Impossibly Impossible Situation: What are your priorities?

You're locked in a small room for four days. Let's say it's twelve feet by twelve feet, or something like that. After further inspection of your surroundings, you notice that for some impossible reason, an ice box with a few frozen foods and TV dinners is resting in the corner. Along with that, you notice a few wires coming from an adjacent wall. There's a phone wire, a CAT5 cable, and a television cable. It's 40 degrees fahrenheit in this room. It's also very dark. The floor is tiled, and there is nothing like a blanket in the room. You look at your cell phone and notice that it has absolutely no service. You think it might get service sometime, but you really are just guessing. Since there is no service, it can't display time. It's kinda old, so it only holds a charge for a day. In the wall, there are two power outlets. Frankly, your situation sucks. At least you won't be stuck here more than four days.

Before the door is closed, your...uh, captors decide to give you at least a little something so you won't go insane. They have quite a few things for you to choose from, but you can only choose two from the list. Here's what they're offering:

-A fairly small, modern mini-fridge
-A very large, yet powerful microwave
-A wireless telephone with charger
-A modern laptop computer with internet capabilities (limited to 150 MB of downloads a day, nothing but Windows and Internet Browswer on laptop at first. Clock is set to 1/01/2001)
-A lava lamp
-A miniature heater
-The cell phone charger for your cell phone
-Choice of Nintendo DS or PSP with charger. Internal clocks are innacurate.
-A 13" television with A/V ports. Internal clock is inaccurate
-A 70" television with A/V ports. Internal clock is inaccurate.
-Choice of PS2, Gamecube, XBOX, Dreamcast or XBOX 360 computer entertainment system. The internal clocks are inaccurate.
-A stereo, no clock
-An accurate alarm clock

Remember, it's 40 degrees, that ice in the ice box is going to melt, it's really dark, your cell phone doesn't get much service and can't hold a charge, the room is pretty cramped, and you DON'T HAVE AN IPOD OMG.

I'm not sure if this will be closed or not, but I just really want to know where people's priorities lie when it comes to what really needs to be plugged in. I'd imagine most want the laptop, because it's a twelve-in-one type device with one power cord, but it's obviously limited. Anyway, I'd go with the laptop, because I can still communicate with a way to the outside world with it, and I'd take the 13'' TV, so I can have it on while I'm on the internet. I could try using Skype or something I guess, but it wouldn't be the same without my cell phone, or any phone at all. I'd be pretty cold and hungry, too...

Yes, this can never happen. Just don't think about it. Now enlighten me.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Max Biggs

Remember, it's 45 degrees, that ice in the ice box is going to melt, it's really dark, your cell phone doesn't get much service and can't hold a charge, the room is pretty cramped, and you DON'T HAVE AN IPOD OMG.

First of all, that is heaven right there. Nice 'n dark and as far as temperatures go I'm at my most comfortable in the mid 40s, no cell phone to bother me, and I don't have to be bothered by those god-forsaken iPods. God, I hate even that name.

Anyway, I'd take the laptop, and I ussually have my DS on me so I'd take the PSP. I'd boot up the laptop, and it doesn't matter what they tell you, laptop manufacturers are absolutely incapable of leaving that goddamned AOL thing off and this Dell I have now is the only comp I've been able to take it off of without the thing freezing and that alone is enough to convince me that all my computers from here on will be Dells although for having to bother with all that I will never EVER get AOL. Except for this particular situation, in which I'd sign up for a quicky account and use AIM, at which point I could get ahold of whoever and tell them where I am to call for help and I'd also immediately get the time, and common sense from there would tell me the date.
From there I'd just play the DS and PSP, one until the battery dies and then switch to the other, until rescue comes. Simple situation, only real trouble being the worry as whether or not those TV dinners are Smart Ones brand with chicken, in which case I'd rather starve as Smart Ones has the most disgusting chicken.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

The microwave and the laptop. Even after the ice melts, frozen food will be good for at least a day. I'm pretty comfortable in cold temperatures, so hot meals would be enough for me heat-wise. The laptop is strictly because four days in a small room would get boring fast.

