Science Hypothetical: You win a trip into space, or ... - Page 5

**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?

Dayze · 02-25-2014, 05:12 PM

tax free?

though, I've always wanted to do a beer bong in space for whatever reason.

**Buehler445** · 02-25-2014, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

This is addressed in the opening thread, because paying prize taxes on a $10 million space trip would eat you alive. The dairy will cover all taxes for both prizes. There's a lot of money in Big Dairy, so they won't even blink.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RippedmyFlesh

Don't know if you were being sarcastic. From OP.

2. You can take a one-time cash prize of $150,000, with all prize taxes paid by the dairy.

I would take the cash. If I was 25 I would do something stupid like take the trip.

Yeah. I had my head up my ass. I swear to god I read that post twice. I must have gotten hung up on the coed thing.

My fault kids.

From a practical perspective though it would take some doing for the dairy to cover the taxes. The tax reimbursement would then be taxable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCD

I'm taking the cash and buying my own tractor and telling Trans Am to **** off.

Good luck getting a decent tractor bought for 150 large. Much less any equipment you need to pull.

TLO · 02-25-2014, 06:11 PM

I'd take the cash right now. 30-40 years down the line I might have a different answer.

**mlyonsd** · 02-25-2014, 06:14 PM

No brainer. Take the trip because Sandra Bullock is there.

**digger** · 02-25-2014, 06:48 PM

Space.

Rasputin · 02-25-2014, 07:03 PM

First I thought about the money that could help me out and be dept free and be able to live on it for several years where I live now. Then I thought maybe if I did the space thing I could write a book or be famous enough. If I'm that good at winning a cheesy contest maybe I could go on to do great things with my life after space trip. Nah give me the money.

**Dave Lane** · 02-25-2014, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

1 week in space without a doubt. I didn't even have to think about it. That is a crazy ass experience for pennies on the dollar.

Ding ding ding we have a winner. But I would hope everyone would know my choice

**LoneWolf** · 02-25-2014, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

But I would hope everyone would know my choice

Take the space trip so you can feel closer to God?

Start Croyle · 02-25-2014, 09:07 PM

$150,000 is a lot more than I have. If I did have $150,000 in the bank, I certainly wouldn't spend it all on a trip to outer space.

So from that perspective, I would have to take the money.

**Buzz** · 02-25-2014, 09:16 PM

If the Bulgarian cosmonaut and an American mission control person are hot nymphs, I'm in either way and I hate heights.

**Dave Lane** · 02-25-2014, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

Take the space trip so you can feel closer to God?

Exactly

**J Diddy** · 02-25-2014, 09:49 PM

I take the trip and auction it off on ebay. I make a cool million and buy a small island full of lactose intolerant people.

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: $2988491 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: 141,700

02-25-2014, 05:12 PM	#61
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $4899358	tax free? though, I've always wanted to do a beer bong in space for whatever reason. __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial. RIP & Godspeed: Saccoppo Lonewolf Ed Fire Me Boy
Posts: 37,377

02-25-2014, 06:11 PM	#63
TLO Life is changing.. Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: NW Missouri Casino cash: $1584900	I'd take the cash right now. 30-40 years down the line I might have a different answer.
Posts: 39,110

02-25-2014, 06:14 PM	#64
mlyonsd Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Spink, SD Casino cash: $1343762	No brainer. Take the trip because Sandra Bullock is there.
Posts: 38,915

02-25-2014, 06:48 PM	#65
digger Thread I will end you....... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kansas City, KS Casino cash: $1492608 VARSITY	Space. __________________ Patrick Mahomes II MVP 2X Super Bowl MVP 3x Travis Kelce TE GOAT
Posts: 9,012

02-25-2014, 07:03 PM	#66
Rasputin Tip of the hat LIV Champs Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: ks Casino cash: $3195421	First I thought about the money that could help me out and be dept free and be able to live on it for several years where I live now. Then I thought maybe if I did the space thing I could write a book or be famous enough. If I'm that good at winning a cheesy contest maybe I could go on to do great things with my life after space trip. Nah give me the money.
Posts: 54,983

02-25-2014, 09:07 PM	#69
Start Croyle Starter Join Date: Dec 2010 Casino cash: $10016078	$150,000 is a lot more than I have. If I did have $150,000 in the bank, I certainly wouldn't spend it all on a trip to outer space. So from that perspective, I would have to take the money.
Posts: 575

02-25-2014, 09:16 PM	#70
Buzz I like Pie! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In my garage Casino cash: $10016623	If the Bulgarian cosmonaut and an American mission control person are hot nymphs, I'm in either way and I hate heights.
Posts: 5,383

02-25-2014, 09:49 PM	#72
J Diddy Don't Be A Dick Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Joplin Casino cash: $6737192	I take the trip and auction it off on ebay. I make a cool million and buy a small island full of lactose intolerant people.
Posts: 33,655