Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Alright dakka, I must ask your opinion. MOST of you don't know who I am, so we will leave it at that, but I am having a very rough event in my life. So, to get to the point:

What would you do if you found out that you may very well be dead by age 30.

For context, I am a 16 year old kid who is very certain I many have been born with a birth defect. Its effects wouldn't be as noticeable as most, except for a few "feminine" characteristics, but its side effects could get me killed. It could also keep me out of the place I really wanted to work. Its been a week, had I have yet had a chance to visit the doctor, but I didn't take this news very well. Anyway, dakka, what would you have done in this situation?

The same as I do now, Live my life to the fullest, I know sounds cheesy, but I just do whatever the hell catches my fancy. It doesn't get you any great jobs, nor much "succes"as the world would see it, but at least I can say I've lived.

Run up a crap load of debt which I'm scheduled to pay back at 31, and spend the money enjoying myself?

Happygrunt wrote:Alright dakka, I must ask your opinion. MOST of you don't know who I am, so we will leave it at that, but I am having a very rough event in my life. So, to get to the point:

What would you do if you found out that you may very well be dead by age 30.

For context, I am a 16 year old kid who is very certain I many have been born with a birth defect. Its effects wouldn't be as noticeable as most, except for a few "feminine" characteristics, but its side effects could get me killed. It could also keep me out of the place I really wanted to work. Its been a week, had I have yet had a chance to visit the doctor, but I didn't take this news very well. Anyway, dakka, what would you have done in this situation?

Go to college, grad school, and work on a Doctorate, and make straight A's in all of it.

While you are in high school, do your very best and get some scholarships.

It would all be a lot of work, but you would know that you accomplished everything you could on your best of days. When you are finished with school you will have a very good job to support you for your remaining days. Write a Biography afterwards and enjoy the time you have left.

Do whatever you love.

Happygrunt wrote: Anyway, dakka, what would you have done in this situation?

I could not help but notice that you used the word 'Have' and therefore made the question past-tense.
This situation is not past-tense, it might happen in the future.
The most logical solution would be to enjoy the rest of that time.
As for the career plan, I believe you should follow that career (If resources allow) as if you would not die in fourteen years.

Lord Scythican wrote:Go to college, grad school, and work on a Doctorate, and make straight A's in all of it.

While you are in high school, do your very best and get some scholarships.

Screw that, make sure people remember you. Go out of your way to make sure that four or five people will always remember what you've done for them. If that means giving them the shirt on your back, do it.

You would live on for many years, in the hearts and minds of a fair few people.




As a slightly off topic post, I came in here thinking I was going to post one of the new "What Would Duke Do?" advertisements for Duke Nukem. Definately not appropriate.

What's the birth defect?

Why are you so sure that you have it?

Eat ice cream and watch porn while you cry sweet tears of sorrow.

Blow your college fund on Cocaine and Hookers.

Live like the sheen, Winning style.

Live a life worth living in the time you have left. Be able to think "when I retire after a fulfilling career, would I be able to look back at how I acted now and know that I did the right thing?"

Be a good person, do what you like, and if the career you want is unavailable, well, gak happens. But ambrosia also happens. Try out different things, find something else you like, or perhaps you can find a new way to be involved in this activity. Who knows? You might lose interest in it, or find something you like even more. If you could share this dream career with us, we might be able to suggest new ideas or other options.

The universe is full of strange occurrances and random events. Seeing as how no one can predict the future, just go with it and live a good life. From your previous posts, I know you to be a good gentleman, and I know I can trust that you are capable of doing this.

Ketara wrote:Run up a crap load of debt which I'm scheduled to pay back at 31, and spend the money enjoying myself?

Yep.

Games against the system are the best kinds of games.

Happygrunt wrote:

For context, I am a 16 year old kid who is very certain I many have been born with a birth defect.

Get appropriate medical tests:
A: You have death in your veins.
B: You don't.

For either A or B just be the best you can be and get on with life.

But if it was me, and I was sure, then every last mo-fo who ever wronged me is getting burnt as well.

Mr. Burning wrote:

Happygrunt wrote:

For context, I am a 16 year old kid who is very certain I many have been born with a birth defect.

Get appropriate medical tests:
A: You have death in your veins.
B: You don't.

For either A or B just be the best you can be and get on with life.

this seems the best advice to me.
best of luck to you

See the world before you leave it.

micahaphone wrote:Live a life worth living in the time you have left. Be able to think "when I retire after a fulfilling career, would I be able to look back at how I acted now and know that I did the right thing?"

