A philosophy, psychology, and communications student at the University of Missouri:
I play inline and ice hockey, lacrosse, and indoor soccer. In my free time I enjoy writing, attempting to learn other languages, and discussing philosophy.
If robots took care of my life, leaving me to do whatever I choose, I
would concentrate on learning the arts. Since robots would take care of
most of my material necessities, there wouldn't be much else to do than
learn the arts, languages, and stay physically fit. After all, we might
have robots doing everything for us, but that shouldn't be an excuse for
becoming Matrix-like brain-blobs. :) However, I can only speak for
myself and my own vocation, as I'm not a hands-on person like some others
are. Others who currently do hands-on work and like it, might go on to
build better robots or perhaps still maintain a way of life that can only
be done through man's physical labor. I, on the other hand, wouldn't
mind basking in the sun on a Hawaiian island writing random philosophical
works. :)
An anonymous New Yorker math student:
Good question. I'll think about it some more.
I think I'd spend lots of
time reading and going to museums and studying art and stuff.
There is so
much to see and do. If you don't believe me come to NY for a few
days.
Or go up into the mountains. Yeah -- that'd be cool,
I'd alternate
between going out in the wilderness and stuff and doing cultural stuff and
learning.
A former physicist/programmer...:
Every five years I would make a random decision that would place me in a
completely new environment. Then I would search out and pursue exciting
ideas.
A Belgian astronomer:
I would mention the science-fiction books of Iain M
Banks, which address/explore your question (via the utopian civilization
'the Culture').
A teacher:
I think I'd like to become a modern day "Renaissance Man" - one who devotes him
or her self to acquiring "all knowledge". With all the time in the world, I
know I could learn stuff which has previously eluded me (Calculus for a
start!). Maybe after learning it I'd decide I didn't really want to know it
anyhow - but so what, there's another subject and another century ahead to
study it in.
On a more mundane note, maybe I'd finally have time to do all the work in the
garden I want to but don't have time for! I know the robots could
do the work for me - but you know something? I think I'll do that work myself
- "One is closer to God in a garden than anywhere else on earth"
Christian college student, with interests in Evolutionary Biology:
"The greatest thing is to be found at one's post as a child of God, living each day as though it were our last, but planning as though our world might last a hundred years." -C.S. Lewis
It seems that a life such as you suggest would make it more difficult for people to form grand passions. There would be a lot of passing interests, flings, and lukewarm attraction to pursuits, but without the pressure of years many people would probably feel less pressure to find things they are really passionate about. If everybody is able to experience fabulous things every day, how will our passions stand out to us? Without the pressure to make money or make the world better, life would go at a much slower pace; great passions make
life more exciting and urgent.
I'm a college student studying biology at a Christian college near Chicago. I plan to go to graduate school for evolutionary biology, and I have a passion for reconciling evolutionary theory with evangelical Christianity. My other great loves are the German language and classical music. I also like hiking,
camping, swimming, and kayaking.
As a Christian, my life is dedicated to seeking and knowing God, but such an
unnaturally extended life would not be appealing to me, if only for the vast
amount of time I would have to wait for Heaven. I live in the expectation of
Heaven, and having eternity put into our own hands seems disastrous. It also
seems like many of the things in life would lose at least some of their
value; my 'wish list' of goals would stay the same, but how much would hiking the Appalachian Trail or composing a symphony mean if literally everybody were
doing it?
An anonymous Californian software developer:
I would get an advanced degree in cognitive science.
