How much is an aspect of your life worth?

[YuffieKisaragi]

Recently, I have been taking a summer class on business ethics and the discussions have been very interesting. So I thought it would be nice to hear your opinions on some of the topics we have discussed. If the moderators do not feel this is an appropriate place for this thread, I apologize and please feel free to move it. Now that I have explained why I made thread, I should get to the scenario.

You are walking along, minding your own business when a white limo pulls up beside you. The window rolls down and an eccentric multi-billionare attempts to get your attention. The Multi-billionaire says that he likes your hair. He says that he would pay you $150 million if you shaved yourself bald and gave him your hair. Do you take the offer or not? Why?

Things to Assume: This deal is legitimate. He really does have the money to pay you and will not go back on his word. There are no strings attached.

Most of the people in my class jumped at this offer but there were still those who would say no. Personally, I'm in the no category only because selling any part of my body bothers me a bit.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Next, the Multi-billionaire offers you this same amount for your left pinky toe. Do you take this offer or not? Why?

Things to Assume: Once again, the deal is legitimate. He is not asking you to take a hatchet and chop off your toe. He has trained surgeons standing by to make the process as painless as possible. You will wake up healthy and rich but without the body part.

Surprisingly, this one was split down the middle. There were quite a few people in my class who said they wouldn't mind losing a toe for that money.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now the offer is "An Arm and a Leg" literally. Would you give up your right arm and left leg for that amount? Why or Why Not?

Things to Assume: Once again, the deal is legitimate. He is not asking you to take a hatchet to your body. He has trained surgeons standing by to make the process as painless as possible. You will wake up healthy and rich but without the body parts.

There was one guy who said he wouldn't mind losing a hand but aside from this exception, everyone else flatly said no.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The last offer is this. The Multi-billionaire will give you $150 million if you shun your family for the rest of your natural life. This means you can never associate with anyone related to you. Is that much money worth it? Why or Why Not?

Things to Assume: As with the others, the money is real, the offer is real. The only contact that is allowed between you and your family are attempts to shove them away (insults, yelling, etc.).

This one is more based on what your relationship is with your family in the first place. There were some who would see this as a golden opportunity. I am not one of those people. I couldn't stand the thought of cutting my family completely out of my life.

 

[Bambi]

I'd shave my hair off, because well, hair grows, Id probably consider losing the little toe aswel although Id want them both gone so Id match, and wearing pointy heels wouldn't be quite so uncomfortable. So yeah I wouldn't have a problem with either of those

As for the arm or a leg thing, no way. I'd rather be skint than lose either of those. No amount of money would sway me on that one

I couldn't cut out my family either. Although I've had my moments where I don't ever wanna lay my eyes on some of them ever again but no way could I cut them out of my life forever, Id just be miserable and regret it. And money can't buy you happiness

The first 2 however. Most definately lol

 

[Ootori Choutarou]

I would most likely shave my hair off. I did it a couple of summers ago, and it was quite nice. Besides, my hair grows very quickly, so I would have it back within two months or so.

The little toe? Nah, Im not in that kind of situation that I would do it for any money, I doubt I would ever do it, no matter what the circumstances. Same goes for the arm. Its part of my body, and therefore invaluable.

And I could never shun my family for money. I live in a tight family, and they mean to much for me. Even though I at times find them slightly annoying, but shun them for the rest of my life? No, never. I never had any problems with any of them, so its a quite simple choice.

 

[Fusilli]

I wouldn't shave my hair off for any amount of money... I don't care if it grows back, I wouldn't want to be bald for a year until my hair gets back to a normal length. All the rest are no's aswell, I could never cut out my family, and I like having my body intact. Although knowing my luck I'd refuse the deal and then be in an accident the next day where I have to remove the limbs anyway. XD

I just generally don't see why any person would need THAT much money, I seem to be coping fine with the money I have. Sure, I can't get a lot of the things that I want, but I think it's a good thing that I don't have everything I want. I know most people say that money wouldn't change them as a person, but in the long run I don't see how it couldn't change them one way or another. Eh, I'm happy enough as I am. Ofcourse there's always charity, but personally I don't care about charity enough to lose a limb or two. >< Shave my hair off, maybe...

 

[der Astronom]

Recently, I have been taking a summer class on business ethics and the discussions have been very interesting. So I thought it would be nice to hear your opinions on some of the topics we have discussed. If the moderators do not feel this is an appropriate place for this thread, I apologize and please feel free to move it. Now that I have explained why I made thread, I should get to the scenario.

