Science Hypothetical: You win a trip into space, or ... - Page 4

**Rain Man** · 02-25-2014, 03:24 PM

Here's the scenario:

Your local dairy decides to sponsor a "Cow Jumped Over The Moon" contest, where first prize is a one-week trip to space. The winner will go to central Russia, board some massive Russian rocket along with a Bulgarian cosmonaut and an American mission control person, and will enjoy a one-week stay aboard the International Space Station. (I'm not sure how space travelers get back down these days, but that's a detail we can figure out later.)

You are one of 12 people who win a sweepstakes to go into the finals. You show up and compete against the other 11 in a decathlon of dairy-related contests. You do well in the cheese trivia and cow leaping contests, but struggle during the yogurt swim and bull riding.

You're in second place entering the final event, which butter eating. The first-place contestant, a charming young Bowdoin College coed, downs four sticks of butter, but with iron resolve you lay the hammer down and eat 5.5 sticks to take the win. She goes home with second prize, which is a year's supply of chocolate milk.

So you've won. The ISS trip is yours. But not everyone is excited about entering space. The Russians aren't into safety all that much, and it's a rough trip up, and space sickness happens, and if a 25-cent bolt fails you die gasping in absolute zero before your body falls into the sun.

So you have an option:

1. You can take the one-week trip to the ISS. All prize taxes and intermediate travel costs will be paid by the dairy.
2. You can take a one-time cash prize of $150,000, with all prize taxes paid by the dairy.

Which do you take?

**kysirsoze** · 02-25-2014, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hometeam

never said my 'dream' is to pay off my mortgage. But, on a practical level, sure going to space is ****in awesome. But, would I trade one week of that for a lifetime of financial stability? meh. Ill buy a trip in 2050 when its 200 bucks.

I know you're kinda kidding here, but seriously if there was anything close to a high priority being put on the advancement of space exploration/colonization, I might consider the fact that I might be able to go on my own sometime later in life. I just don't think the average consumer will be able to take a trip to space in the 50-70 years I (very optimistically) have left. Plus... less bragging time.

ThaVirus · 02-25-2014, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

To me, the meaning of life is the accumulation of fantastic experiences which often but not always comes from vacations. These experiences don't end when you are done or get back home, they live on in your memory.

I agree to an extent. We're not exactly on the same page but for similar reasoning I'd rather take the money and spend it traveling the world.

Being in space for a week would be cool for about 3 hours then it would be boring as shit.. More of a novelty thing than an actual great life experience.

BIG_DADDY · 02-25-2014, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kysirsoze

The only drawback to the space trip would be what an insufferable blowhard I would be for the rest of my life.

Something would have changed?

**kysirsoze** · 02-25-2014, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

Something would have changed?

I'd be justified.

Katipan · 02-25-2014, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

People have been in space before, so not sure how much of a story it would be. Now, do something crazy up there, I'm sure you can think of something, and then maybe you'll have a story to sell.

None of them did it by winning a contest and beating out the chocolate milk girl. Has after school special written all over it.

Super appreciate the vote of confidence tho. :P

**Rain Man** · 02-25-2014, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

I'd love to go into space, but I wouldn't pay $150K to do it at this point.

What would the Tang situation be?

You may assume that Tang would be readily available, but since you're traveling up on a Russian rocket it would be beet flavored instead of orange.

Mojo Jojo · 02-25-2014, 04:43 PM

Space trip...$150k isn't that much. $1.5 million 50/50 call...$15 million I take the cash.
(yes I know others have said the same, but it is the best answer)

**The Franchise** · 02-25-2014, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hometeam

I did.

And that's exactly what I would do.

No mortgage means another 600 bucks a month plus ownership of (hopefully) an appreciating asset.

For me, It would only take about half of the prize money to do that. Plenty left.

$150k wouldn't cover my mortgage......so I'd pay off some other bills and then make some trips.

**Rain Man** · 02-25-2014, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo Jojo

Space trip...$150k isn't that much. $1.5 million 50/50 call...$15 million I take the cash.
(yes I know others have said the same, but it is the best answer)

For $1.5 million I'd remain bound by the chains of gravity. My tipping point is notably lower, but slightly above $150,000.

**KC Dan** · 02-25-2014, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

I don't think it's a beaten down thing, for me. It just doesn't appeal to me that much. I'd rather use the $150,000 to travel around on Earth. I'd rather go to Italy, Japan, Paris, and London than be able to look down on Earth for a few days.

Been there, done that. Fun, Nice, eye opening - sure. But SPACE!!!!! F-Yeah!

**KC Dan** · 02-25-2014, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kysirsoze

All of this. $150,000 is not even close to a substitute for have spent time in space. Some of you guys need to talk to your inner child or something. The only drawback to the space trip would be what an insufferable blowhard I would be for the rest of my life because I'VE BEEN TO ****ING SPACE.

