I keep thinking about this weird tradeoff: one pill, instantaneous transfer of another person’s memories and practical skills into your brain, and in exchange you lose one full year of your own life (gone from your memory and timeline). No superpowers, no guaranteed outcomes beyond the transfer. Would you do it? Who would you copy: a polyglot, a calm trauma-free therapist, a world-class coder, a master chef, an Olympic athlete? Or someone closer to home?
I’m asking because I’m stuck in a rut career-wise and part of me wants to shortcut into competence, but the idea of losing a year of my life (and whatever relationships or tiny moments are tied up in it) feels like its own erosion of self. Tell me what you’d trade, why, and how you’d reckon with the lost year afterward. Also: does having someone else’s memories still feel like you, or a stranger living in your head?
PTSD and trauma victims gobbling the pills like mad, the skills are just a bonus
I’d give away two years for expert knowledge in two areas: a painter and illustrator artist, and a successful stock broker. Fuck off from work and win at the market to cover expenses, spend the rest of my time creating whatever the hell I want with my art.
My mind seems to favor the negative memories, focuses on them, and I forget the good ones as they are no longer referenced. So I really don’t care which years I lose.