How ya doing, buddy?

I'd take the laptop and the microwave.

I don't know about you, but I don't feel so hot after 4 days of not eating. Not that I've done that. I mean, I get that you get to sleep a lot, but there is no way to eat a frozen dinner and it will take quite a while for that to become unfrozen, especially enough to make it tolerable. And a fridge is roughly around 40 degrees, so you don't have to worry about those TV dinners going bad in the short time after the ice fully melts.

It is a good thing that there is ice in the ice box (at first, I thought you were saying it was like a plug-in icebox like people keep in their garages). After all, it is the only way you left for anyone to get water.

That 40 degree temperature is really not that awful. The laptop will keep my legs warm enough, at least. Plus, after you eat one of the frozen dinners, you can use the empty tray to put ice in the microwave so you can get a nice, warm beverage.

The laptop is the only other necessary item, I fail to see why anyone wouldn't take it. 150 MB is enough to do plenty: you can get text file books to keep you occupied, SNES and earlier ROMs and emulators wouldn't take up too much bandwidth, and playing with a keyboard ain't all that bad. Even if the clock function is broken, you can visit time.gov. IP addresses are not instantly traceable, but they could certainly find me fast enough. Plus, I could probably keep working while I was there, so I wouldn't get fired or anything.

How ya doing, buddy?

Even though 40 (45?) degrees fahrenheit isn't very cold, eventually it will seem extremely cold especially with no sort of blanket. Hence, I'll definately want that miniature heater. I won't need the fridge, since the ice really won't melt quickly enough to worry about food spoilage.

Since a cellphone isn't getting service, I don't really watch TV, so they are out. No TV's mean no game systems (since the heater is more important than a TV). The heater is probably sufficient to warm the frozen foods and dinners to the point that they are somewhat edible, so I won't need the microwave either. And although a lava lamp is HOURS UPON HOURS of entertainment, eventually I will get bored with it.

The best second choice for me would be the modern laptop, assuming they included a power cable. The Internet, even with a 150 MB down limit, would be more than enough to keep me sane and would provide a good light source. If no power cable was included, I'd pick the 13'' TV. The 70" would just be too large for the room.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Well I live in a generally warm place, so 40 degrees fahrenheit to me pretty damn cold. Even the low 70's (my computer room temperature) causes me to shiver sometimes. Must be the humidity.
With that in mind I think I'll pick the Microwave so it'll double as a heater (using the exhaust vents, duh) and for something to cook the food.
I know I can live without videogames, cable tv, and useless things for four days... So my choice would also be the laptop (at least I could sit in gff's arcade or something.) Even with a 150MB download per day limit, that can still leave me with plenty to do.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Quite a detailed fix there!

I would definitely choose the laptop as well, because the internet is like infinity, so I'd be hard pressed to be bored there.

I guess I'd also settle for the PS2 since I could keep myself entertained for days on end with the right game.


Edit: oh right, fahrenheit

FELIPE NO

The laptop could double as a heater =p Ever have one sit in your lap for a few minutes? Gets hot @__@ That'd be one. For entertainment and for heating needs. Only real heating problems on me are my fingers. I've got very thin hands and little meat in my digits. They bother the SHIT out of me when they get cold.

But it has internet. I could internet it up for some time ;D But hell, I'd shoot for the mini heater as well for uber comfort.

For food? Heh. Sounds abnormal, but I've gone HUGE stretches of time without food. I'm talkin' about three to four days. I can literally block food out of my head. I'd need fluids though. I suppose I could use the ice chest and the frozen dinner containers as primitive cups so I can melt and drink the ice. I can go for a huge amount of time without food, but god almighty do I drink a lot of fluids.

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Originally Posted by Summonmaster

I would definitely choose the laptop as well, because the internet is like infinity, so I'd be hard pressed to be bored there.