Elizabeth Handlin, entrepreneur from Texas:
In the world you describe on your website I can honestly say that I would continue living my life the same way. I believe with all my heart that helping people to figure out "what's next" in their lives and using my communication and writing skills as the tools through which I help them is my gift. Yes, I write resumes for a living. But what I really do is spend time talking with people and helping them to figure out what they want and I help them develop a plan for getting what they want. The resume is one tool they walk away with when they work with me. But the process of talking through their backgrounds and careers is what really helps my clients to plan for "how do I get what I want?". Some people want a new job, some want to sit on a Board of Directors, a few of my clients have been considered for political appointments, some want to get into graduate school. One of my clients, a former Army Colonel, wanted to change the world by working in developing countries to help build infrastructure and ensure clean water for the residents. I am great at listening to people, synthesizing information, and peeling back the layers to help them find their life's passion. I truly believe that if every single person on earth were doing (for money or not) whatever they were put on this earth to do the world would be a happy and peaceful place. Sadly most people never figure out how to use their true gifts in a way that brings them happiness and fulfillment which is why (I think) people treat each other so horribly.
An anonymous AI researcher from the UK:
I'd like to build a research group that's so useful (or at least
interesting) that random succesful scientist people with interplanetary
exploration robots add themselves onto the group's mailing list
(similar to what has just happened) even though they
can see most of the postings are of local interest.
I would like to see the air & water clean, most of the planet's surface
green, people healthy & not bored, animals thriving & regaining their
former territories. And I'd like to see people not have to waste their
time on laundry or cleaning. I'd like to have one device that's an
intelligent PDA, a phone, camera, mirror, that's small & tough & backs
itself up automatically, that I can communicate to with a stylus or voice.
I'd like to have the rest of my pockets empty unless I've picked up some
shells or pretty rocks or interesting tiny art.
Californian planetary scientist:
I'd spend a lot of time outdoors with and with/out friends or family going walking, hiking, biking, kayaking, snorkeling, rock-collecting, flower IDing, traveling, etc. in as many places as I could reach. On my time close to or inside a dwelling I'd read, do my science, cook, garden, do my art, dance, do yoga, push weights, swim, bar-hop and veg out in front of TV. Basically what I do now, but more of it and strive to do it with less stress and worry.
American climate scientist:
Something I really wonder about is how different humans are, and if having so much time would allow us to get to know ourselves better, and to get to know each other. I feel like day to day, we are so pre-occupied with our work that we don't get to reflect on the past, who we were, what lives we've lived, even that day. I think artists are sometimes capable of a type of communication that I envy - the ability to really share what their experience of a moment was. And in that sharing, we get to feel a little less alone, and that understanding can help us see how to take care of each other better, or even want to. So I guess what I would do if my time was open (besides try to understand really exciting and probably impossible-to-understand things like consciousness or the origins of the universe etc.) is to try to help people listen to each other's stories - by learning how to better understand and communicate my own, by listening to others, and by trying to create infrastructure for us to share with one another.
Anonymous:
It is highly unlikely that we will ever reach that plateau where life is all
inclusive of leisure, fairness. The mechanics of our society forbid it.
Strife is a major component of our existance. It is what drives our social
and intellectual evolution. I think that should we ever reach that point, our
comfort would be short lived. We would either recreate war, due to our greed
and avarice. (It isn't enough to be happy, we seem to have an equal need to
compete, have more than anyone else, eventually to conquer on some plane and
then rule on others); or we would gradually fade into extinction.
Chris Stetson, a philosophy & computer science student:
My first thoughts about such a world question why each of us don't
already live our lives in such a manner. I think each of us should
pursue what we dream of whether or not we are to have an endless future.
I think if each of us were able to do this, then perhaps such a world
could come into existence some day. As for me, I don't think things
would change much since I try to do what makes me happy already. I would
continue with my fascination with photography and playing the guitar, I
would continue going to photo galleries/exhibits, and I would continue to
explore realms I have not yet seen. I think the greatest lesson here is
for each of us to live as if we are already in this imaginative world.
Jon Bon Jovi, in an address to students of the Oxford Union debating
society, as quoted from the
International Herald Tribune (June 20, 2001) :
The secrets of my success have been "passion, perseverence and possibility...
Nothing is more important than passion. Whatever you decide to to in life,
be passionate about it. Don't be intimidated by competition, as success is
sweeter and failure is less bitter when you have given everything."