Okay Wolowitz

**LoneWolf** · 02-25-2014, 05:02 PM

I'd take the money and its not even a close decision for me. A week in space would seem like an eternity. The view isn't going to change that much after the first day and its not like your going out on a space walk where you can get the full panoramic view anyway. I would rather use the money to visit numerous places here on Earth.

**007** · 02-25-2014, 05:05 PM

I'm torn on this one and guess it would have to be based on where I am in life. If I won it today I would probably take the money. After my kids are all out of the house then I would most likely take the trip.

BUT

Keep in mind folks, that the guberment is going to take their cut of that 150k. so plan on only getting about 80k of that or less. In my case, that would easily pay off the remainder of my mortgage which is the one monthly expense I would love to get out from under.

**wazu** · 02-25-2014, 05:07 PM

Space. $150K doesn't even come close to making it interesting for me. If I try to name my price for missing out on space, I'm thinking at $800K it starts to become a discussion. North of a $1M and my practical side starts to win the argument. (And my impractical side tries to lie to my practical side that I can get the money back via some kind of book deal or expanded career option.)

**hometeam** · 02-25-2014, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guru

I'm torn on this one and guess it would have to be based on where I am in life. If I won it today I would probably take the money. After my kids are all out of the house then I would most likely take the trip.

BUT

Keep in mind folks, that the guberment is going to take their cut of that 150k. so plan on only getting about 80k of that or less. In my case, that would easily pay off the remainder of my mortgage which is the one monthly expense I would love to get out from under.

in this scenario its taxes paid

View Poll Results: Which prize option would you take? (See back story in thread header.)
One-week trip to the International Space Station	21	35.59%
$150,000 in cash	37	62.71%
I would take neither. My real prize is in winning the contest in the first place.	1	1.69%
My answer depends on whether I can take my dog. My dog and I go everywhere together.	0	0%
Voters: 59. You may not vote on this poll

02-25-2014, 03:24 PM
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $1808491 VARSITY	Hypothetical: You win a trip into space, or ... Here's the scenario: Your local dairy decides to sponsor a "Cow Jumped Over The Moon" contest, where first prize is a one-week trip to space. The winner will go to central Russia, board some massive Russian rocket along with a Bulgarian cosmonaut and an American mission control person, and will enjoy a one-week stay aboard the International Space Station. (I'm not sure how space travelers get back down these days, but that's a detail we can figure out later.) You are one of 12 people who win a sweepstakes to go into the finals. You show up and compete against the other 11 in a decathlon of dairy-related contests. You do well in the cheese trivia and cow leaping contests, but struggle during the yogurt swim and bull riding. You're in second place entering the final event, which butter eating. The first-place contestant, a charming young Bowdoin College coed, downs four sticks of butter, but with iron resolve you lay the hammer down and eat 5.5 sticks to take the win. She goes home with second prize, which is a year's supply of chocolate milk. So you've won. The ISS trip is yours. But not everyone is excited about entering space. The Russians aren't into safety all that much, and it's a rough trip up, and space sickness happens, and if a 25-cent bolt fails you die gasping in absolute zero before your body falls into the sun. So you have an option: 1. You can take the one-week trip to the ISS. All prize taxes and intermediate travel costs will be paid by the dairy. 2. You can take a one-time cash prize of $150,000, with all prize taxes paid by the dairy. Which do you take?
Posts: 142,658

02-25-2014, 04:43 PM	#52
Mojo Jojo Veteran Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Johnson County Casino cash: $10013802	Space trip...$150k isn't that much. $1.5 million 50/50 call...$15 million I take the cash. (yes I know others have said the same, but it is the best answer)
Posts: 3,341

02-25-2014, 05:02 PM	#57
LoneWolf Constable of Untruths Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wichita Casino cash: $321084	I'd take the money and its not even a close decision for me. A week in space would seem like an eternity. The view isn't going to change that much after the first day and its not like your going out on a space walk where you can get the full panoramic view anyway. I would rather use the money to visit numerous places here on Earth.
Posts: 15,236

02-25-2014, 05:05 PM	#58
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $13210126 VARSITY	I'm torn on this one and guess it would have to be based on where I am in life. If I won it today I would probably take the money. After my kids are all out of the house then I would most likely take the trip. BUT Keep in mind folks, that the guberment is going to take their cut of that 150k. so plan on only getting about 80k of that or less. In my case, that would easily pay off the remainder of my mortgage which is the one monthly expense I would love to get out from under. __________________ My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.
Posts: 65,617

02-25-2014, 05:07 PM	#59
wazu ... Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $702295 VARSITY	Space. $150K doesn't even come close to making it interesting for me. If I try to name my price for missing out on space, I'm thinking at $800K it starts to become a discussion. North of a $1M and my practical side starts to win the argument. (And my impractical side tries to lie to my practical side that I can get the money back via some kind of book deal or expanded career option.)
Posts: 28,877