You are walking along, minding your own business when a white limo pulls up beside you. The window rolls down and an eccentric multi-billionare attempts to get your attention. The Multi-billionaire says that he likes your hair. He says that he would pay you $150 million if you shaved yourself bald and gave him your hair. Do you take the offer or not? Why?

Things to Assume: This deal is legitimate. He really does have the money to pay you and will not go back on his word. There are no strings attached.

I'm not entirely sure I'd like to assume that this deal is completely safe if I choose it--I would still be curious to know what he wants to do with my hair. Even if I were to assume there were no strings attached, hair grows back, so I wouldn't mind doing it, but I hate going to the barber because it takes time for them to cut my hair, and it's otherwise a waste of my time. Actually, it's the concept of having millions of dollars to begin with--I don't need that much money, and if I did have that much money, I wouldn't know what to do with it.

If I did lose all my hair, I'll just wear a hat.

Next, the Multi-billionaire offers you this same amount for your left pinky toe. Do you take this offer or not? Why?

Things to Assume: Once again, the deal is legitimate. He is not asking you to take a hatchet and chop off your toe. He has trained surgeons standing by to make the process as painless as possible. You will wake up healthy and rich but without the body part.

Well, I'm not entirely sure if the left pinky toe does have any kind of function at all--but unlike going to a barber, surgery takes even longer, and is even more a waste of my time. I could be spending all that time asleep while some guy cuts off my toe doing mathematics, something that's more interesting to me, and more worthwhile than getting 150 million dollars just for losing a part of myself that probably isn't useful.

Now the offer is "An Arm and a Leg" literally. Would you give up your right arm and left leg for that amount? Why or Why Not?

Things to Assume: Once again, the deal is legitimate. He is not asking you to take a hatchet to your body. He has trained surgeons standing by to make the process as painless as possible. You will wake up healthy and rich but without the body parts.

I would not lose my arm (especially my right one) because then I could not draw anymore. I would not lose any leg because then I could not rollerblade anymore.

The last offer is this. The Multi-billionaire will give you $150 million if you shun your family for the rest of your natural life. This means you can never associate with anyone related to you. Is that much money worth it? Why or Why Not?

Things to Assume: As with the others, the money is real, the offer is real. The only contact that is allowed between you and your family are attempts to shove them away (insults, yelling, etc.).

I'm kind of divided on this one. If I did hear of this offer, the assumptions would seem to be invalid, unless the millionare is some sadistic guy who likes to see people do these things for enjoyment. But I don't exactly hate my family. I just don't have feelings towards them like other people do. If I never saw them again, it wouldn't hurt me, but I'm not sure I would exactly choose for it. Afterall, they may help me in a situation I might not expect. There are still certain people in my family I'd happily not see ever again--but I think there's only one person that applies to.

 

[YuffieKisaragi]

I'm not entirely sure I'd like to assume that this deal is completely safe if I choose it--I would still be curious to know what he wants to do with my hair.

Actually, that's one of the first questions that came into my mind when I first heard this scenario. Anyway, It's good to see all the responses.

 

[Soul Saver]

So basically, you're asking people if they would sacrifice things which were valuable to them in some way, sell off their dignity, and how much they value such things.

I think such things are invaluable to me, and have no price, apart from my hair. If I knew that the billionaire could be trusted, I'd sell off my hair, which grows back anyway, although like some other people, I hate going to the barber. It might be selling off one's dignity, but if I went into hiding until it grew back a bit, then it wouldn't really matter in comparison to the gain of alot of money.
However, I'd say no to any of the other offers. That would be selling something which I felt was a part of me, something which cannot be regained.
Heck, with the £75 million, I could start or buy my own corporation and be making ten times what that man offered.
Though my little toe isn't particularly useful to me, I wouldn't feel "whole" without it, and it would be a blow to my dignity and principles, which I hold as being more important than money.
Again, I wouldn't give up a useful body part or my family either, which I both see as being invaluable to me. Giving up anything like that for money would be a massive indignity and highly dishonourable.

 

[Casanova]

I'd easily shave off my hair for £150,000,000.

It's falling out anyway.

I would strongly consider the offer of the same amount of money for my left pinky toe, as long as I was out-cold and the removal was being performed by a proper surgeon at a clean hospital. That being said, I probably wouldn't go through with it.

So £150,000,000 for my hair is as far as I'm likely to go.