An Arizonan 'Existential' engineer:
Like many people that have been trained to solve problems, I would be lost
until I could create some problems (for myself to solve). At least, I
would start projects like old car or home restorations etc. I would
follow free form my whims and likes in these interests until I ran out of
worldly things to fix up. In parallel with this, I would evolve
spiritually, understanding the true nature of God. I think that God
(Principle, Goodness, Intelligence, i.e. not a personified Deity) would
desire us to multiply and populate other planets to give opportunity for
more "people" to live and reflect Gods good qualities. Really the reason
for our existence is simply to reflect God, and in that way express His
beauty. In fact, I could interpret your description of this future time
to be what I expect in life after material "death". In fact, your
hypothesis would not change my goals and plans in any way. Physical death
will end my problem solving phase and I will enter the "place" where I
merely bask in God's perfection and understand God's true nature. In life
we are the rose bud and after the petals fall, we are the intangible, but
nevertheless real, memory of the beauty and Godliness that we developed in
material life.
Anonymous:
I would strive to be known as "The World's Greatest Lover". Maybe I would be a
King for a week or so just to see what it was like, but only after I was known
as the world's greatest lover.
In your premise you said money has been abolished, therefore politicians would
not exist. Not a terrible thing, and the world would be a better place if
there were great lovers here.
My one passion is that I have a passion for life.
Anonymous:
Long life, short life...full of adventure or self exclusion...what are we but our experiences?! To end one's life knowing we had become the most authentic self we could is what it is all about...you take nothing in this world and you leave with the love and life's experiences gained...that's it.
A teacher:
I think that this will be a very sad world ! Beuuurk !
I think that in that case crime will evolve a lot and I'll become a thief...
Otherwise, my plan is "Carpe Diem", enjoy your life, so I'll try to enjoy
everyday of my life, you could never do everything so it will continue for ever
!!
Patrick McGuire (P.McGuire@reading.ac.uk), physicist/astronomer/technologist :
Right now, I would continue and extend what I am doing now, but later, I would constantly reinvent myself.
I would spend the initial 30 years
playing basketball, searching for dark matter and brown dwarfs and
extrasolar earth-like planets, and perfecting artificial intelligence.
I would spend the next 30 years learning and improving biomedical science,
making historical movies, and inventing a 3D basketball-like sport using
some-sort of flying backpack.
The next 30 years would be spent exploring
the solar system, and learning several languages fluently.
After that
I don't know yet.
An anonymous Chicagoan:
Apart from mundane daily details of living, so much of what I do
is done with a finite life in mind. By being a scientist, I'm
trying to make a small scientific contribution as a (small) legacy,
and through my relationships, I'm trying to make a personal impression
on the world. At this point, the concept of being born immortal
and with all my needs forever taken care of is inconceivable
to me. However, if I were suddenly to become immortal tomorrow,
in all honesty, I'd probably take a huge vacation and become a
hedonist for 100 years, figuring I can always make an impression
on the world later. I probably wouldn't constantly reinvent myself,
but I'd change my lifestyle whenever I got bored with the current
one. Rather than the urge to leave behind a legacy, the thing
that would motivate me to achieve things would be a competitive
urge to do things better.
A teacher:
I think I would pursue a sorta monastic life. With a situation like the one you
describe, I think you'd either be a total libertine or a monk. The joys of
libertinage would wear off pretty quick, I think, so there you'd be. but I'm
weird.
A teacher:
If a time machine existed, I could go back and see how it really was, talk to the great minds in history, and go forward to see if I could change something and actually avoid some of the man-made disasters. And in the process, probably wind up never being born.
A physicist from Maryland:
If the world you imagined came into being
right now, I would probably play a lot of golf for a while (at many
various exotic and awe-inspiring locations, of course), try to write a
science-fiction novel (maybe even try to make it into an entertaining
movie or virtual reality experience), and try to learn as much about the
universe as possible, including - maybe even especially - the human
mind. I would want to try a space walk (or two - one in low earth orbit
where there might be a sensation of speed as the earth passed by below,
and one in deep space where there might be hardly any sensation at
all). I would want to find out (as many others would too, I suspect)
whether Fermat really did have a valid proof in mind, and what it could
have been. And also try to figure out the broad implications of Godel's
theorem. And how to interpret quantum mechanics, of course.
