NationStates Jolt Archive

In the movie Paycheck, which takes place in the near future, memory erasure and third-party viewing is a commonplace and well used technology. In the movie you see it used specifically for a freelance Engineer who has his memory of his inventions erased after he completes them (Think of it like a much more binding Non-Disclosure Agreement. You can't tell any other companies how you did your work, even if you want to).

Anyway, onto the pont of this thread. After Michael Jennings (The star of the movie) finishes reverse engineering a computer screen for a competing computer agency he is approached by a friend of his. His friend (the bad guy in the movie) offers him a job. He guarantees that Michael will make at least eight figures off the project (That's at least ten million dollars) whereas his usual fee is merely several hundred thousand (Michael is actually quite wealthy). The problem is that it will require nearly three years of work, and up until now the biggest memory erasure has been eight weeks (Done by our own Michael Jennings). Michael is confident that his friend knows hat he's talking about and can do the memory wipe, but he's still reall conflicted. Giving up two months at a time (usually less) is one thing, but three years of your life out the window is something else entirely. But if he does it and gets paid (Those afore mentioned eight figures) he'll be able to retire right then and there and never have his memory wiped again.

Would you do it?

If the preview is any indication then I would say yes. He does later remember most of it doesen't he through cues? And remember your memory is selective. In 4 years you probably have just a few days time of episodic memory.

In the movie Paycheck, Would you do it?

Most assuredly NOT! I don't want anyone messing around in my head for ANY amount of money!

He remembers a few tiny one second flashes, but nothing more than one face or one building, nothing conclusive. No more than if you passed somebody in the street once and then five years later you started to talk to them in a library. You might think "Hmm, he/she/it looks familiar" but that's it.

Anybody else?

Nah, I wouldn't do it. Three years is a lot of time, and it's only money.

Assuming the memory-erasure is perfect, assuming that I would get paid, assuming that I would be able to retire, assuming all that...

I still wouldn't do it.

Our conception of life is comprised of our memories, and that is something that is too important to wipe away.

First off, not a great movie. Original, but did anyone see the scene where Ben Affleck drives his little moped through a small tunnel, then the bad guys (who are obviously metally retarded and legally blind) drive into the tunnel (half as wide as the car) at full speed and do a perfect front flip. :p

Anyways, I'd be very tempted to do it. Anyone who says they wouldn't has never had real money issues. It's the same way for most of those "For a million dollars would you...blah blah blah" questions.

No. Four years of my life WASTED aren't worth 10 mill or even 10 bill.

At all.

Would you do it?

Hell no! Especially not at my age. 3 or 4 years out of your life would pretty much guarantee destroying a lot of your friendships/relationships and make starting life over very difficult.

Interesting movie though.

Craig

Nope, not that I don't trust my friends but for that kind of money, how would i know I got paid. I wouldn't remember the transaction, nor would I remember the agreement in the first place.

I couldn't bring myself to do it. I mean...you would never get those memories back, no matter how trivial, or unimportant they may be they're still your memories, that you've made for yourself.....

So nobody would do it? Come on, we're talking 10 milllion minimum. In the movie it was over 92 million!

if i were the character in the movie (you said he was already fairly wealthy), then i wouldn't do it, for the above discussed reasons.

however, if i were at all struggling for money, and if this could guarantee that i would never again have to worry about money...well...it would become pretty darn tempting...probably too tempting. i wouldn't like doing it, but i probably would.

No. Four years of my life WASTED aren't worth 10 mill or even 10 bill.

At all.


Who can say the years would be wasted? You might enjoy them thoroughly, even if you don't remember later. And after the four years, you're completely set for life.

Of course, I probably wouldn't do it, but mostly because money, beyond the minimum needed to live confortably, doesn't mean much to me. Still, I think people overvalue memories. It would be tempting just for the fantastic working environement. :-)

So nobody would do it? Come on, we're talking 10 milllion minimum. In the movie it was over 92 million!
But after the wipe I wouldn't know I was entitled to the money. So I could get the shaft.

Who can say the years would be wasted? You might enjoy them thoroughly, even if you don't remember later.

What is enjoyment without memories?

You might have the most incredible and fantastic four years of your life, but they myaswell never have happened at all if you can't remember them.

Craig

But after the wipe I wouldn't know I was entitled to the money. So I could get the shaft.

Nope, since your memory is wiped from the start of your work to the end and you agreed to the work (and agreed to the payment) before you actually began working. If you didn't, then you deserve to get the shaft.

I'd have to say no. I think I mess with my own head enough. I don't need the help. :)

I'd do it. For the most part, my life kinda sucks, so to "wake up one day" millions richer? Yeah, I'm all for that. The people who say money can't buy happiness clearly don't see things quite the same way I do.

Money isn't there to buy happiness. I use it to pay off the unhappiness-bringers. Once I dont have to work to keep a roof over my head, or worry about where the next meal is coming from..

then I can focus on the important things - people I care about. Time out to get more education, and indulging all the childhood dreams I can still achieve, if it doesn't kill me first.


Yeah, I'd give up 3-4 years for that. As it stands now, it means I'd miss most/all of the latest presidency, too, so it's even better. :D

It was a far, far better short story than an Affleck film vehicle. Such is the case with the bulk of Dick's short stories, they are better read than made into fims, if only because the pool of talented screenplay writers in Hollywood is extraordinarily shallow.

Would I do it? Only if I could 'do' the story as it was written. Screw Hollywood.

It was a far, far better short story than an Affleck film vehicle. Such is the case with the bulk of Dick's short stories, they are better read than made into fims, if only because the pool of talented screenplay writers in Hollywood is extraordinarily shallow.

I completely agree. They messed up Dick's story completely. And John Woo is a boring director. Minority Report was great, though! :)

Sign me up for everything except for the crazed psycho trying to kill me