wake cycle gets screwed up.



I think you'd have to wear protective glasses for a while to get your eyesight back in shape. I think about those guys who were trapped in the cave, or the Chilean coal mine.

As for the sleep cycle, I think studies have been done that people will sleep longer if they aren't exposed to light. They will also get depressed and lethargic when they are awake. Consider life near the North Pole. Those guys don't see the sun for months. Time to hibernate.
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Wizard
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December 13th, 2018 at 5:24:51 PM permalink
Quote: Ayecarumba

Consider life near the North Pole. Those guys don't see the sun for months. Time to hibernate.



I think the South Pole is a better example, where there are a lot more research stations.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
onenickelmiracle
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December 13th, 2018 at 5:46:47 PM permalink
I feel like it's a bad bet, because a bathroom is not a safe place. You think you have everything you need but you don't. Taking a shower can be a death sentence if you slip, food could be bad and you won't know. All that hard tile, I'd rather have a bed and poop in a bucket, sponge bath.

Plus, do they tell him when time is up, or is he supposed to just know it has been thirty days.it sounds easy enough to just wait no matter what, but I think after a while you'll go crazy, you might even forget why you're in the bathroom and open the door without thinking. I'd rather be locked in and not be allowed out. I'd go for it maybe if it was just a challenge but I wouldn't put my money on me staying in there.

Probably the third time I'd say it, but bad bet. The guy will probably just piss away the money even if he wins. I'd guess gambling motivates him to take an easy way out, so it seems. Plus my luck there would be a death in the family, someone sick I couldn't see one last time. This kind of experience can damage you emotionally for life.
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TomG
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December 13th, 2018 at 6:23:09 PM permalink
Horrible bet. Taking some random person off the street, they might only have a 10% chance to survive 30 days locked in a bathroom for $100k. But anyone who is willing to put up $100k of their own money isn't someone random off the street. Like maybe only 1 out of 10 people can eat 100 chicken nuggets, but if someone is willing to risk money on it, the odds are a lot less than 10 to 1 that they can do it.

I think I could do it, but would want preparation. Spend at least a full week leading up to it loaded up on coffee and adderall. Then when I did get into the bathroom I could just sleep for days. Spend at least a full month leading up to it starving myself and insist the food offered included a lot of low calorie veggies. Then I could spend any time I wasn't sleeping entertained by eating (along with the associated side effects of eating 10-pounds of veggies everyday).
Gialmere
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December 13th, 2018 at 6:23:36 PM permalink
Quote: FinsRule

There was a twilight zone episode about this. Guy bet he couldn’t talk for like 6 months.

I won’t spoil the ending.


Yeah, the TZ episode was inspired by a short story called "The Bet" which had a more profound ending. In that version the bet was several years long. The young man who wanted money was placed in a small, unlocked room (if he left he lost) and was allowed no human contact. It was a monastic prisoner's set up. Food was delivered via a slot at the base of the door. He had heat and light, a bed, a chair and a table. The only pleasure he was allowed was reading so he was provided pen and paper to ask for the books he wanted via the door slot.

At first he asked for frivolous titles. Then he asked for greater literature. As the months turned to years he moved on to history, the sciences et cetra and finally religion and the works of the great philosophers.

Meanwhile, the finances of the rich man who bet against him had taken a turn for the worse. Paying off the bet would ruin him. So it was with heavy heart and despair that he went to open cell door on the morning that the bet was concluded...

The rich man found the door open and the cell empty. The poor man had left during the night, mere hours before he was to collect his winnings! On the table was a note thanking the rich man for a fulfilling education but as he now found the pursuit of money to be a petty and unworthy goal he was forfeiting the wager.
Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
Vegasrider
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December 13th, 2018 at 7:15:01 PM permalink
He bought out the bet after 20 days. He realized that he was going to lose 100K since the player already spent 20 days., so they settled. The guy in the bathroom went in cold. No prep or training. Flew back from a poker tournament in the Bahamas and essentially began his confinement.

I've seen coin flip between Andy Beal and another poker player for a rack of $20 chips or 2 dimes at a 80-160 hold'em game at the Bellagio. They used a penny of all coins which went off the table and rolled underneath the table. Another $2k bet if some guy would cut his lip ring off with a pair of pliers. They called maintenance to bring up a pair of cutters. And he cut it.
AxelWolf
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December 14th, 2018 at 12:46:30 AM permalink
I could absolutely do this no problem.