Ultimately, I think, a lot of what I would do would depend on what is
learned about the human brain and how well it can be understood. After
all, if the subjective experience of sensory and emotional inputs is a
reaction in the brain, perhaps passionate feelings can be artificially
stimulated (it would appear to happen in dreams) - would it make any
difference to the experiencer?
A biologist:
Living forever, I think it would be a different area every so often, maybe every 20 years at my present pace, maybe every 5 years at the pace I seem to remember when 20 years old. Seems to me everyone would have to give this same answer, and so the question is not posed in a way to get you interesting responses.
Also living forever, I suppose I would be more laid back about tolerating things that are sub-optimal, whereas if I thought execution is imminent I'd quit some of them instantly and focus the few remaining hours on something of intrinsic value.
Maybe re-pose question: all conditions are optimal, as you say BUT the next time you get hit by a cosmic ray its all over instantly, and that may be this very year.
My conjecture about how people would spend time in utopia differs from
that expressed in any of these dreams. I think the primary occupation
of humans, besides destroying the world, is hassling each other: not
because they HAVE TO to survive, but just for one-upsmanship, because
(I guess) that need is ingrained by natural selection during harder
times (ice ages). Evidence: consult the ghost of Croesus or any
other ancient potentate and you will hear him say we live as well as
or better than he did. We are ALREADY in the foreseen utopia. Yet we
continue to behave the same. I expect further optimization of conditions
also will not alter human nature. Even the huge Soviet experiment in
educating selfless thoughtful citizens from age 3 made no difference after
3-4 generations. The real limitation on our ability to live a satisfying
life comes from our pricklyness toward our neighbors, and our unwillingness
to live without neighbors.
An anonymous Californian psychology student:
Hypothetically, given my nature, I believe I would be a spiritual person and
a knowledge seeker.
I love to learn and believe in improving oneself and
fortifying the soul.
If you are spiritually strong that gives you the
strength to accomplish many goals.
Increasing your knowledge of the world,
learning all you can about anything, and trusting in your spirituality, gives
you the ability to reason out any problem and logically find solutions that
satisfy that part of you.
Wow......what would I like to learn. I can't say there is anything I
wouldn't like to learn if I could. History....the events of the past
creating the world of today; Philosophy...opinions, thoughts, feelings,
arguments; Psychology....how the mind works and why, what triggers certain
reactions; the arts...painters, poets, theater, literature; Religion.....not
just christianity or catholicism, but all religions and how they interact
and what they have in common or not. I want to learn about life, love,
passion.
John Gruenenfelder,johng@as.arizona.edu An Arizonan undergraduate computer science student:
Even now, I already have a desire to see more of the world. I've seen much of
this country, and even while the West coast (which I know well) is a bit
different from the East, they still both reside in the same country. I want
to explore. And given a world where one could pursue ones passions, I would
still want to explore. This exploration could have many forms, be it
knowledge or unknown areas. However, confined to one planet, I think this
would eventually get boring. Not from a lack of tasks, but because no one
person is interested in *every* area. I'm confident that, eventually,
humanity will take to the stars, and given enough time, there is really no
limit to what one could explore.
An Arizonan Angel:
I would play like an angel in heaven. The way I did in the past before I knew
that any of those things existed. The same way I do throughout my life as
frequently as possible. Because I know that it is essential to nourishing my
inner spirit.
For those of you who wonder how to go about doing that, I'll offer a few
suggestions. Read a children's book, blow some bubbles, run in a building, or
down a hallway, skip 2 stairs at a time in stairwells, and jump from the last
three or four steps, to the bottom floor, play anything without keeping
score, give someone in need all of the money in your wallet, a bottle of
water, a gift certificate for food, or something that shows that you love
them, trusting that you will be replenished soon and always taken care of.
