Poll: What would you do if you found a Death Note

[Tony2077]

I'd burn it and tell now one i even had it

 

[DeltaEdge]

Hm, I'd probably keep it and use it for personal gain, but that depends on the circumstance. If it could somehow be proven to me that this Death Note falling into the hands of humans was just a one time event, and by destroying it, I could completely eradicate its existence from the world, and that it would never come into the world again(at least, not in my lifetime), then I'd probably burn that shit, because I like having a properly functioning world without any sort of godmod powers breaking it.

But if there was a risk of another one appearing in my lifetime, or other people may or may not have one, then I'd probably hold onto it, because the world is pretty much fucked(well, humans are anyways) just by this thing's existence, so I may as well hold onto it for security. I don't believe that I would be someone who could just use it for "the greater good", and I think it would be impossible to not become morally corrupt trying to uphold life/death judgement on the entire world based on my own moral compass. So it would pretty much be used for personal reasons, not for some "greater good TM".

That being said, I can't really think of anyone that I'd actually kill with the note. I probably wouldn't kill terrorist organizations and such because I don't think myself qualified to properly pass judgement onto them as to whether they are "evil" enough to deserve death, I probably wouldn't use it on enemies or anything, because that would be pretty damn petty and I wouldn't consider how they treated me personally to be worthy of death, even if I hate them. So if enemy nation/organization leaders and personal enemies are out, then since I probably won't be killing criminals either, that pretty much just leaves me with people who wish to cause immediate potentially lethal harm to me, or people I care about. That'd still be pretty difficult though as I'd need to know their names, which doesn't seem that likely.

Hm, well I guess I really can't see myself using this thing much, if at all. I'd be a pretty damn boring harbinger of death I guess. I guess it's because I don't really think that anyone is undeniably deserving of only death, because everyone has the capacity to change, and I would be denying them that opportunity by killing them which would be a failing on my part.

 

[Heronblade]

You state your opinions like they are proven fact. Show me proof that power doesn't corrupt. And who decided what a better future for humanity is? You, me, other people. Some might say humanity gone is a better world to live in.

If you think I stated that power doesn't corrupt at all you need to read my post again, and if you can't think of a few counterexamples on your own, you need to get reacquainted with certain historical figures.

P.S. No, I am not blind enough to believe that I, or any human being, knows what is best for everyone. It does not however take an omniscient to recognize trends harmful to huge numbers of human beings and trace their sources. Chaos and death are typically harmful, not just to the people involved, but society in general. Since humanity's greatest potential is only realized within the context of a stable and peaceful society, nullifying certain critical elements, by one means or another, is all but required. All too often a peaceful means of doing so is not available, and I for one think that this is a much better option than the usual method of sending out troops to kill loads of people that may or may not have themselves done anything wrong. I would MUCH rather achieve the goal in question via constructive means than destructive, but not using such a tool, or preferably finding someone more suited to use it than I, would be a waste of an opportunity with massive potential.

 

[Queen Michael]

I'd keep it and use it any way I wanted to. Not gonna lie about that.

 

[Cruickshank]

EDIT: I didn't mention that using it may result in you staying in the Death God world after death, as a Death Note user can't go to heaven or hell when they die, although in the Anime we don't definitively see this happen to a death note user.

they actually do mention in the manga what happens to users of the death note, they cannot go to heaven or hell so they end up in a state of 'mu' which is basically nothingness; ryuuk does tell light at one point that using the death note does not make you a shinigami, what is left unsaid until the very end of the show is that as punishment for him using the death note, his soul will cease to exist.

 

[DudeistBelieve]

Depends on the will of the Death God attached to it. If we recall Ryukk did it out of sheer boredom, and when the game was going to be done and he told Light he'd be the one to kill Light. So if the Death God attached to it is like that, then I suppose I'm passing it on to someone else.

If there is no Death God, I'm holding on to it. It be like a handgun, just hold on to it and hope to hell I never have to use it.

I mean theres an idea in my head, take the name of one of the worlds super rich, have him bury 2 Million dollars in cash in a certain location. Heart Attack. Dig up the money and be set for life.... but I think If I crossed that line, things wouldn't end well for me. Use it once, use it again.

For anyone who hasn't seen the anime, the death note is a mystical book where you can kill anyone by simply imagining their face and writing their name, so you can kill anyone if you know their name and face. They come from Shinigamis whom are death gods.

Imagine you find a death note dropped by a shinigami, whom explains how it works and shows you proof of it working without killing anyone. What would you do with it?

When i say use it sparingly I mean you use it very infrequently writing the names of people you view as extremely bad/evil, your essentially writing a few names a year if any.

When i say using it extensively i mean you use it frequently writing the names of people you view as bad/evil, to the extent your writing a names everyday.

EDIT: I didn't mention that using it may result in you staying in the Death God world after death, as a Death Note user can't go to heaven or hell when they die, although in the Anime we don't definitively see this happen to a death note user.

I thought Ryukk admits to light at one point there is no heaven or hell, that it doesn't matter what a person does in their life Death Is Equal.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

I'd use it reasonably scarcely for politicians, dictators, and other people I deem to have a large, bad influence on the world. This extends to terrorist groups and CEOs. I have read some of the other posts, so I'll clarify by saying possibly less scarcely than most for this purpose. There's the possibility of killing a particular family member with it if the situation gets dire, but I could live with myself if I did. I definitely wouldn't kill anyone I had a positive opinion of for personal gain.

 

[chadachada123]

I'd take it.

Evil, corrupt dictators? All gone. Evil, corrupt politicians and Presidents and Prime Ministers? All gone. Evil, corrupt CEOs? all gone.

Of course, I'd do extensive research before actually writing their names, but each time, I would make sure to have them die by something along the lines of "The victim carves 'I am purged from humanity for my inhumanity' before dying of blood loss."

