RubySoho
Winston
Burnt To A Crisp Or Frozen Solid, How Would You Rather Go?
October 24th 2008 04:23
I was out eating some rather average Thai food the other night in Footscray or somewhere equally Western Suburbs, and missing the scrumptious and much cheaper flavours of Newtown Thai in Sydney (hey you can take the girl out of the Inner West...).
The less said about the entrees the better and the noodles were okay, if a little heavy on the MSG. By the time the angry looking banana fritter arrived, which I'm sorry, is only slightly less phallic than having an actual fried penis on your plate, I had given up on getting any value for money and consoled myself with the thought that it was a Community Fundraiser for something or other and I'm sure it was a good cause. Then my friend and companion struck up one of those wonderful conversations that make you glad you were there at that moment to engage in it.
Maybe it was the overfried fritter that put the notion in her head, or maybe it was the bitter, unseasonal wind that blew through the little eatery every every time a patron left the premises and thought they would just shit in our faces by refusing to close the door behind them (it's not hard people. Just close the goddamn door), for suddenly she just piped up, apropos of nothing, "Would you rather burn or freeze to death?" Okay, so light conversation over dinner it was not, but a very good question, especially in light of her follow up comments, "I think you can tell everything you need to know about someone based on how they would rather die". I must have looked a little skeptical for she continued. "Think about it, you have the whingers like Steve (her husband, not his real name). He'd rather freeze to death, so he can just sit there for hours shivering and whining about how cold he is. He is a complainer and complainers would rather freeze so they can go out with- literally- a whimper".
Needless to say, my friend fancied herself, not as a whinger but as a screamer. "Give me the fire, any day. Think about it. You can just scream, as loud as you want. Scream and flail you arms and thrash about like a madwoman. And pretty soon it's all over".
"There are two types of people in this world". She concluded firmly. "Those who would rather burn and those who would rather freeze".
I really find this premise intriguing. And I must say, as horrendous as it sounds, I would much prefer to burn in style than to die a cold slow, death. I certainly prefer the hot, steamy summer to a miserable, chilly winter. And I'm pretty vocal. I don't like to whimper and whine sullenly, if I'm upset about something, you'll surely know it (just ask half the people on Orble). And I do think I would prefer to leave the material world with one great, final, almighty release of the lungs and vocal chords.
What do you think? Does this theory have any validity? Would you rather burn to a crisp or be frozen solid? And do you think this is an accurate reflection of your personality or that of anyone you know?
The less said about the entrees the better and the noodles were okay, if a little heavy on the MSG. By the time the angry looking banana fritter arrived, which I'm sorry, is only slightly less phallic than having an actual fried penis on your plate, I had given up on getting any value for money and consoled myself with the thought that it was a Community Fundraiser for something or other and I'm sure it was a good cause. Then my friend and companion struck up one of those wonderful conversations that make you glad you were there at that moment to engage in it.
Maybe it was the overfried fritter that put the notion in her head, or maybe it was the bitter, unseasonal wind that blew through the little eatery every every time a patron left the premises and thought they would just shit in our faces by refusing to close the door behind them (it's not hard people. Just close the goddamn door), for suddenly she just piped up, apropos of nothing, "Would you rather burn or freeze to death?" Okay, so light conversation over dinner it was not, but a very good question, especially in light of her follow up comments, "I think you can tell everything you need to know about someone based on how they would rather die". I must have looked a little skeptical for she continued. "Think about it, you have the whingers like Steve (her husband, not his real name). He'd rather freeze to death, so he can just sit there for hours shivering and whining about how cold he is. He is a complainer and complainers would rather freeze so they can go out with- literally- a whimper".
Needless to say, my friend fancied herself, not as a whinger but as a screamer. "Give me the fire, any day. Think about it. You can just scream, as loud as you want. Scream and flail you arms and thrash about like a madwoman. And pretty soon it's all over".
"There are two types of people in this world". She concluded firmly. "Those who would rather burn and those who would rather freeze".
I really find this premise intriguing. And I must say, as horrendous as it sounds, I would much prefer to burn in style than to die a cold slow, death. I certainly prefer the hot, steamy summer to a miserable, chilly winter. And I'm pretty vocal. I don't like to whimper and whine sullenly, if I'm upset about something, you'll surely know it (just ask half the people on Orble). And I do think I would prefer to leave the material world with one great, final, almighty release of the lungs and vocal chords.
What do you think? Does this theory have any validity? Would you rather burn to a crisp or be frozen solid? And do you think this is an accurate reflection of your personality or that of anyone you know?
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Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Damn - now you've made me start thinking about all those songs featuring fire and ice.etc. ie: Disco Inferno, Burn for You, Fire, Heatwave, Cold as Ice and performers like Cold Play, Pheobe Snow and Cold Chisel - bugger!
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Oh the flame tree would blind a weary driver. And there's nothing else could set fire to this town...
Comment by Louie
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
What I cant get over is the synchronicity of this post and thought and (again) the mind of the collective consciousness of our species on this planet. My 12 year old daughter asked me this same question on the way to the vet this morning!
I have always just wanted to go in my sleep and would prefer neither of the above options, however, if given only those two choices, would always pick freezing (a) for Louies reasons and (b) because whinging about the cold feels good and (c) apparently, well before you start to loose consciousness for the final time, you become unconscious and feel euphoric and warm... I am reminded here of the scene from Touching the Void where all he can hear is this song by Boney M Music (Brown girl in the ring)..again and again and again, louder and louder in his head.
It is an interesting question.
Lilla ...
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Okay firstly i want to say, there is not hope of rescue. None. In fact you can look at the situation as being some sort of execution. ie there is no escape.
Yeah I know the fire would hurt, but so would the cold. Like it's not just a little cold. It's friggin' freezing!
I don't relish the thought of burning alive, but I do like the idea of screaming my lungs out as I go...
Lilla, what option did your daughter choose?
Comment by alt_ed
Alted Opinion
ArtCombat
The Inner Saintdom
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Comment by Jeff Musall
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Comment by Norm
Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
She prefers to freeze too, so we decided to freeze together and listen to Night flight to Venus or better still, Rasputen ... Drowning was our absolute worst scenario, although I think I wouls still prefer it to burning.. The thought of seeing and smelling my flesh bubbling really puts me off that option, perhaps a trace memory from a previous lifetime?
L.
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
How long do you think before your brain shuts down and you pass out?
Comment by Jeff Musall
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
10, maybe 15 minutes of sheer agony?