Be a good person, do what you like, and if the career you want is unavailable, well, gak happens. But ambrosia also happens. Try out different things, find something else you like, or perhaps you can find a new way to be involved in this activity. Who knows? You might lose interest in it, or find something you like even more. If you could share this dream career with us, we might be able to suggest new ideas or other options.

The universe is full of strange occurrances and random events. Seeing as how no one can predict the future, just go with it and live a good life. From your previous posts, I know you to be a good gentleman, and I know I can trust that you are capable of doing this.

What I really want to do is fly helicopters in the army. But, one of the big things with this defect is heart disease.

Albatross wrote:See the world before you leave it.

Lucky for me, I already have. Once you have set foot on every continent (Except Australia, which I want to do, and Antartica, which I dont), the world becomes a much smaller place. Would like to go back to Japan though...

If the military is out for you (if you're 100% sure that you have a defect), consider being a commercial pilot, or a mechanic. Explore the various parts of the aircraft industry, and see if you can find a part that you like. Who knows, someone needs to design new planes and helis, why not you?

corpsesarefun wrote:Do whatever you love.

Im on this wagon. If you really think your going to die, then live your life to the fullest. Completely embrace it, infact youll end up getting that "god like" feel where you feel like you cant die and can do anything. Its kind of like getting high from just living. Some terminal cancer patients get that. Sucks to hear about your ill news man, is there anything that can be done about it?

Enjoy your life mate, its for living, and dont get down about it. We all gotta check out some time, and there are always people worse off than us. Dont get down about it, just enjoy the time you have then go out with a bang.

I advise going out in style! I saw a relative die of cancer once and vowed that I wouldnt let myself go out the slow bedridden way, i'd wire myself up, get some ammo and go blow some serious gak up!

YMMV of course...

mattyrm wrote:Enjoy your life mate, its for living, and dont get down about it. We all gotta check out some time, and there are always people worse off than us. Dont get down about it, just enjoy the time you have then go out with a bang.

I advise going out in style! I saw a relative die of cancer once and vowed that I wouldnt let myself go out the slow bedridden way, i'd wire myself up, get some ammo and go blow some serious gak up!

YMMV of course...

... You're back.

corpsesarefun wrote:

mattyrm wrote:Enjoy your life mate, its for living, and dont get down about it. We all gotta check out some time, and there are always people worse off than us. Dont get down about it, just enjoy the time you have then go out with a bang.

I advise going out in style! I saw a relative die of cancer once and vowed that I wouldnt let myself go out the slow bedridden way, i'd wire myself up, get some ammo and go blow some serious gak up!

YMMV of course...

... You're back.

As long as you have mattyrm in your heart he is never gone...

Mr. Burning wrote:

Happygrunt wrote:

For context, I am a 16 year old kid who is very certain I many have been born with a birth defect.

Get appropriate medical tests:
A: You have death in your veins.
B: You don't.

For either A or B just be the best you can be and get on with life.

But if it was me, and I was sure, then every last mo-fo who ever wronged me is getting burnt as well.

This.

'If a man dedicates his life to good deeds and the welfare of others, he will die unthanked and unremembered. If he exercises his genius bringing misery and death to billions, his name will echo through the millennia for a hundred lifetimes. Infamy is always more preferable to ignominy.'
-Fabius Bile!

Leigen_Zero wrote:'If a man dedicates his life to good deeds and the welfare of others, he will die unthanked and unremembered. If he exercises his genius bringing misery and death to billions, his name will echo through the millennia for a hundred lifetimes. Infamy is always more preferable to ignominy.'
-Fabius Bile!

Ah, but a man who helps other spreads ripples. Ripples turn into waves, and waves turn into storms. Soon, one man's good deed can overpower even the evilest of forces.

Uh told a pretty girl I was dieing and try and score it.

Dakka would help me colorize a picture so I can get a new avatar.

Jokes aside, I already live pretty much by my own enjoyment, which involves helping my family/friends occasionally as well, leaving me without a guilty conscience or any real regret except that I wasn't able to qualify for FAFSA sooner.

Melissia wrote:Dakka would help me colorize a picture so I can get a new avatar.

Jokes aside, I already live pretty much by my own enjoyment, which involves helping my family/friends occasionally as well, leaving me without a guilty conscience or any real regret except that I wasn't able to qualify for FAFSA sooner.

First off, whats FAFSA?

Second, I havent talked to my parents yet, but should I?

Third, would MS paint work?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the U.S.' most important tool for financial aid.

FAFSA is the savior of many a student, and yes, you should talk to your parents. They know what's best, even when you think they're being idiots.

Blame the victim.

Hard.

Avatar 720 wrote:Blame the victim.

Hard.

Nah, we'd just blame Ward.

Who isn't a victim.

Yet.