=

Immediately write the following names in it;

Barack Obama

Joseph Biden

Nancy Pelosi

Harry Reid.

Not a fan of the Democrats eh. Funny hearing that from a European perspective. From our p.o.v you guys are finally making a small bit of progress.

Trust me. Despite media praisings of our current President, all of his actions have just been an extension or escalation of the exact things the world hated Bush for.

(I would do a LOT more than just evil Democrats. All of those in power, no matter their country, who abuse their power would be eliminated, such that humanity finally progresses beyond war-loving apes).

 

[Anget Colslaw]

Oh, the fun to be had. My most frequent targets would be any moron or jackass in the positions of power (corporate executives, politicians, corrupt police officers, etc.)

But first and and most importantly: Bye-bye Capcom and EA!

 

[newfoundsky]

I would write as many names as it takes until we have peace.

 

[Bat Vader]

If I ever find the Death Note the world's going to be a lot emptier a place, some people need a good killing. Does writing down everyone ever associated with the Westboro Baptist Church count like genocide?

Would it just be the people still associated with the WBC or also the people that have gotten out and hated their time in the WBC?

On Topic: I would lock it away and only use if I felt the need was great enough to either help better the world or help save someone.

 

[Raku-Gosha]

Hindsight is 20/20 We (well almost everyone this show's old as hell) all have a clear knowledge of it's working and limitations as well as examples of the logical extremes such power could take us.

Not going to say people can't hypothesize scenarios but those who've seen the show (like myself) will have flawed and deeply skewed answers. So take that with a grain a salt.


As for me I'd burn it. While eating potato chips. Oh yeah.

Come at me. my Names Red Wasabi b****es.

 

[WanderingBiscuits]

I'm an atheist. So no heaven and hell is pretty much what i expected lol. So, I would definitely use it. Incredibly sparingly, but i would use it. Pedophiles, Rapists, Cult Leaders and Terrorists names would be added.

 

[Flames66]

I would follow the advice of a wise old Wizard


My plan is to lock it away somewhere that is very difficult to get to, with a key that is stored somewhere else difficult to reach. It could be acquired and used, but only in the direst of circumstances.

 

[CorvusFerreum]

snip

That's a tricky one since the effects of the Death Note is unable deliver fatal colateral damage due to the following rule:

Even though only one name is written in the Death Note, if it influences and causes other humans that are not written in it to die, the victim?s cause of death will be a heart attack.

In otherwords, you planning to give the universe a heart attack (which'll result in everyone dieing cause the universe they live in just died?) Then I guess you're outa luck.

I think you misunderstand the universe. It's not like we are withnin the universe, it's more like we are a part of it. What you suggest is like saying a victim wouldn't die because it would cause the death of his cells as colleteral damage. I also think the universes equivalent of a heartattack would be some form of spontanous collaps. The question wether it would work isn't really one of colleteral damage, it's more one of wether or not the notes power is strong enough.

 

[Rose and Thorn]

* Death Note Spoilers down below guys * If you haven't seen it don't read about it, watch it first.


It was one of those shows that really, I'm not sure the word for it, but it was really that word.


One of the really creepy things I found about that series was how similar the main character and I are. As I watched the show I found he kept doing everything I would have done, he thought of the same things I would have thought of, he made the same mistakes I would have most likely made, he looked at the world the same way I look at the world, and if I had a death note I am sure I would try to do the exact same thing as Yagami, hell I probably would even die like he did.

I would try to rid the world of evil, and make the world a safer place with the real fear of a god, fear of the horrible unknown. I would sacrifice my own soul. I would make my own laws and make them known.

I am certainly not a violent person by nature, I am kind of like Gandalf. When Frodo hands him the ring he refuses it. The reason he does this is because he would have the will to use the ring, as a wizard he feels confident in his powers to control the ring, and he would use the ring against his own better judgement for the power of good...but through him he would stir the weakness and darkness inside him.

Like Yagami Light, he used the deathnote with the intentions of good, no matter how "you" perceive him, in his mind he was the good guy. The world didn't see him like that however and why would they? So I think the two characters are similar, but one is weaker than the other, as Gandalf with all his age and wisdom saw his future with the ring before he even had to touch it, he knew he would go all deathnote on MiddleEarth. Yagami and I aren't as old and wise, we are much weaker and we would both give in to our desires and hatred.

 

[Frankster]

I'd be a terrible keeper for the book, no matter how good my intentions are initially (yeh il stash it so no1 else can misuse it) eventually in a moment of emotional weakness I'd use the book and write down the name of someone I perceive as evil or just fucking greedy (there are few things in this world that presses my buttons such as the extremely wealthy going to extraordinary measures to make themselves even wealthier, bonus points if they do this by having influence over political systems and the way countries are run), from then it would be a slippery slope as I end up writing more and more names and the reasons became more flimsy.

So burn the book, burn it before I change my mind!

The thing about not going to heaven or hell doesn't bother me though. I'd be VERY relieved that there is a heaven and hell at all and that even if im not going there, Id still live on in some way once my mortal coil is extinguished.

 

[Slitzkin]

The lure of power would be far too much for me to handle with any iota of rational thought. I'd probably start with restraint or some sort of code of honour but I can see myself easily being corrupted and addicted to the power of the Death Note. It'd be so easy to fall into a habit of just killing people off if they got in my way.

 

[Corax_1990]

Knowing that Death Notes exist would lead me to believe that others exist and are possibly in use.

Long story short, I'd attempt to track and kill all other Death Note users, gather them up, and burn them.

 

[ExtraDebit]

If I have a death note what would I do with it?

Let's put it this way: It wouldn't have enough pages when I'm done with it, and you do NOT want me to know your name.