How many days would you last

[Miss Chicken]

In solitary confinement?

I will clarify this by saying your solitary confinement is in a room with a single bed, with a TV showing only free to air channels, a radio, and a desk and chair. You are allowed to receive two books and two magazines a week. You are given two 64 page exercise books a week. There is a toilet and shower off your room. You get three meals a day pushed through a slot but you cannot talk to your guards.

For each day that your spend in solitary you will receive $US300 (that is over 100,000 a year) to be paid to you after you leave. Would you be able to last a year?

 

[Ashu]

I sure as hell would try. It's really hard to say unless I actually try it though. I would probably last a fairly long time considering i do like to spend a fair amount of time as it is. I wouldn't mind spending the time away from people. It'd be a nice vacation.

 

[auntiehill]

^Fairly long, I should think. I have spent a great deal of time alone, so it wouldn't be a HUGE stretch for me to do it for 24 hrs, for several months. I have no problem keeping myself company, as I tend to live inside my own head as it is.

If I have music, something to write on, books and TV, I can keep myself occupied for a very long time.

 

[Miss Chicken]

Myself - I think about three to six months would be my limit. That would mean I would end up with around $27,000-54,000. I would be satisfied with that amount.

 

[Gepard]

^Fairly long, I should think. I have spent a great deal of time alone, so it wouldn't be a HUGE stretch for me to do it for 24 hrs, for several months. I have no problem keeping myself company, as I tend to live inside my own head as it is.

This, very much so.

In fact, forget hypotheticals, I want to do this. I could sure use the money!

 

[ed629]

I think I could manage close to the year, the first few weeks or months would be rough but once I got accustomed to it I think it would be less difficult to do. And depending on the books and magazines they could be enough to keep me occupied for most of the time.

 

[Hoser]

If it wasn't for having a family, I could probably go a few years.
Heck, a lot of that is how I live right now....

 

[Vulcan Princess]

Two weeks. Maybe I could make it to a month. I enjoy time to myself, but I also need social interaction. I score as introverted on personality tests, but I think I'm more of a hybrid of the two, since I feel like I wither without seeing people on a daily basis. I can keep myself company for a while, and I find myself interesting, but I still need more.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I think I might have made it too easy so I will alter the scenario a little.

What if you had to give up one of the following for good every two months

TV
radio
both books
desk and chair
both notebooks
both magazines

which would be the first to go, and which would be the last, and would you find it harder to cope?

 

[Mallory]

The original conditions sound an awful lot like being in isolation like I was for my transplant. Since I had no idea when I would be released (1 month? 2? 3?) I settled into a new routine within a week and survived with no problems. Consequently, I don't think I'd have any problem either reaching a year or getting very close to it.

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

I might be able to go a month.

 

[Kestra]

Two weeks. Maybe I could make it to a month. I enjoy time to myself, but I also need social interaction. I score as introverted on personality tests, but I think I'm more of a hybrid of the two, since I feel like I wither without seeing people on a daily basis. I can keep myself company for a while, and I find myself interesting, but I still need more.

I'm like this as well. Technically, could I make it six months, or even a year? Probably. It would be difficult, however, and the money certainly wouldn't make it worth it to me.

I'd try a few weeks, maybe a month or two at most.

 

[Ashu]

I think it might help that i dont like people and need money lol

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I doubt I'd last a week.

If I'm cut off from 1) telephone, 2) the net, 3) baseball, and 4) *MY* choice of music, I would not be able to cope.

 

[Rii]

Longer than average, I expect. I wouldn't care to estimate beyond that.

 

[Shaw]

Not only could I go for a year... I'd be willing to do it for free just for the time (though I'd love to have the money to compensate my wife for the inconvenience). I don't need a TV, and being forced to concentrate on a subject of thought without distraction (or temptation) would be a gift.

My only needs would be my choice of books, paper and pencils, and radio (music only, preferably classical). I work on the floor most often already.

I can only imagine what I'd be able to produce in such an environment.

 

[M'Sharak]

Would you be able to last a year?

Yes. It would be relaxing.

I think I might have made it too easy so I will alter the scenario a little.

What if you had to give up one of the following for good every two months

TV
radio
both books
desk and chair
both notebooks
both magazines

which would be the first to go, and which would be the last, and would you find it harder to cope?

The TV would probably go first; I barely watch it now. Possibly notebooks next, then desk and chair, then radio. Coping wouldn't begin to be much of an issue until both books and magazines were stopped.

Edit:

On second thought, I'd hang onto the notebooks for longer and try to take advantage of the lack of distraction and write some music.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I think I would give up the radio first, then desk and chair, followed by the TV, the magazines, notebooks and last of all the books.

 

[DeafPoet]

I sure as hell would try. It's really hard to say unless I actually try it though. I would probably last a fairly long time considering i do like to spend a fair amount of time as it is. I wouldn't mind spending the time away from people. It'd be a nice vacation.

Speaking as people, I say enjoy the vacation!

 

[auntiehill]

I could easily give up the desk and chair (hell, in college, I did most of my studying on my bed), and, as much as it pains an English major to say it, the books and magazines. I find that hearing another voice--just to have some sound--can make isolation a great deal more bearable. But I would HAVE to have paper and pen to keep me busy, as well as the TV and radio.