A hypothetical question - what one thing would be important to you?

last year

last modified: last year

You will be taking part in an academic study to explore the effects of isolation on human moods and emotions.

You will spend 30 days alone in a sealed compartment. There will be no access to the internet, telephone, or TV/radio, and no contact with another person. Your food and health needs will be provided for but by contactless supply. There will be basic exercise equipment available for your use.

The study's rules allow you to choose a few books to have, enough so that reading (or re-reading ) will allow you to occupy about 1/2 of your waking hours but not more.

You're allowed to choose one additional item to have with you. Or several if needed together for one activity, like a pen and paper for writing.

What would you want to have?

My choice would be a small, high-capacity MP3 player (like the iPods of old, but modern versions of which I still have and use) with two sets of earphones (one as a spare) containing a representative portion of my music collection. I listen to music most days but not every day. This hypothetical study would allow plenty of time to do so.

How about you?

Featured Answer

Elmer J Fudd
Original Author

last year

" I could be even slightly motivated to be a participant in this study would be with the guarantee of a multi million $ payout to me at the end. "

Now that federal funding of research has been restored, you will be accommodated.

Be sure to submit your bill quickly, before the children with learning disabilities start playing with the buttons and switches again.

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Comments (26)

KW PNW Z8
last year
last modified: last year
A huge tub of high quality & colorful skeins of yarn with several sizes of needles. Some of the books must be How to knit instruction manuals with patterns. I’ve long thought about learning to knit so this would be my chance. I would also need to keep my hands busy.

I’ve answered your hypothetical study question but I must say that the only way I could be even slightly motivated to be a participant in this study would be with the guarantee of a multi million $ payout to me at the end. And, I must have a clock to be able to mark the time. I know myself well enough to say that my limp body would have to be carried out around the second week. I am comfortable on my own for extended periods but I cannot live without the freedom to walk outside.
bpath
last year
I’d like a 3-octave set of handbells (with table, pad, stand, and solo music), and perhaps a set of the 7th octave instead of the 4th.
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KW PNW Z8
last year
Elmer, worse is if federal funding is paused again while I’m still in that sealed compartment! 🙀
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
Wool, knitting needles and some patterns.
Fun2BHere
last year
last modified: last year
A 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle and for one of my books, I would choose a book of crossword puzzles. May I have a pencil, too?
KW PNW Z8
last year
I forgot about jigsaw puzzles! But, Fun2BHere, you’d need at least a 1,500 piece puzzle. 30 days is a very long time….
Indigo Rose
last year
A large thick pad of quality drawing paper with a set of drawing pencils, Conte colored pencils or Conte crayons. Then at the end the drawings could be analyzed to see any possible progression of impact of such isolation.
lisaam
last year
The food better be delicious and varied and I’d hope there is access to the outdoors. In addition to books and exercise equipment I’d ask for painting supplies.
bpath
last year
I want to work on a new skill, I figure 30 days alone might get me somewhere. I never seem to have the right bells at the right time in the right place for long enough.
KW PNW Z8
last year
@bpath Are you a carillonneur? Or a Ringer? Full disclosure - I had to look up some info to even know these terms. But, I’m being serious about my question.
bpath
last year
Handbell ringer. But I’m going to a session on change ringing soon, which is how tower ringers practice for the ropes, and is a forerunner of handbell ronging, and then I want to visit a tower I know of and watch them ring with the ropes! Then I want to learn THAT!
stacey_mb
last year
I always enjoy having conversations with people and would find that type of isolation difficult. However, if engaging in such an experiment, I would request a voice recorder where I could record my impressions of ongoing events (or non-events!). I could use paper and pen to write these down, but being able to express thoughts using my voice would lessen the effects of isolation and perhaps be a record of interest to academics running the experiment.
Cherryfizz
last year
I would like hard large jigsaw puzzle or puzzle books with a pen. Being alone or not having contact with anyone would be fine with me.
martinca_gw sunset zone 24
last year
The brakes came on full stop at sealed compartment. Shudder. Let’s begin again with a tiny cabin in in the woods, or a glam tent on the beach.
morz8 - Washington Coast
last year
My brakes came on at sealed compartment too. I am mildly claustrophobic. I don't think I could exist without an exit to outdoors. I have clothing for anything the weather might present. DH and I almost cannot stay at a resort or hotel room that does not have at least operational windows and a balcony or terrace serves better.

I don't think I could go a month without growing something so I would have to have dirt, water, seeds or plants of some kind - but i think we've already eliminated me from even the thought with the 'sealed compartment'. That would be punishment to the max for me and I've done nothing to deserve punishment. I think I could add 'ever'.
arcy_gw
last year
Pretty sure all anyone needs to know about the effects of isolation has been discovered through solitary confinement/COVID/space travel...so no reason for me to even consider participating in such a study. I think mental boredom is the issue and so ANYTHING that would keep one's mind busy would help with survival.
Lars
last year
I would want a realistic talking robot, so that I could pretend that I was not alone, and this robot would be able to teach me things, like how to speak Portuguese.
lettersatoz
last year
A piano.
faftris
last year
Either a complete set of Dickens or Shakespeare. Shoutout to Evelyn Waugh.
Mystical Manns
last year
Oh, I like Lars' idea! I'd want a talking robot, too!

I already go close to a week without human contact, and it was two weeks following our recent ice storm. But I did have the phone and could chat with friends that way, just not see anyone. In a closed compartment, even a luxurious one, it would be difficult.

If no talking robot, I'd need to bring Larry, one of my cats.
bpath
last year
Maybe I should ask for my item to be a jackhammer. So I can get out.
Uptown Gal
last year
Enough money to bribe someone to get me the heck out of there! Never, never,

never would I sign up for that one.
chartreuse scorpion
last year
Is there a window?
LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
last year
last modified: last year
Unless this stupid academic study paid 250K or more I'd be a hard pass. Even then I'd having to think about it.
Elmer J Fudd
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
The description was intentionally limited. No changes or exceptions to be made for you to consider. If you have a particular question about something, assume the answer is consistent with the notion that facility is adequate and physically comfortable but nothing more. .

Academic studies rarely pay subjects much money and sometimes not at all.

It's a hypothetical, friends. No more to know than what's described. Assume you're participating to answer the question. Or, don't.

A hypothetical question - what one thing would be important to you?

Elmer J Fudd
Original Author

Comments (26)

KW PNW Z8

bpath

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KW PNW Z8

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Elmer J Fudd
Original Author

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A hypothetical question - what one thing would be important to you?

Elmer J FuddOriginal Author

Comments (26)

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Elmer J FuddOriginal Author

COMPANY

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Elmer J Fudd
Original Author

Elmer J Fudd
Original Author