Work in a garden, play in the mud, step in that puddle and make a splash,
play dress up every once in a while, eat a God created diet instead of a man
made diet, go see a G rated film, color, paint, play with playdough, spend a
day in bed with a good book, listen to music without any words, take long hot
bubble baths, the kind that you used to take, when your mother had to drag
you out of the tub. Use language that young people use, raise the roof, cool,
and that rocks! Especially, if you are one of those extremely intelligent
types.
Play with nature and all of its beauty. Swim with fish and dolphins, feel
the sand between your toes, walk on hot coals. And never forget that you are
a special child of God, worthy of a miracle, something that can happen which
requires no explanation. Furthermore, let go of the past and take the word
fear out of your vocabulary. If you're afraid of being alone you are never
truly alone creation is always there. If you're afraid of dying. What lies
beyond this world is something that never wears out. It is exactly what you
believe exists, beyond this world, and
where you believe you will be. If you're afraid to fail than you may never
accomplish some of the special things you are destined to do. Where would we
be if leaders were afraid to lead, or inventors were afraid to event?
Give up doing all of those things that you think make you a grown up. If
you drink alcohol, stop! You didn't do it when you were young. Why do you
need to do it now? If you smoke, stop! You didn't do it when you were young.
Why do you need to do it now? Respect each others bodies. There used to be a
time when you ran from the opposite sex, or you actually could have a
platonic relationship with someone of the opposite sex without entertaining
any ideas about physical contact. You just played, it was not complicated at
all. With the divorce rate so high it's obvious that people are not pairing
up very well, so why not just relax, quit doing what you think you're
supposed to be doing, and follow your heart instead.Lastly, don't stress
about the mistakes you make. Laugh at some of them and try to see the a sense
of humor in your journey. Have exhilariting,exciting, and fantastic days,
and/or peaceful evenings. Play like angels in heaven!!!
An Entranced Astronomer:
After reading Virginia Trimble's take on Cosmology at the end of the 20th
century, I am convinced that there will be plenty of exciting mysteries
to unravel and milestones to celebrate. No danger of boredom!
(Sky and Telescope, January 2000, subscribe at
http://www.skypub.com/skytel/skytel.shtml). If there is an infinite,
eternal creator God, such God has provided plenty of space for such
extended, God-like human existance. I would continue to learn to Play
glorious Music in Celebration of the Unending Beauty of The Universe, and
continue to Enjoy attempts to Understand its (apparently) infinite
manifest Complexity, notwithstanding its (deceptive?) apparent underlying
Simplicity. What a Passionate Joy to Witness, Participate in and
Celebrate the ongoing unravelling of that (apparent) Paradox.
An anonymous Chicagoan:
As to the question you posed, perhaps I lack imagination, but I cannot
imagine a world without disease or crime, just as I cannot imagine a
world without joy or love. I can however, imagine a world in which
we can extend our lives. What would one then do, I do not think there
is one answer. That is, I do not think one would be a thrill-seeker only or
a spirtual being only or etc. Instead I believe one would go through stages
where different aspects would be emphasized. So I can imagine one would
be a thrill seeker for 100 years, seek spirtual enlightment for 100 years,
learn to play an instrument for 100 years, ponder the fundamental processes
that govern they physical world for 100 years etc. and the amount of time
one would spend on any on aspect would not be constant and some aspects
might run in parallel and so forth. But mostly, after a while, I think one
might just be bored, unless humanity extends out to the stars.
An anonymous Tucsonan investor:
I WOULD SPEND MY TIME TEACHING KIDS AND HELPING
THE NEEDY
Tanja, German physicist :
I would learn.
Methods, Techniques, Languages. As much as I like.
Then I would watch.
Travel to whatever I want to understand better and watch, or hear, or
experience or feel it.
And then I would write, create, form, play, dance, calculate, make something
beautiful, inspired by what I saw, but new.
I would try to become wise.