I guess I'd also settle for the PS2 since I could keep myself entertained for days on end with the right game.

Well, you wouldn't have a TV, but I usually entertain myself with the manual that comes with the game for two hours or so before I play it. ^_^

Cool. People started innovating pretty early. Although, I admit I COMPLETELY forgot about time.gov. Oops. :doh:

45 degrees isn't cold for some of you? O_o I'm freezing in that kind of temperature.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Ack! Right, TV + PS2 is the match made in heaven.

Instead of PS2 I would sub in the PSP, since I could do all sorts of crazy shit pairing that with the lappy.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I would take the laptop and the microwave as well. 45 degrees isn't very cold to me (I love the cold, anyway), and like Gechmir said, the laptop could double as a heater (if I did happen to get cold). The laptop offers the same thing most of the other things do in some shape or form (music, games, etc.), so there's no reason not to choose it. And of course I would need the microwave to eat the food, even though I could probably stand to go a few days without food.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I would take the laptop and the cell phone charger. I have a cell phone on my at all times whenever I'm out of my room, and that may be a more reliable form of communication than the internet since none of my family members ever really chat or anything. And how do you call for police or help online? Forums? Maybe chatting with your friend may do the trick, but it would be more urgent if you did so yourself.

I guess the frozen dinners are probably still edible when thawed out, and the temperature is really cold! In that case I may forego the charger for the heater since it would suck to be stuck in 40 degree temperature.

So laptop and heater for me. Sorry cell phone.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I'd take the microwave and the laptop. Since I'd be in the room for four days, food would be my first priority. The microwave could also provide warmth, and if the door is kept open, light as well. I prefer taking the laptop as the second item since there wouldn't be much to do while trapped.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Dee

I would take the laptop and the cell phone charger. I have a cell phone on my at all times whenever I'm out of my room, and that may be a more reliable form of communication than the internet since none of my family members ever really chat or anything. And how do you call for police or help online? Forums? Maybe chatting with your friend may do the trick, but it would be more urgent if you did so yourself.

I guess the frozen dinners are probably still edible when thawed out, and the temperature is really cold! In that case I may forego the charger for the heater since it would suck to be stuck in 40 degree temperature.

So laptop and heater for me. Sorry cell phone.

Heh. Well the point was never to get out, really. If you wanted to do that, there's one very obvious way to be rescued, and a few inventive ways as well. I just wanted to see what was important to people, how they'd innovate and use things for purposes other than what they were built for, and see who wouldn't choose the laptop.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

The laptop and the microwave. I can keep myself occupied with the laptop, and also use it to warm myself. I can use the microwave to eat and warm up some of the melted ice, if I need to. I can use both of them to light the room up as well. I could also use the laptop to find out what the captors' ISP is, and from there, where the facility is located. Then I can contact the police. If the laptop has a modem, I'll just use the phone cord. Otherwise, one of my friends online can call.

Forty degrees is not very cold, so I wouldn't need the heater. Frankly, I find that temperature to be very enjoyable, especially if it is windy.

FELIPE NO

Heater, and microwave. Eating and being warm are way more important than being on the internet for four days. 40 doesn't seem cold, but try sleeping in it. You'll freeze. Especially if you're wearing a t-shirt and shorts or something. Why do you need to communicate with anyone if you only have to last 4 days? It'll be boring, sure, but...

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Heater and a laptop because if it is 40 degrees you're eventually going to get sick and most of the time when you have the flu you don't really have an appetite, so who needs a microwave? Heater to keep me warm. And for the laptop I'd be able to have 96 hours to myself without anybody bothering me while I'm on my laptop.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

The microwave to cook the frozen food.

The laptop. Pretty darn obvious, isn't it?

The laptop and microwave, when switched on generate quite a lot of heat, what more in a small room with little air circulation?


I might modify my answer though..

