Moral Quandry:

[solidstatemind]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX0ovhkgR7s

In a bullet point: this kid has Retinal Blastoma-- cancer of the eyes. He lost his left eye when he was an infant, and is losing his other eye at the age of 12.

So... as a father, what is the last vision you grant your son?

The story is that he wanted to see the University of Southern California play.

However, I'm thinking: "Fuck that. I'm getting the best-looking woman in the world that I can to strip for him."

My thinking is that, while yeah, he'll always have the tactile to fall back on, at least he'll be able to place it in the frame of reference of a really hot visual. My wife thinks that he's probably "a little too young for that", and...

well, I'm wondering what you guys and gals think.

In defense of my position, I will only say this: we, as animals before we are thinking beings, are beholden to our emotions and our visceral reactions. While I have never been a man to over-emphasize physical beauty, I honestly don't believe that it can be completely discounted, either.

To be honest, ideally, I would want him also to see Michaelangelo's work on the Sistine Chapel, the Pieta, many of the works at the Louvre, etc etc.

But to a male, one of the most exquisite works of beauty is the simple naked human female form.

So am I nuts?

EDIT: Not going to change the wording, because it would make some of the responses not make any sense, but of course you give the kid what he wants. This was more of a "kid doesn't really have a preference" hypothetical.

 

[Booze Zombie]

When I was ten, I could appreciate females like any other male.

But everyone is different, you can't impose a last vision on someone because you think it'll be better for them if you do, you have to respect what they want.

 

[Kasawd]

Consulting the kid may be the first step to solving this problem.

 

[Lavi]

A sunset.

Who cares what the kid wants. He's a kid, they don't exactly have the best judgement (if he says something reasonable, go ahead, but if it's something stupid like a naked girl, fuck it).

EDIT: Kay, he's pretty logical. If he was an average 12 year old it would've been something stupid. The attitude of the news reporters is annoying though. Also, 8 times?! The fuck were they thinking? He could've died all those 8 times and they kept doing it after the second just to save an eye?! No, fuck it. That's idiotic. Now he'll lose what he knows, whereas with no sight ever one sees the world much differently.

EDIT 2: "Lifetime of memories?" Fuck that, you lose your memories of what sight was like.

In short, AAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

 

[Julianking93]

So... as a father, what is the last vision you grant your son?

...tits?

I'm not joking. Seriously show him the naked form of the most gorgeous woman he can find.

 

[FalloutJack]

The last vision? How about a look at a prosthetic vision device? Going blind, the last thing I'd like to see is that there's fucking HOPE to see again, because this isn't a matter of the visual cortex going wrong and I know there are such devices. Those who wish to see...should.

 

[TheLastCylon]

I have to say, after watching that video, that was the first time I cried openly in years.

Anyways, in response to the OP, yes you are nuts. Maybe the kid doesn't want to see a woman stripping for him. Let him see what he wants to see.

 

[Kittenmauler]

Do any of you remember what it was like being 12(assuming you're male)? I could spend hours looking at a stolen victoria's secret catalog at that age. Seeing an attractive, naked women would of made me very, very happy.

 

[Nemu]

yeah, you're pretty nuts.

The story is about HIS desires, not yours. He's 12 years old, let the kid be a kid instead of thrusting (no pun intended) what the "typical man" wants to see.

He wants to see a bit of football, let him see it.

 

[APPCRASH]

Yes, you're nuts.

Give the kid what he wants, not what you think he wants.
Besides, beauty is subjective - what you find attractive, he may find abhorrent.

If that were the case, he is no son of mine.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

...I think the real question here is, why not both?

 

[Internet Kraken]

Do any of you remember what it was like being 12(assuming you're male)? I could spend hours looking at a stolen victoria's secret catalog at that age. Seeing an attractive, naked women would of made me very, very happy.

I don't recall being incredibly horny until I was about 14.

OT: Give the kid what he wants. I see no reason not to. Honestly why the hell would you want him to see a naked lady anyways? He doesn't want to see that. He might not even like that. Plus I think showing that to him right before he loses sight would just leave him with a painful reminder of what he will never have.

Plus I think it would be hard to find a woman who could remain sexy whilst striping in front of a 12-year old cancer victim.

 

[latenightapplepie]

But to a male, one of the most exquisite works of beauty is the simple naked human female form.

To some, but not all.

I would think it would make more sense to see things that are more difficult to experience with all his other remaining senses - like a mountaintop view or a beautiful painting or photograph. He can still experience 'the simple naked human female form' with touch.

 

[Chris0132]

I would say it doesn't really matter, he's twelve so if he doesn't find more meaningful things in his life than his last vision by the time he's like forty, then he's had a really poor life.