Anonymous:
First of all I'd drop out of graduate school because I'd no longer need
it to fund the leisure time I use to follow my current passion,
astrophysics. Thus I would continue to strive for my current goal,
uncompressed and stressed by graduate schools grueling workload; to lead
a life of love -- to become the Shining Buddha, to see humanity through
the compassionate eyes of Jesus.
A philosophical neurobiologist:
If I lived practically forever in this perfect world, free of disease and
crime, where robots automatically take care of my needs, and money is
obsolete I think I would begin as a traveler. I would sample as much of
humanity as I could, if our globalized utopic world had any diversity of
culture left. I would combine a love for the earth and her inhabitants with
a sense of spirituality, wanderlust and inquisitiveness in a quest to know
as much as I could about being human. When I reached the end of my
impossibly long life, I would then try to pass on what I had learned.
Perhaps there would be answers to my questions of why we are here, who we
are, our limits and strengths; perhaps not.
Perhaps if all our needs were taken care of we would
cease being a 'savage child-race'...
A New York Poet:
If I had all the free time, health,
and no monetary limits on my dreams (which hold me back now) I would do the
following:
-read and study literature, religion, children
-travel to places like India
-write for pleasure
-eat, drink, be merry with friends
-learn more!
Physicist/Engineer:
I'd like to figure out how evolution works, EXPERIMENTALLY!
Given an infinite life, that would make such work possible.
Historian/Philosopher:
I find it cool that you make the question of passion and share it with people.
My favorite occupation in this paradise-like world would not be much
different from that one I already like and dream to do. History,
philosophy, archaeology, astronomy, jazz and rock, world travel,
photography and movies, writing essays and so on. The greatest passion of
mine is basically philosophy. For me, my remaining passions are all just
methods for philosophizing.
It would remain the same with my passion in that perfect world. But the
decisive difference is probably the timelessness and limitlessness which
would condition my philosophy. So, you do not have to make decisions, but
just to arrange the turns. A freedom from the fear of a wrong decision. Under
this condition, I could finally define what is absolute being and value,
I would work together to figure out our new identity, I would revise
many old ideas of ambiguity, relativity and materialism ... Of course, I
would continue studying history, but I do not know if history could still be
called history or would be called archaeology. Because history is
something for learning from our past for the better future. Because this
perfect world probably would not more know the word "better". It is
exciting to imagine such kind of philosophizing, too. But I prefer my
philosophizing I am doing now because of so many problems, so much
uncertainty and so terrible mortality of human being which is in fact
the origin of philosophy. It is desperately exciting.
Owner of a small business:
In the first place, I'm not sure I would want to live in such a world
where we are all taken care of by robots. I don't really like that idea.
I've read responses from many scientists and science students who seem all
for it, maybe it's their scientific frame of mind that makes them seem
alright with it. I, not being scientific in the least, am very
uncomfortable with that thought. Why? Well for the most part, we may be
able in the future to create artificial intelligence, but can we ever
give them a human "heart"? Will they be able to feel compassion for us or
remorse if they make a bad decision for us?? Will it be their top
priority to make sure that we are truly happy and nonsuffering as a race? I know that not all humans at this time really have compassion and care
about our race, but I think that most of us do. My belief in the human
race is highly affirmed just by reading some of the responses from
others. So many want to travel and see other races, teach others, attain
a higher spiritualism and so forth.
As for living almost forever, I'm not too sure about that either. I know
how precious life is. I have died already when my heart stopped for more
than 4 minutes, but I still don't want to live forever. I think the
thought of losing my life presses me to live a fuller life and I no
longer take that life for granted. The thought of being killed makes so
many of the thrills we enjoy so thrilling. Why would I want to jump out
of a perfectly good airplane with a parachute on if I had no fear of
death? To me life is one big thrill. A perfect world would lack the
reasons for so many people to attain goals whether they be for bettering
their lives or the lives of others. People would get bored sooner or
later and I think they would start to get thrills at the expense of
others.