 

[Mitsuki]

Actually I'll move this to Mayor's Office since it seems more fitting there. =]

-Thread Moved-

Now...I would also be curious why he'd be willing to pay that amount of money for my hair. And just because I'm usually paranoid and likes to weigh out the circumstances, I would probably end up saying no. Yes I know that hair can grow back and I could always wear a wig, so for that it would be so easy to accept the offer. But again, just because I find the offer ridiculous and strange, I wouldn't do it since it just sounds so fishy. And if something is fishy, I couldn't go through with it. Besides, I could certainly live without the $150 million, although it would be nice to have.

And of course, as for the other offers, same reason as above. No, no, and no, thank you very much. xD

 

[Crazee Dayzee]

First offer: Yes. I could just cover up my head with hats and wigs until it grows back significantly. Hair is regainable, and like anyone, I'd love to have 150 million dollars.

Second & third offers: Simply, no. One, because I would never permanently taint my body like that, and two, because I love some of my family members and would never do something like that.

 

[Toxic Variations]

I wouldn't have to think, very long, to come up with an answer to that question. I sure, as hell would, shave off every inch of hair, atop my head, for 150 million dollars. My hair is nasty and ugly anyway, in my opinion. Hair will grow back and damn, if you're unhappy being bald, then there are expensive, wigs with natural hair - that you'd be, of course, able to afford! You could buy a whole tub full. I wouldn't have to hear the offer twice. I'd be able to take care of myself and my family - yes, I would.


The same goes with the next offer. I'd give away the pinky toe with a smile. I really wouldn't miss it so much that I'd be caused a great deal of anguish. Of course, losing that is a bit more tough, considering you can't grow back a toe.

As for the arm and leg deal. Now this is where it gets really tough. I've known a person that lost one of his legs and he had a fake one - that being said, with that kind of money you could surely have a fake one that would work well. Then again, it depends on where the leg was cut and how much of it is left. I know my family wouldn't be happy if I did it - as they'd feel guilty that I gave up so much for money. This one would take alot of thought and honestly, I can't tell you what I'd do!

For the last deal - the offer of the money if you separate yourself, from your family, completely. Never. My family, loved ones, are my life. I wouldn't do it. To hell with the money - to me, being rich and being able to have anything I wanted, except my family, wouldn't be worth it. No.

 

[Contra Fates]

I'd shave off my hair, no problem. With that much money I could have as many pretty wigs as I want, and with no hair...wigs would be really easy to wear. Hair grows back, and with all that money, I could make sure my hair is treated with the most expensive shampoos and hair treatments to date.

As for the others, no way. The other offers are for things that don't grow back, and can't be replaced. I wouldn't be willing to give up my family that quick, either. Although, if this question was asked later in life, when my parents have already died, then it wouldn't be an issue. I have a very small family, so once my parents are gone, that's it.

 

[Saix]

Apparently unlike most people who posted in here, I've more of a problem with removing my hair than I do with denying my family entirely. I've always been incredibly self-conscious, and kept my hair fairly long so to avoid quite so much of my face being shown. Pretty stupid, pathetic, emo - whatever, but it's true; I have major confidence issues.

Left little toe? I'd have a horrible fear of losing an amount of balance - plus it'd feel horribly weird not having something there that clearly was.

As for family, yes, I mentioned I'd have less trouble revoking that than my own re-growable hair. Through years of strife I've come to resent the majority of my family, and only a couple would be missed. Nothing I can't make up for in friends though, so it's no loss I can't recover from.


Plus that's quite a lot of money to do these things. ;p

 

[Moogles]

For that much money, I'd throw in my pubic hair as well. Not sure if he'd want that or not, but I certainly wouldn't give a damn either way.

Pinky toe? Screw surgery. Chop the bastard off right next to the limo. I'd still take the money. I'd turn around and ask if someone wouldn't mind giving me their toe for like...a few thousand dollars. Someone'd do it.

Arm/leg? I need those. Forget the money.

Family? Love 'em, so forget the money.

I'm in a hurry. See yah.

 

[Blue Link]

Sure I'd give away all my hair for $150mil. I hate my hair anyway, it gets WAY to tough to take care of. Besides, it grows back. My left pinky toe? No, my feet do not need to be butchered up. I like having all my little body parts so I'll also say no to losing an arm and leg, plus we're running out since gas prices have gone up. And no to cutting my ties to my family, I love them way too much. I couldn't live w/out my little niece and nephew, I'd die a little inside.

 

[Donald Trump]

I quite like my hair, it's expensive; shampoo, conditioner, perms, highlights. Yet i still like it.
I'd have both my toes cut off for that kind of money.
I'm very attached to my arms and legs so, I don't fancy having them removed.
I don't get on well with my family, so shunning them for the rest of my life for lots of money is something I'd do.
It does make me seem a bit mercenary, but I'm not really.