What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

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The discussion centers around the hypothetical scenario of what individuals would pursue if they knew they could not fail. Many participants express a desire to engage in ambitious projects, such as writing and publishing novels, solving complex scientific problems like the Riemann Hypothesis, or achieving world peace. Others mention personal aspirations, including raising strong and caring children or pursuing creative endeavors like stand-up comedy. Some participants humorously suggest extreme or fantastical ideas, such as becoming a benevolent world leader or even flying to Mars. A recurring theme is the notion that the challenge of potential failure adds value to success, with some expressing that knowing they couldn't fail might diminish their motivation. The conversation blends serious aspirations with lighthearted banter, showcasing a mix of personal dreams and whimsical thoughts.
Math Is Hard
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What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

I think I would try to write and publish a novel.

How about you?
 
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I'd be doing what I am doing, and what I plan to be doing. It's just going to take time.
 
Play the lottery.
 
  • Like
Likes gracy
Same thing that I did when trying to pick a major:Sit around and take so long to decide that I would never get anything done.
 
Move Mt. Fuji. -Next to Bill Gates' garage.
 
I would be what I am..a mother. If I could raise my kids to be strong and caring and successful I will have not failed.
 
Ask MIH to marry me. Muahaha. :devil:

Now that I'm evil I have to use other peoples own ideas against them.

I'd probably try and unite gravity and QM. Or get on a PhD course somewhere. Anywhere!
 
Kill Mr sod.
 
I'd probably become some sort of benevolent world despot... but I'm sure I'd eventually realize that people's view on "benevolence" is pretty subjective and end up failing anyway.
 
  • #10
I'd go after the Tijuana drug mafia.
 
  • #11
I'd eliminate corruption in all the world's governments, right down to the local level. People are not sick and starving all over the world because there are no resources available, but because resources are diverted, co-opted, and distributed to those that will compensate the corrupt for personal gain.

Edit: And world peace! (Miss Congeniality plug)
 
  • #12
Math Is Hard said:
What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

What do you mean by, "if"?
 
  • #13
See if I could find some way to fail. That would be kind of tough. If you intentionally sabotaged the project you were working on so that it would be unsuccessful, then you couldn't really say you failed when it was unsuccessful. Finding a way to unintentionally sabotage your project is a lot harder than just throwing it in the trash.

I think I'd first have to cruise a lot of seedy nightclubs interviewing folks that have failed relationships for research. Cruising the seedy nightclubs would also give a chance to use some of those great pick-up lines I've learned here on PF.

Oh, and I'd try to create world peace. I want to be Miss Congeniality, too. In fact, I'd even hand out maps to poor people in Tanzangentia.
 
  • #14
Math Is Hard said:
What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

I think I would try to write and publish a novel.

How about you?

Why only one?? I think I would at least go for a two or three.
 
  • #15
Destroy the earth? :D
 
  • #16
try stand-up
 
  • #17
take on mentor's that ban me for insufficient reasons. JUST KIDDING
 
  • #18
It burns a hole in my brain thinking about it :devil:
 
  • #19
I would fix the hole in lisab's brain.
 
  • #20
tribdog said:
try stand-up

Don't risk it—you'll just end up having to mop the floor.

I think that I would go for inventing and flying in a warp-drive ship. (I know that it ain't going to happen, but I'm clinging to that 'if' in the title.)
 
  • #21
Build the photon reactor
 
  • #22
impregnate every female supermodel in the world.
 
  • #23
Ivan Seeking said:
I would fix the hole in lisab's brain.

Thanks, Ivan - I'd hate to be a bagel brain!
 
  • #24
lisab said:
Thanks, Ivan - I'd hate to be a bagel brain!

Glad to oblige. :biggrin:

Right now my brain feels like swiss cheese. I've been trying to get sick [or I am sick and haven't been able to admit it yet], and everything is a bit swimmy.
 
  • #25
Ignoring, saving the world, extending life forever, curing all disease, feeding everyone, etc. etc. etc. and strictly in the most exotic personal terms:

I have always wanted a re-entry suit that would allow me to push-off from the space station and eventually land in my pasture. Then again, it would be fun to jump a bicycle off of Phobos [escape velocity ~25 mph], and land on Mars.