The last thing he sees is going to be whatever he's doing before his operation and he's going to remember other things before that, the sum of his experience up to the loss of his sight is going to be equally important but he will also have to learn to not dwell on it, and to start experiencing things in other ways.

Having a frame of visual reference for something, while perhaps useful, is not going to be very meaningful if you grow up not using sight. Touch, sound, and smell are going to be more meaningful to him once he's older because those are how he perceives the world.

 

[Arcadia2000]

I would say it doesn't really matter, he's twelve so if he doesn't find more meaningful things in his life than his last vision by the time he's like forty, then he's had a really poor life.

The last thing he sees is going to be whatever he's doing before his operation and he's going to remember other things before that, the sum of his experience up to the loss of his sight is going to be equally important but he will also have to learn to not dwell on it, and to start experiencing things in other ways.

Having a frame of visual reference for something, while perhaps useful, is not going to be very meaningful if you grow up not using sight. Touch, sound, and smell are going to be more meaningful to him once he's older because those are how he perceives the world.

Well said. Welcome to the Escapist.

After my husband, my family is most important to me. If it was literally going to be the last thing I ever saw, I wouldn't want it to be something abstract or unconnected. I'd want it to be my family around me, and all of us having a good time. And I mean ALL my family. Like, everyone we could fly or drive in for the occasion.

But when I was 12? In a way, this kid has his priorities in line. The most important thing to him now are the people he idolizes. At 12, I might have asked for a cute celebrity to come visit me. In a way, he wants the same thing. He wants to go see something he cares about. I'd bet he has that feel for family that most kids have. They'll always be there, and I know what they look like. I want to go see this thing I've never seen before, because I will never see it again. Most 12-year olds don't care about sunsets or The Mona Lisa or the egyptian pyramids. I say give the kid what he wants, because I'd try to if it was me.

 

[Slayer_2]

Wow, he's just a kid and you want to get him a stripper? I don't remember perfectly, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't into that when I was 12. Besides, as someone suggested, can't he feel that later in life? Let the kid choose what he wants. Now if he was 16 or something, then I could agree with your idea

 

[Margrave Rinstock]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX0ovhkgR7s

In a bullet point: this kid has Retinal Blastoma-- cancer of the eyes. He lost his left eye when he was an infant, and is losing his other eye at the age of 12.

So... as a father, what is the last vision you grant your son?

The story is that he wanted to see the University of Southern California play.

However, I'm thinking: "Fuck that. I'm getting the best-looking woman in the world that I can to strip for him."

My thinking is that, while yeah, he'll always have the tactile to fall back on, at least he'll be able to place it in the frame of reference of a really hot visual. My wife thinks that he's probably "a little too young for that", and...

well, I'm wondering what you guys and gals think.

In defense of my position, I will only say this: we, as animals before we are thinking beings, are beholden to our emotions and our visceral reactions. While I have never been a man to over-emphasize physical beauty, I honestly don't believe that it can be completely discounted, either.

To be honest, ideally, I would want him also to see Michaelangelo's work on the Sistine Chapel, the Pieta, many of the works at the Louvre, etc etc.

But to a male, one of the most exquisite works of beauty is the simple naked human female form.

So am I nuts?

Really? I'd let him see anything but.

That type of sexual desire is one the most base and mundane forms of pleasure there are, arisen from the biological need to mate and increase the numbers of any species of animal.
No sir, i would want him to see the best heights of reasoned, human, Sublimity Earth has to offer.

I would make sure he saw the Shrine of the Bab, the Parthenon, the Sistine chapel, Angel Falls, the Hagia Sophia, and other such wonders.

Heck, it might even be a favor to him, to not be as stirred by base Animal compulsions that make the rest of us act oh so Barbarically.

 

[BlindMessiah94]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX0ovhkgR7s

In a bullet point: this kid has Retinal Blastoma-- cancer of the eyes. He lost his left eye when he was an infant, and is losing his other eye at the age of 12.

So... as a father, what is the last vision you grant your son?

The story is that he wanted to see the University of Southern California play.

However, I'm thinking: "Fuck that. I'm getting the best-looking woman in the world that I can to strip for him."

My thinking is that, while yeah, he'll always have the tactile to fall back on, at least he'll be able to place it in the frame of reference of a really hot visual. My wife thinks that he's probably "a little too young for that", and...

well, I'm wondering what you guys and gals think.

In defense of my position, I will only say this: we, as animals before we are thinking beings, are beholden to our emotions and our visceral reactions. While I have never been a man to over-emphasize physical beauty, I honestly don't believe that it can be completely discounted, either.