Is food always available? As in, u get dinner all the time? (ur captors provide it to u)

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Originally Posted by Max Biggs

-A fairly small, modern mini-fridge
-A very large, yet powerful microwave

Since you mentioned that TV dinners would be given, I would need something to store them in and something to cook them. There's no point in starving to death just to play games. There's no guarantee that the phones will work and what will and alarm clock do? Absolutely nothing. Food for four days is the most important priority.

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The microwave just seems like a must since I'd have to eat. The other item I'd take would be the 70" TV. I wish I'd have a blanket too, but either way, I'll just sleep most of the time. I like the cold anyway. Then when my 4 days are up, that 70" TV is fucking mine. Hell yes.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Thanatos

I might modify my answer though..

Is food always available? As in, u get dinner all the time? (ur captors provide it to u)

No. They'll give you all of this, but not food. They like playing games.

Originally Posted by Lady Miyomi

Since you mentioned that TV dinners would be given, I would need something to store them in and something to cook them. There's no point in starving to death just to play games. There's no guarantee that the phones will work and what will and alarm clock do? Absolutely nothing. Food for four days is the most important priority.

Yeah, but it may not be food for four days. I thought people would assume that there was only three or four frozen dinners in there, but again, I didn't specify. People are seeing the microwave as a holy grail, but yeah, it is really good as a heater. I can't blame you, though. Any food is a lot better than none.

Originally Posted by nazpyro

The microwave just seems like a must since I'd have to eat. The other item I'd take would be the 70" TV. I wish I'd have a blanket too, but either way, I'll just sleep most of the time. I like the cold anyway. Then when my 4 days are up, that 70" TV is fucking mine. Hell yes.

I was waiting for someone to say that they wanted the big screen. I'm surprised, because it almost takes up all of one wall, but I wanted to see who didn't care and wanted to see their programs on a big screen. But, it won't be yours after four days. It's not a test with rewards, they're...uhm, doing an inhumane experiment. Because they're aliens. >_>

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Originally Posted by Max Biggs

I was waiting for someone to say that they wanted the big screen. I'm surprised, because it almost takes up all of one wall, but I wanted to see who didn't care and wanted to see their programs on a big screen. But, it won't be yours after four days. It's not a test with rewards, they're...uhm, doing an inhumane experiment. Because they're aliens. >_>

Oh... that is evil. In that case, I'll still choose the 70" TV, because that would give me a lot to break in the 4 days I'll be in there going crazy. If I can't have the TV, neither will they. Bastard aliens.

How ya doing, buddy?

Definately the:

-13" TV (the big one would be too hard on my eyes from so close).
-Electric Heater

I can watch TV for hours without getting bored, and those TV dinners I can eat half-frozen (or place on top of the heater to thaw out).

Plus, you can pretty much find out the time of day through television (and this isn't even cable, this is just the major networks):

morning news shows -> 5:00-9:00
morning talkshows -> 9:00-12:00
soap operas -> 12:00-2:00
after school cartoons -> 2:00-5:00
sitcom repeats -> 5:00-8:00
primetime shows -> 8:00-10:00
late-night dramas -> 10:00-11:00
late-night talkshows -> 11:30-1:30
infomercials -> 1:30-5:00

QUICK QUESTION:
WHERE DO I PEE.

FELIPE NO

YES. Heating the dinners on the heater is simple, but I never gave it thought. As for time, yeah, I really tried making the alarm clock useful, but I guess it isn't. Technology is just too good these days. ^_^

I made the room small for a reason, and the microwave big for a reason. So you better get used to deficating in a corner and staying as far away from it as you can. Unless you can think of an ingenius Macgyver way to get rid of it with what's provided (I can't).

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Quote:

-The cell phone charger for your cell phone
-A 13" television with A/V ports. Internal clock is inaccurate

I don't know why anybody didn't think of this. You take the TV and bash your captors over the head with it, then strangle them with the cellphone charger. After that, you escape and never have to live the tortures of captivity.

Jam it back in, in the dark.