So I don't know if you guys have heard of it, I know I hadn't until recently, but there's a new experiment going on by National geographic. It is called, as the title implies, "Solitairy Confinement" and involves 3 volunteers sitting through.. I think 7 or 8 days of complete solitude in a room of.. I'd say roughly 10 squaremeters.
It's been 4 days and 3 hours as I am writing this and although while not so interesting as off yet I think it might become highly interesting on day 6-7.. Madman talking, perhaps?
Anyway, reading about this and watching a bit about it obviously got me wondering how I would do 7 (or 8) days in solitaire... I remember reading in the horror story thread by DoctorHelvetica the fiction about solitairy confinement.. Didn't really believe that for shit, but it was a pretty good read, I suggest you go through the thread if you missed it: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=112943
So tell me TL! What would you do if you had 7 days with absolutely nothing but yourself, 1 hour exercize per day, some paper and a pencil?
I reckon I would practice holding my breath, for one.. And perhaps draw myself a piano, but I can't quite hold the notes in my head entirely yet.
That would be fairly intense stuff... It would be more interesting if it was longer but I don't think it would ever get to the point of going crazy. I would probably recess into my head and just spend hours and hours daydreaming about different things. I can't really imagine life without all this stimulation.
On April 07 2010 00 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 07 2010 00 end_of_the_skype_highlighting:34 meeple wrote: That would be fairly intense stuff... It would be more interesting if it was longer but I don't think it would ever get to the point of going crazy. I would probably recess into my head and just spend hours and hours daydreaming about different things. I can't really imagine life without all this stimulation.
Just try looking at the cameras for a little while, it gives you a pretty good idea, actually! But I don't think think this is solitude in the complete sense, since the girl talks to the camera.. And thus gaining some comfort, it seems.
On April 07 2010 00 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 07 2010 00 end_of_the_skype_highlighting:37 FaCE_1 wrote: having access to internet isnt reallt solitairy O_o
I'd be sleeping the whole time. Honestly, I have no problem to sleep 14 hours a day. In that cell I'll probably make it 18 a day. For the rest of the time I'll just stare at the wall (I'm really good at that, too!).
I think knowing that you're only going to be locked up for a week or a little bit more won't drive you crazy but obviously people handle it differently.
There's a tab called perspective in the link which shows real prisoners in solitary confinement and one of them said he was in there for 5 years and he seemed pretty sane.
I think if I were in confinement for 7 days i'd just do push ups and read a book like most prisoners do i'd imagine.
On April 07 2010 00 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 07 2010 00 end_of_the_skype_highlighting:47 ggrrg wrote: I'd be sleeping the whole time. Honestly, I have no problem to sleep 14 hours a day. In that cell I'll probably make it 18 a day. For the rest of the time I'll just stare at the wall (I'm really good at that, too!).
Actually there was some talk about just that! Apparently they were starting to lose sleep after day three and instead of sleeping for one long period, they started sleeping in small bursts.. for whatever reason xD
I think the experience would actually be good for me to get away from the world and have a guaranteed length of time to consider my thoughts.
I have voluntarily confined myself plenty of times anyway. Not for a week at a time, but if I have no obligations that I want to meet, I certainly might wake up in the morning, go to the bathroom, and go to bed again for hours, lying awake. Food, exercise and hygiene would have been an improvement. But I guess you might argue that coping by behaving in a mentally unhealthy (depressed) way is proving the point. Or at least a point. I don't know what the point is. As far as I can tell, it's just "let's see what happens."
On April 07 2010 01:00 Liquid`NonY wrote: I think the experience would actually be good for me to get away from the world and have a guaranteed length of time to consider my thoughts.
I have voluntarily confined myself plenty of times anyway. Not for a week at a time, but if I have no obligations that I want to meet, I certainly might wake up in the morning, go to the bathroom, and go to bed again for hours, lying awake. Food, exercise and hygiene would have been an improvement. But I guess you might argue that coping by behaving in a mentally unhealthy (depressed) way is proving the point. Or at least a point. I don't know what the point is. As far as I can tell, it's just "let's see what happens."
You don't need a see what happens experiment, just look at prisons.
I don't think 8 days is amazingly hard, it would be difficult of course but as Nony said, it would give me a chance to think things through and figure some stuff out. I would do it if they asked me to.
On April 07 2010 02:14 BDF92 wrote: Do they get any private time? How do they go to the bathroom?
they are allowed to go to the restroom in private area. One guy had a shower and there was a sign saying he was out.
Lol that's funny, if you're allowed to write or read then it doesn't seem like a huge problem. If it's a good book I'll read through the while thing in one day so just bring a large supply.
they get way too many luxuries. a week is nothing like that. try looking up what french prisons are like. what they definitely should have done is not tell them how long they have to stay in there. that would make this experiment 100x more exciting.
On April 07 2010 02:48 Gliche wrote: they get way too many luxuries. a week is nothing like that. try looking up what french prisons are like. what they definitely should have done is not tell them how long they have to stay in there. that would make this experiment 100x more exciting.
Yeah... I think part of the reason they haven't been showing many signs of mental instability is that they just have way too much to stimulate them. They get exercise, and it looks like they have activities to do. Their prison thing is nice and bright. The only thing that might be unbearable is the no people aspect, but there are enough anti-social hermits out there that I don't think it should be a real problem. There are often days at a time when I don't interact with people.
On April 07 2010 02 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 07 2010 02 end_of_the_skype_highlighting:49 Marradron wrote: Do they even have a labtop ? they are twittering
I saw a tweet from some dude watching saying that they have a kind of fax machine connected to the control-central, allowing them to send tweets through them.
I'd go crazy. I would probably learn how to meditate before participating in something like that. During my time there I would probably try to sleep as long as I could and probably try to recall all the trips, experiences, adventures, people, loves, friends, and events I've had so far. It would be pretty neat.
I have always thought about becoming some sort of monk and sitting atop a mountain in complete silence for a year or so to develop wisdom. I think they went about this completly wrong they should have either put them in a concreate cell with only a bed in complete silence and darkness for a week, or they could have put them in their current surroundings for atleast a month.
I really doubt they will learn ANYTHING from this experiment.
I want to do this sooo bad. Maybe I'll come out all philosophical and enlightened. Or crazy.
edit: wtf this experiment is bullshit do they understand the words solitary confinement? Might as well watch survivor to learn how it is to live in the wild lol
EPT