Give me a laptop and internet and I can do 3 months.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
petroglyph
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December 14th, 2018 at 12:57:24 AM permalink
I'd never want to go in a bathroom again.
RS
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December 14th, 2018 at 1:08:59 AM permalink
Quote: AxelWolf

I could absolutely do this no problem.


Give me a laptop and internet and I can do 3 months.


You can have a laptop and internet for this bet, no problem.

Unfortunately you wouldn't be allowed to have light nor electricity, so the laptop and internet are probably useless.
onenickelmiracle
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December 14th, 2018 at 1:27:56 AM permalink
Quote: AxelWolf

I could absolutely do this no problem.


Give me a laptop and internet and I can do 3 months.







I voted I could win the bet, however, I wouldn't voluntarily waste a small portion of my life with such misery. I feel like a month of my life is worth more than $100,000 even though technically it's not because a month of my life has never produced $100,000.
Last edited by: onenickelmiracle on Dec 14, 2018
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OnceDear
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December 14th, 2018 at 2:03:14 AM permalink
Quote: AxelWolf

I could absolutely do this no problem.


Give me a laptop and internet and I can do 3 months.

Hmmmmm. in the dark: no light sources. Black text on a black screen in a black room. See the comments about the rubiks cube.
I think most of us could do it with a working internet and illuminated screen.
Psalm 25:16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Proverbs 18:2 A fool finds no satisfaction in trying to understand, for he would rather express his own opinion.
beachbumbabs
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December 14th, 2018 at 7:16:33 AM permalink
I could do it. I would want my guitar. Otherwise, I would be fine.
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Romes
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December 14th, 2018 at 7:55:46 AM permalink
No light and no human contact (re: solitaire confinement) has been proven to be psychologically unbearable for the mass portion of the population. It is considered by many (scientists) to be a form of torture. I don't know this man, but I would say right out of the gate he is the dog in this bet for sure.
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Gialmere
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December 14th, 2018 at 2:28:40 PM permalink
Quote: beachbumbabs

I could do it. I would want my guitar. Otherwise, I would be fine.

If a guitar is allowed I'd double down: 2 months for 200k.
Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
gamerfreak
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December 14th, 2018 at 2:47:39 PM permalink
If you gave me a computer I could probably do longer than a month. In fact it kind of sounds enjoyable.
Sandybestdog
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December 14th, 2018 at 2:50:28 PM permalink
Quote: Romes

No light and no human contact (re: solitaire confinement) has been proven to be psychologically unbearable for the mass portion of the population. It is considered by many (scientists) to be a form of torture. I don't know this man, but I would say right out of the gate he is the dog in this bet for sure.

I was wondering what kind of precautions they would take? If there is no human contact how would you know he hadn’t had a physical or mental breakdown that would endanger him?
michael99000
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December 14th, 2018 at 3:01:42 PM permalink
Quote: Sandybestdog

I was wondering what kind of precautions they would take? If there is no human contact how would you know he hadn’t had a physical or mental breakdown that would endanger him?



Since the person has the ability at any time to open the door and exit the bathroom, maybe it’s assumed they’d do that if on the brink of a breakdown.
Sandybestdog
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December 14th, 2018 at 3:43:39 PM permalink
Quote: michael99000

Since the person has the ability at any time to open the door and exit the bathroom, maybe it’s assumed they’d do that if on the brink of a breakdown.

I’m not well versed in psychological torture but I would think you don’t know you’re crazy until it’s too late. Also if the person had a breakdown or medical issue, he might not be able to walk out.

This is getting too freaky. I need to go outside and get some air.
Ayecarumba
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December 14th, 2018 at 4:05:35 PM permalink
Quote: Sandybestdog

I was wondering what kind of precautions they would take? If there is no human contact how would you know he hadn’t had a physical or mental breakdown that would endanger him?



Supposedly, there was 24/7 video surveillance. I don't know how food and water were brought in without lights nor human contact.
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billryan
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December 14th, 2018 at 4:20:09 PM permalink
Quote: Ayecarumba

Supposedly, there was 24/7 video surveillance. I don't know how food and water were brought in without lights nor human contact.




Very easy. You have a locked door. Then you have a second door a few feet inside it. At uneven intervals, you leave food and water in between the two doors. X amount of hours( again randomly) after you close the first door, the second door unlocks. Once the second door locks after you get your food and retreat back, the timer for the next random delivery starts. The trick is to space meals out very closely so after 90 meals the guy thinks he is almost done but he's only a third of the way in. Deprived of light and companionship, it is supposed to be very easy to manipulate ones idea of time. Start by serving distinctly different meals for breakfast ,lunch and dinner, but after three cycles, begin feeding only one type of meal for the next few cycles.
The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction is supposed to make sense.
gamerfreak
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December 14th, 2018 at 4:43:41 PM permalink
Quote: Ayecarumba

Supposedly, there was 24/7 video surveillance.


