Poll: The Truth!

[Akytalusia]

well... speaking as someone who's endured that exact scenario before, i can say it's nothing from your poll options. it can't be handled without sufficient foundations of knowledge in preparation for the weight of the load, but it can be handled. it's nothing strange at all, considering it's the truth, and thus by definition, the most objectively normal thing there is. i don't know this blaine, but anyone can tell you him being a pain is subjective and thus not the truth by default. bacon's probably the most accurate, but way too inadequate a representation to equate the truth.

what i retained from that mess is that i still have a long way to go before i'm ready to step back through that door, and i need to be able to step through it without third party support. also nothing was taken. the door's there, but it's a trial you impose on yourself with consequences for failure that're all on you. it's not something to take lightly considering everything that's at risk, but the fact is the cost of the journey is all self imposed. there isn't any third party to blame if your sanity bursts into flames and you're reborn as a shell of your former self when you fail.

bottom line is, the truth can objectively be handled, but if you can't subjectively handle it, then you're much better off not bothering with it and in fact should not bother with it and live your life blissfully ignorant.

 

[FalloutJack]

This happened to me a long time ago. When I awoke after passing through the door, I found myself encased in metal, my left hand transformed into a drill and my voice nothing more than a guttural moan. He showed me a glimpse of the ultimate knowledge, but as payment took my face, my identity, my everything. I was nothing more than a hulking machine, trapped in the corridors of a ruined city deep under the ocean. Over time most of my memories faded but I never forgot a single detail of what I saw beyond the door. It was that nugget of knowledge, trapped deep inside my mind, that strove me to become a Captain and then to re-obtain a human body. For a brief moment all those years ago I tasted infinite power and I will never stop until I regain it.

It's Bioshock, isn't it?

There. I've ruined it for everyone.

Indeed, I'm referring to the time I used to be a Big Daddy, which ended when I underwent a brain transplant just a few days after you joined the site. It feels good to be free!

For the love of fuck, will you people stop quoting each other? I've seen enough of this image for like, 12 lifetimes, I don't have to see it again.

Oh wait.

Anyway, I imagine I would come away from this experience with some vague, really pretentious idea of "what it all means". Probably something involving tea, and truth and kindness, and about how time, separation, and choice are all illusions, and probably at least one really unexpected thing, like a giant turtle.[footnote]Or possibly a large, cybernetic bear. WINK.[/footnote] Or something.

As for what he would TAKE...I don't know. Don't people usually go insane upon exposure to the all-encompassing truth of existence? Maybe I'd be paralyzed in a look of gut-wrenching shock for the rest of my life. Or maybe I would be driven insane over time by the sound of four drumbeats, playing over and over again in my head. Or maybe I would just be some crazy guy, wandering the streets saying stuff like "Only I know the truth" and "You're all blind" and especially "I'm the only sane one left".

PS: Anyone who can name all the stuff I just referenced gets a cookie. Of some sort.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books,
Discworld,
The Matrix movies,
Doctor Who,
And possibly Red Dwarf and every reference to the only sane man alive trope ever?

I was thinking of Watchmen...

Actually, I made an error. The turtle and the bear are from The Dark Tower, while I was thinking of Great A'Tuin of Discoworld.

 

[tzimize]

-snip-

Cool post OP.

As much as I've wished to understand the universe I think ultimately it would be the worst thing that could happen to me. I'd either be:

a) Disappointed forever

or

b) Bored forever.

If you know everything, there really cant be much reason to live another day.

If someone showed me EVERYTHING I think in a way, thats also what he would take as payment. EVERYTHING.

 

[FalloutJack]

-snip-

Cool post OP.

As much as I've wished to understand the universe I think ultimately it would be the worst thing that could happen to me. I'd either be:

a) Disappointed forever

or

b) Bored forever.

If you know everything, there really cant be much reason to live another day.

If someone showed me EVERYTHING I think in a way, thats also what he would take as payment. EVERYTHING.

That's actually an interesting take on the matter, making me quite glad that I didn't bother to enforce the anime 'rules' regarding the whole door of truth thing. Thank a'you!