Discussion If people were given an 18-year "incubation period"

[Darkover]

If people were given an 18-year "incubation period" essentially growing up in a controlled, isolated environment among peers, shielded from the full intensity of the world's suffering, injustice, and chaos and then at 18, offered a choice: enter the real world as it is, or cease to exist peacefully... what do you think most people would choose

in the real world nothing is guaranteed — not love, not happiness, not safety, not fairness, not even a peaceful death

Without guarantees, life becomes a constant gamble — a roll of the dice where sometimes you win a fleeting moment of joy, and other times you lose everything and suffer deeply for it

I think a lot of people would choose cease to exist peacefully rather than partake in such a event
if everyone really understood the stakes and had no fear-based bias toward life — I think a significant number would choose to opt out, especially the more intelligent, empathetic, or reflective ones. The harshness and randomness of existence becomes pretty hard to justify once you see it clearly

 

[Forever Sleep]

If they were shielded from the reality of the world, they'd have no way to guage what it would be like. I actually think plenty would try it. I was told outright how diffucult it would be to pursue a creative career. I still pig headedly did it. Plus, being under such close supervision, they may actually be itching for a bit of freedom. Some would possibly even enjoy to be free.

I imagine we'd actually see something very similar to this world. Where some would be genetically perhaps more able to exploit others and get ahead than others. Some would have huge determination/ motivation to pursue something. Others would be terrified at having to stand on their own. I suspect a lot more would struggle though, if they went from a very cushty setup to having to be independent.

That happens in this world though. While we think it's cruel when our parents push us to do social things we don't want to do, push us in education, push us to get jobs. If we are allowed to not do those things, how does that really help us in the long-run? It may only be some parents that can afford to support their offspring way into adulthood. If they find themselves going for their first job at 30 or 40, how easy will that be for them? How likely will employers give them a chance even? While it's the more gentle parenting approach, it maybe doesn't suit survival in this world all that well.

 

[Darkover]

If they were shielded from the reality of the world, they'd have no way to guage what it would be like. I actually think plenty would try it. I was told outright how diffucult it would be to pursue a creative career. I still pig headedly did it. Plus, being under such close supervision, they may actually be itching for a bit of freedom. Some would possibly even enjoy to be free.

I imagine we'd actually see something very similar to this world. Where some would be genetically perhaps more able to exploit others and get ahead than others. Some would have huge determination/ motivation to pursue something. Others would be terrified at having to stand on their own. I suspect a lot more would struggle though, if they went from a very cushty setup to having to be independent.

That happens in this world though. While we think it's cruel when our parents push us to do social things we don't want to do, push us in education, push us to get jobs. If we are allowed to not do those things, how does that really help us in the long-run? It may only be some parents that can afford to support their offspring way into adulthood. If they find themselves going for their first job at 30 or 40, how easy will that be for them? How likely will employers give them a chance even? While it's the more gentle parenting approach, it maybe doesn't suit survival in this world all that well.

Yes we underestimate how strong the desire for autonomy is. Even if people are warned that life is harsh, the curiosity to experience it firsthand, the hope that maybe they'll be the exception is powerful. Some people would leap into the world just to feel something real, even pain, even chaos. some would walk into the fire because they want to, or they believe they'll beat the odds, or even because choosing life gives them the illusion of control.

The world rewards hardness, resilience, even ruthlessness not softness, understanding, or sensitivity. So the more kind and empathetic a person is, the more likely they are to get chewed up by a system that prioritizes efficiency and profit over human wellbeing.