The worst physical affliction?

[Langeveldt]

Okay, so some dude walks down the street, maybe Perm? Approaches you and says "I'm granting you immunity from any disease/ailment that life can throw at you"

Which would you chose?

I'd go for blindness.. Not being able to see anything would be the most terrible thing I could think of, would struggle to carry on if that was thrown my way..

[silentstriker]

Alzheimers. You'd be losing who you are as a person. These days, people can learn to live fairly normally if they are blind. Alzheimers is so brutal for everyone, especially for close family.

[G.I.Joe]

Considering that a lot more quadriplegics line up for euthanesia than visually impaired people, I'd want to avoid the former. Can't imagine becoming a vegetable and depending on other people for the most basic of bodily functions.

[PhoenixFire]

AWTA, can't imagine having to have people to do all sorts of things for you, because you were incapable. It would be so degrading.

Can't imagine being brain-dead would be all that much fun either TBH.

[Langeveldt]

Alzheimers. You'd be losing who you are as a person. These days, people can learn to live fairly normally if they are blind. Alzheimers is so brutal for everyone, especially for close family.

Yeah Alzheimers is possibly worse for the people around the victim, as half the time the victim has no clue about the seriousness of what they have. My grandad has it so bad that I can walk to the top of the stairs, turn around, walk back down, and he will have forgotten who I am.

[PhoenixFire]

Yeah Alzheimers is possibly worse for the people around the victim, as half the time the victim has no clue about the seriousness of what they have. My grandad has it so bad that I can walk to the top of the stairs, turn around, walk back down, and he will have forgotten who I am.

The thing is, as bad as it is, I am sure that there can be worse things if you are living in extreme pain, such as some types of terminal cancer. I'd rather be living in blissfull ignorance rather than extreme pain.

[Langeveldt]

The thing is, as bad as it is, I am sure that there can be worse things if you are living in extreme pain, such as some types of terminal cancer. I'd rather be living in blissfull ignorance rather than extreme pain.

yeah it's weird, he's certainly a lot happier than my mum who is looking after him.. Totally a thankless task when they don't even know who you are..

[Indipper]

Cancer. There are worse things but I don't have a four-generation family history of those.

[silentstriker]

AWTA, can't imagine having to have people to do all sorts of things for you, because you were incapable. It would be so degrading.

Agree with you regarding quadriplegic, though with modern technology, I might hold out hope of something (e.g, learning to communicate, and maybe even have some kind of a job). I know I could do programming at home using the type of system Stephen Hawking uses. And you don't know if science can eventually give you some use of your body back.

Whereas once your brain liquefies and you start getting holes in there, it's done. It's not coming back regardless of the technology.

Can't imagine being brain-dead would be all that much fun either TBH.

Well, if you have no activity in your frontal cortex, it would neither be fun or boring. You are dead, your body might still be using up oxygen, but there is nothing there.

The thing is, as bad as it is, I am sure that there can be worse things if you are living in extreme pain, such as some types of terminal cancer. I'd rather be living in blissfull ignorance rather than extreme pain.

The thing is, if I lose who I am, I am effectively dead anyway. Then it's just a body attached to a brain that's no longer 'mine'.

[PhoenixFire]

Agree with you regarding quadriplegic, though with modern technology, I might hold out hope of something (e.g, learning to communicate, and maybe even have some kind of a job). I know I could do programming at home using the type of system Stephen Hawking uses. And you don't know if science can eventually give you some use of your body back.

It is still degrading though. I couldn't think of many things worse than having other people carry out the most basic things that you do and until somebody invents something, it's always going to be like that.

Well, if you have no activity in your frontal cortex, it would neither be fun or boring. You are dead, your body might still be using up oxygen, but there is nothing there.

Yeah it was a slightly tounge in cheek comment, I know what being braindead is ;p

The thing is, if I lose who I am, I am effectively dead anyway. Then it's just a body attached to a brain that's no longer 'mine'.

Point still remains. I'd rather be 'dead' and just wander around not knowing anything about anything than live every day of my life in excruciating pain, knowing perfectly well that there was so much stuff that I couldn't, and would never be able to do.

[cover drive man]

Too many to chose from tbh.

[andmark]

Blindness would be up there.

[cpr]

Yeah, really would hate to be blind, possibly the most awful thing i can think off (bar of course terminal illnesses/loss of limbs)

Deaf i could cope, but not being able to see would be the worst, a world of emptyness where every sound almost sneaks up on you. Be ****ting myself constantly!

[krkode]

Alzheimers. You'd be losing who you are as a person. These days, people can learn to live fairly normally if they are blind. Alzheimers is so brutal for everyone, especially for close family.

I'd agree with this. And other neurological afflictions like Huntington's. Although any physical affliction is horrible, I could come to terms with most things, but the thought of loosing brain function, the ability to think, execute action, and general independence etc. is too drastic.

As for purely physical problem where I retain full cognitive ability and the ability to recognize that I have said affliction, probably various forms of paralysis. I tend to be a fairly independent person. Having to depend on others for virtually ever aspect of life would be heart-breaking.

This is too morbid. Now I'm kind of bummed out. Way to go!

[Bracken]

This one.