But I must say that if I was financially free to do as I wished,
I would travel, taste, experience, sing, listen, learn, teach, buy the
Detroit Tigers, paint, and make love as much as I possibly could.
(Especially the making love part!)
Bree, a nurse:
My quests, you say? Well, for that I would have to take away years of
life....go back to when I might have found them. I guess there would be
three.
One...I would explore the art that is inside me...develop it,
nurture it... instead of all the time I spent doing the "necessary" things,
which somehow no longer seem so necessary.
Two... I would, given the time, seek to learn more about the processes of
thinking that are so different in all of us.....why and how we can be so
polar, and yet, in all of us, lurk the same needs and desires. And I would
reach out more than I did to all of them.
And the third of my quests, could I go back in time, would be to be a part
of the community that is trying to conquer disease....the diseases that are
so ugly and cruel. I am in the medical profession, and have witnessed such
suffering, standing by helplessly, and watching a human being reduced to
pain and indignities beyond description. I know there are many people out
there.... many times more brilliant than I, who are actively working to do
what I want to do, but I would want to be more a part of the proactive field
of endeavor to contribute to finding the causes and cures of such diseases.
I have been part of the watching of the effects ...and part of those given
the opportunity to, be, hopefully, of some comfort... but how marvelous it
would be, even in some small way, to contribute to the cure of such things
that today destroy a healthy body.
For now.......my quest is simple....to be the best person I can be, for my
family..for my friends, and for the strangers who are just people waiting to
be friends.
Neringa X, Lithuanian student:
I would like to be free at least in this life. From anything, like
money, social position, creativity-squashing systems. I don't want to be God
or live my life just for myself, but I want to help people. But alas,
the people near me don't need my help -- they are so busy with themselves.
The ones that need my help are too far -- I cannot reach them.
If I could be free, then I could reach those needy people.
A Market Researcher:
I don't know that living longer is the answer.
Sure, some days there does not seem to be enough time for ANYTHING.
But that's the tension, for me.
Making the choices for what is important to me.
Taking risks, because I know I don't have forever to get it just right.
For me, that gives me passion.
Makes the choices for what's really important to me, is what turns me on,
it's what I think about when I wake up.
Thomas Planer, thomas_planer@yahoo.de, German train passenger,
I wouldn't change a [single] thing [in] my life. These up
and downs, victory, defeat and a long period of
waiting for something or somebody. That's life, and
without that it will be boring. But sometimes I wish
life should be more like the night. I worked as a
express courier on a nightshift for several years.
The ugliest industrial zones apeared in an better
light, the people were polite, the clocks run slower
and even the airport Munich seems to be a bit smaller.
It didn't matter how fast I drove in the dawn it was
the same old world I left in the dusk, that might be
the quest. Like the tale of sister sun and brother
moon: they like each other but could never be
together.
Teacher:
If I could have
extended time and no cares, I'd be an artist. I create watercolors and
pen/ink drawings now. I've been in theatre most of my
life on an amateur level, but acting in theatre conferences in the
southeast. I would reinvent myself several times over, in order to have
time to be great at every artistic endeavor that I enjoy now. I would
spend years with visual arts, music, theatre. My great passions are the
arts and travel.
I would travel for years. Ireland is my favorite place. I would spend
time browsing my way through a list of maps and then stay long enough to
get the local "feel" for a place. It is
such a small world, and face to face encounters with people is the only
way that we will ever learn to understand and live peacefully with each
other.
I am always fascinated with interviews of old people...100 plus would
be great! If I could be as alert as I am now, all memories and faculties
in tact, I would write a book about everything I've seen, the children
I've taught (I'm already teaching children of children in my small rural
outpost.My current students already think I'm 100 plus, since I am old
enough to have taught their parents.), the people I've loved, the places
I've been, songs I have sung...
Most importantly, I'd learn to have a passion for myself. I would take
better care of myself, both physically and mentally. I would stop when
I'm tired, not when the job is finished. I would try to reconnect with my
spiritual life, which was much stronger as a child than it is now. I
would tell people that I care about them, and not just assume that they
already know that. I would try to be a better listener. I would bake more
cookies and share them.