To be honest, ideally, I would want him also to see Michaelangelo's work on the Sistine Chapel, the Pieta, many of the works at the Louvre, etc etc.

But to a male, one of the most exquisite works of beauty is the simple naked human female form.

So am I nuts?

Really? I'd let him see anything but.

That type of sexual desire is one the most base and mundane forms of pleasure there are, arisen from the biological need to mate and increase the numbers of any species of animal.
No sir, i would want him to see the best heights of reasoned, human, Sublimity Earth has to offer.

I would make sure he saw the Shrine of the Bab, the Parthenon, the Sistine chapel, Angel Falls, the Hagia Sophia, and other such wonders.

Heck, it might even be a favor to him, to not be as stirred by base Animal compulsions that make the rest of us act oh so Barbarically.

Well you don't sound high and mighty. So appreciating the human form or wanting to procreate makes us barbaric? I'm not saying the works of art you mentioned aren't glorious, but what about something like the statue of David? One of the most precious works of art in this world and it is of the naked human form? So does that make all of us who like it barbaric?

Personally, it isn't up to us to decide what to "make" him be his last vision. Give him what he wants. It's his choice, not ours to force on him. Heck if he wants the last thing he sees to be a monkey flinging feces let him. Maybe it will help him laugh in the future.

On another note, if you ever have seen someone naked - truly naked, both emotionally, physically, and spiritually, it is one of the most amazing sights ever. Simply because a person themselves can be a work of art.

 

[Margrave Rinstock]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX0ovhkgR7s

In a bullet point: this kid has Retinal Blastoma-- cancer of the eyes. He lost his left eye when he was an infant, and is losing his other eye at the age of 12.

So... as a father, what is the last vision you grant your son?

The story is that he wanted to see the University of Southern California play.

However, I'm thinking: "Fuck that. I'm getting the best-looking woman in the world that I can to strip for him."

My thinking is that, while yeah, he'll always have the tactile to fall back on, at least he'll be able to place it in the frame of reference of a really hot visual. My wife thinks that he's probably "a little too young for that", and...

well, I'm wondering what you guys and gals think.

In defense of my position, I will only say this: we, as animals before we are thinking beings, are beholden to our emotions and our visceral reactions. While I have never been a man to over-emphasize physical beauty, I honestly don't believe that it can be completely discounted, either.

To be honest, ideally, I would want him also to see Michaelangelo's work on the Sistine Chapel, the Pieta, many of the works at the Louvre, etc etc.

But to a male, one of the most exquisite works of beauty is the simple naked human female form.

So am I nuts?

Really? I'd let him see anything but.

That type of sexual desire is one the most base and mundane forms of pleasure there are, arisen from the biological need to mate and increase the numbers of any species of animal.
No sir, i would want him to see the best heights of reasoned, human, Sublimity Earth has to offer.

I would make sure he saw the Shrine of the Bab, the Parthenon, the Sistine chapel, Angel Falls, the Hagia Sophia, and other such wonders.

Heck, it might even be a favor to him, to not be as stirred by base Animal compulsions that make the rest of us act oh so Barbarically.

Well you don't sound high and mighty. So appreciating the human form or wanting to procreate makes us barbaric? I'm not saying the works of art you mentioned aren't glorious, but what about something like the statue of David? One of the most precious works of art in this world and it is of the naked human form? So does that make all of us who like it barbaric?

Personally, it isn't up to us to decide what to "make" him be his last vision. Give him what he wants. It's his choice, not ours to force on him. Heck if he wants the last thing he sees to be a monkey flinging feces let him. Maybe it will help him laugh in the future.

On another note, if you ever have seen someone naked - truly naked, both emotionally, physically, and spiritually, it is one of the most amazing sights ever. Simply because a person themselves can be a work of art.

Well, Obviously one wold heed his wishes. If he really did not want to go to Rome, and wished to see a university of south Carolina play, that would be fine.

But I would Definitely suggest the aforementioned locales if he ever asked me.

I am not saying that the human body is inherently BAD and sex is EVIL. However there is a massive difference between the Sistine Chapel and a strip club. In one there is the Love of Art and Aesthetics, in the other, Primal instincts, which are necessary, but interfere with our Higher nature at times.

 

[Insanum]

Did the university win? because if they lost that would seriously suck for that kid.

And mine? If my sun was going blind i'd hope it was in autumn, I'd take him to the local trust park, looking at all the leaves, Then take him up to a field, and sit and watch the sunset with an icecream.

And d'ya the twist?

I hate[/B] kids.