But then there is one that is potentially within reach for some of our younger members: Some of the plans for a lunar hotel include a large chamber where you could fly like a bird.
 
  • #26
Proton Soup said:
impregnate every female supermodel in the world.
Why impregnate them all? Why not just impress them to the point that they would throw themselves at you and hang themselves on you like ornaments? (Just a suggestion).
 
  • #27
just Understand. Why things are what they are
- The nature
- people and relationships

And then if Ivan will not do it: cure all disease, feed everyone (I think extending life forever would not be as good as you may think)
 
  • #28
Kurdt said:
Ask MIH to marry me. Muahaha. :devil:

Now that I'm evil I have to use other peoples own ideas against them.

I'd probably try and unite gravity and QM. Or get on a PhD course somewhere. Anywhere!

shh! Don't let my short-tempered husband hear you. :eek:
 
  • #29
edward said:
Why only one?? I think I would at least go for a two or three.

I procrastinate too much. It would probably take most of the rest of my life just to write one.
 
  • #30
Be a super hero! ;-)
 
  • #31
turbo-1 said:
Why impregnate them all? Why not just impress them to the point that they would throw themselves at you and hang themselves on you like ornaments? (Just a suggestion).

what good is a bee that isn't pollinating flowers? reproduction is the closest thing to immortality we've got. i figure there's a reason men seek out the most attractive women, they've got the best genes. so i would get the chance to spread my seed amongst a diverse group of the most perfect women on earth. they're also likely to retain the means to properly rear the little brats.

and because new ones mature on a regular basis, i'd have an activity to keep me busy for the rest of my days. i can't think of a better job to have, really.
 
  • #32
Another mission to accomplish is learning the people what the reason is of all wars and learning how to avoid that.
 
  • #33
Want to hear something morbid? My first thought was suicide. I might need a shrink.
 
  • #34
Math Is Hard said:
shh! Don't let my short-tempered husband hear you. :eek:

Husband? Oh, great... another sexual fantasy blown to hell...
 
  • #35
Math Is Hard said:
shh! Don't let my short-tempered husband hear you. :eek:

Its Ok I can't possibly fail. :wink:
 
  • #36
Danger said:
Husband? Oh, great... another sexual fantasy blown to hell...

Since when husbands/boyfriends prohibit sexual fantasies?

Unless you hoped MIH is a virgin :smile:
 
  • #37
Borek said:
Since when husbands/boyfriends prohibit sexual fantasies?

Unless you hoped MIH is a virgin :smile:

best one I've heard all year
 
  • #38
Hmmm, how about this: answer every Physics Forum homework question with "I believe you'll figure it out if you think about it a little more."

Evo said:
Play the lottery.

Actually, that's the first thing I thought of too.
 
  • #39
Redbelly, I love the festive headgear!
 
  • #40
Evo said:
Redbelly, I love the festive headgear!

Aren't those worms?
 
  • #41
I am not sure I like the idea of green worms on my head
 
  • #42
Oh its a Borek tribute now. Sorry. :redface:
 
  • #44
Once a year it happens to everyone.
 
  • #45
tribdog said:
best one I've heard all year

Don't make me get the gun.

http://forums.intpcentral.com/images/smilies/banned.gif
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #46
I would prove the Riemann Hypothesis ;-)

Along with making a great contribution to the mathematical community, I'd win the Clay Mathematics Institute $1,000,000.00 award, and probably the Fields Medal and maybe even a Nobel Prize (if they could apply that to something other than pure mathematics).
 
  • #47
Evo said:
Redbelly, I love the festive headgear!
Don't you recognize Borek's green foil wig?
 
  • #48
Borek said:
Since when husbands/boyfriends prohibit sexual fantasies?
Since the last time I had a gun shoved up my nose by one. (Okay, see... I always try to live out my fantasies...)

Borek said:
Unless you hoped MIH is a virgin :smile:

For some unfathomable reason, that absolutely never crossed my mind.
 
  • #49
Re: What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Something stupid, like seeing if it nonfailure could include convincing myself I would fail.
 
  • #50
Meh...
 

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