This whole premise is particularly disturbing. There is no way the person taking the challenge wouldn’t .... service themselves ..... while being in solitude with nothing else to do for 30 days
Gialmere
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December 14th, 2018 at 5:41:47 PM permalink
Heh. Now there's a bet. Call it the Seinfeld side wager.
Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
rainman
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December 14th, 2018 at 10:31:20 PM permalink
I would have a good shot at this, the no human contact no question, the no
light might wear me down but I think I can make thirty days.
michael99000
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December 14th, 2018 at 11:33:08 PM permalink
Quote: rainman

I would have a good shot at this, the no human contact no question, the no
light might wear me down but I think I can make thirty days.



The no light pitch black aspect is probably the most underestimated obstacle going into this challenge.

You can sleep 8-10 hours. Maybe spend an hour a day doing basic exercises , sit ups push ups. That leaves 16 hours x 30 days = 480 hours just staring into darkness.

If it was just a challenge where you get 100k for doing it and succeeding, that’s one thing. You start to go a little nutty, you just walk out with nothing lost... But since it’s a bet , I do wonder if the 100k you stand to lose by walking out early would cause someone to stay in longer than they should when their mental health is breaking down to a dangerous point
Gialmere
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December 15th, 2018 at 12:53:49 AM permalink
Blind people don't go mad because they can't see. And there are jobs where you might not see another living soul for months. Admittedly the wager is not for everyone (note the 50/50 split in the poll), but you can sing to pass the time, recite poetry, devise a game to play in the dark or maybe just contemplate what you'll do with that 100 grand down to the last penny.
Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
RS
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December 15th, 2018 at 2:55:25 AM permalink
Quote: Gialmere

Blind people don't go mad because they can't see. And there are jobs where you might not see another living soul for months. Admittedly the wager is not for everyone (note the 50/50 split in the poll), but you can sing to pass the time, recite poetry, devise a game to play in the dark or maybe just contemplate what you'll do with that 100 grand down to the last penny.


That's an easy way to drive yourself crazy.

I wonder if you could go in with night vision goggles, since it's probably pretty tough to keep 100% of light out of the bathroom.

I think a big part of it would be a lack of intellectual stimulation. If you could at least do something to keep your brain working, other than thinking or talking to yourself, it'd make it significantly not as difficult.
Rigondeaux
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December 15th, 2018 at 6:16:53 AM permalink
Quote: Gialmere

Yeah, the TZ episode was inspired by a short story called "The Bet" which had a more profound ending. In that version the bet was several years long. The young man who wanted money was placed in a small, unlocked room (if he left he lost) and was allowed no human contact. It was a monastic prisoner's set up. Food was delivered via a slot at the base of the door. He had heat and light, a bed, a chair and a table. The only pleasure he was allowed was reading so he was provided pen and paper to ask for the books he wanted via the door slot.

At first he asked for frivolous titles. Then he asked for greater literature. As the months turned to years he moved on to history, the sciences et cetra and finally religion and the works of the great philosophers.

Meanwhile, the finances of the rich man who bet against him had taken a turn for the worse. Paying off the bet would ruin him. So it was with heavy heart and despair that he went to open cell door on the morning that the bet was concluded...

The rich man found the door open and the cell empty. The poor man had left during the night, mere hours before he was to collect his winnings! On the table was a note thanking the rich man for a fulfilling education but as he now found the pursuit of money to be a petty and unworthy goal he was forfeiting the wager.



This is an extreme case. It's interesting to think about though.

What if you were locked in a comfortable room with nothing but exercise equipment, a library of high quality books and whole foods for a year?

Setting aside complications like having kids you don't see, I think a lot of us would emerge much happier. Maybe you could even get people to pay for something like this.
DRich
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Forageronenickelmiracle
December 15th, 2018 at 6:29:27 AM permalink
Quote: RS


I think a big part of it would be a lack of intellectual stimulation. If you could at least do something to keep your brain working, other than thinking or talking to yourself, it'd make it significantly not as difficult.



I would spend my day devising new methods to pick lottery numbers so that I could match Nathan's success.
At my age, a "Life In Prison" sentence is not much of a deterrent.
FinsRule
FinsRule
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Joined: Dec 23, 2009
December 15th, 2018 at 6:42:00 AM permalink
I could make it 3 days
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