A basketball player:
My very sad but very true answer is that I have neither a life quest nor a passion. I desperately wish I did, but the sad fact is that I don't. I
strive for peace with God.
I believe the theoretical world you describe would be a dreadful one. With everyone's material needs fulfilled, the most wonderful things about humanity
would be stunted. Without pain, great art, literature, exploration, competition and most other things that make life exciting would dry up. Even
eliminating money, often the source of some of the ugliest forms of competition, would be a bad thing. The very striving to bring freedom and prosperity
to the world's people, even at the price of war, evokes the greatest character in humanity. The evil is necessary to make the good possible. I like this
world, faults and all.
What would I do, though? If I were able, I'd play basketball at the highest level of competition, read everything, fall in love and have a family.
Kathy from Wisconsin (kal@execpc.com):
I've discovered that it's not the product
that I am after, but the process...
If somebody(thing) did some [task] for me, I would find a new thing to do ... instead of it.
Kind of like a screensaver--hitting a new place everytime, with nearly infinite possibilites.
Teacher:
Travel to every corner of this planet to meet many people and learn all about
the different cultures that make up the human race;
Strive to acquire as much knowledge as I possibly could (and if that leads me
to discover the meaning of life, nice bonus);
Love ardently and passionately (and why not, with no disease and excellent
birth control?);
Try to create something meaningful to leave behind, whether that be a sonata, a
school, a painting, or another person;
Dance as much as I possibly could.
And I'd probably spend the last 100 years thrill-seeking. After doing all
those other things, it won't matter so much if you die cliff diving!
I sometimes wonder: Would you really get bored eventually if you lived forever
(as so much science fiction has speculated)? I suppose I think that life is so
interesting that I could never get bored. By the time you had learned all
there was to know, you would have forgotten what you learned at the beginning
(we are only human, after all, with finite brain space) and could start all
over!
An MBA student:
I would look inside myself and see what was missing. This reminds me of the
population on the Planet of the Apes 2 where everyone communicated with
thoughts and we were higher beings, more spiritual. I think we would live in a
whirlwind of spiritual interactions. Our motive would be "What would God
think?"
Christine Szalay, Austrian math&english student and aspiring entrepreneur:
I don't think that a world in which we don't have to work is what I'd be looking
for - as far as I'm concerned the desire to be productive and to do something
useful is an important feature of human existence (maybe I'm only speaking for
myself and I shouldn't generalize like this). Holidays are great but the mainly
because they're a change from what we normally do.
I think that we really want to be challenged so making life easier doesn't
necessarily mean that it really is any easier but we would find other thaings
which aren't the way we want them to be.
However, the idea of a "utopia" will surely always exist and I'd be the last one
to work against it. My own life is kind of perfect anyway but for many people
around me and elsewhere there's a lot which could be better. If I had enough money
and were free to do what I want I'd probably do exactly what I'm doing now, that
is studying maths and English, then I'd take me time to dance, start working more
with computers (I'm really looking to the course in programming next term), play a
lot more theatre, and I think I'd try to find some field in which I can help
others - teaching of whatever. One of the true pro's of a life which would never
end could be that we're not forced to decide on one goal we want to achieve. If
you're not satisfied with what you're doing then there's enough time to look for
something else, start a new career, learn totally new subjects,...
No need to hurry!
A teacher:
I would take the chance to travel the world and meet as many people as
possible! Not only to learn all of the cultural and spiritual differences, but
to learn from them as just people..and to hear their life stories.
Lee Iacocca:
In a completely rational society, the best of us would aspire to be teachers
and the rest of us would have to settle for something less, because passing
civilization along from one generation to the next ought to be the highest
honor and the highest responsibility anyone could have.
Robert Schuller:
"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?"
Ralph Waldo Emerson:
"I create my circumstance"
Why did I ask this question?
Copyright January 5, 2000, Patrick Charles McGuire P.McGuire@reading.ac.uk
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