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scotsbloke's avatar

What do you think about trading places with someone...?

Asked by scotsbloke (3756points) December 28th, 2009

If you could trade places with someone, who is around today, and BE that person for exactly one day, who would it be and why them?

I was asked this question today by my daughter and seriously struggled to think of someone. I love a question that makes you think for a while….....
I went through the usual, I’d wanna be a girl for a day to see what it’s like, or the richest man in the world or whatever, but I ended with this. It will sound trite, but this is the answer I went with – if I could I’d trade places with someone who has nothing, no-one, alone, penniless, and this would hopefully stop me taking my life for granted and appreciate what I have accomplished, Who is in my life and try harder to be a better person instead of just coasting…........

You? as humble or funny as you like.

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28 Answers

trumi's avatar

I think I’d like to be Gail for a day. She seems to have it all figured out. I’d love to have that sensation.

Not kidding ass, I’m being for real! :)

HumourMe's avatar

Who wouldn’t want to be Barack Obama for a day? Being the President of America and seeing what really goes on in the White House would be fascinating.

CMaz's avatar

Would we have the option of our memory, of that day, being erased?

My concern is everyone has baggage. Some worse then others, that being an assumption too.
They might seem a good choice, only now in their shoes, to find out they killed their cousin or were molested. Those dirty little secrets.

“and this would hopefully stop me taking my life for granted and appreciate what I have accomplished.”

Do not know if anyone is truly in that sort of position.

I am good with what I know. I pass.

I do not want to be stuck with the memory of someone else’s trauma.

ucme's avatar

Buy pork bellies make a fortune Mortimer.

scotsbloke's avatar

@ChazMaz – it would be a slightly pointless episode if we had our memories erased wouldnt it?

I understand my point sounds like regrets, it’s not really, just sometimes these kind of questions make me question my own attitude toward things. That’s one of the reasons I think I like being asked this kind of thing now and then. makes us think .

jbfletcherfan's avatar

I’ve had a best friend since childhood who’s always seemed to have it all. Perfect family, perfect house, perfect life. I’d like to be her for a day.

HumourMe's avatar

I think ChazMaz spent a little too much time thinking about the question. ;)

Cotton101's avatar

Every person should watch, “It Is A Wonderful Life!” Think this movie puts everything into perspective!

CMaz's avatar

I thought this was a practical question, not a fantasy question. :-)

Gossamer's avatar

I dont think Hugh Hefner would appreciate me takin over his life =P

Cruiser's avatar

Jenna Jamison….I don’t think I would ever make it out of the shower…woo hoo!

Jadey's avatar

@scotsbloke… I love your answer to your daughter’s question! I think I would have naturally come to the same conclusion eventually, but your explanation of your question pushed me quicker in that direction.

I have worked with and for refugees for a few years. I want to really have a day in their place. Maybe it will push me to become more committed, or help me in my work, something to make me really see as an insider rather than an outsider.

Ghost_in_the_system's avatar

If I had that to do, Bill Gates would be the choice. To be in the “want to” side of life vs. the “have to”. That And the ability to write a check to this unknown guy on the other coast…

Zen_Again's avatar

Richard Branson.

All the money in the world, with interests and connections ranging from music to banking to space travel.

sliceswiththings's avatar

My cat. Just to see.

philosopher's avatar

I would like to trade places with the Scientist doing research on a cure for Autism .
I frequently visit research web sites . My Son is Autistic . I want to understand everything.

Austinlad's avatar

We have an old saying in our family… If everybody in the world put all their troubles into a giant pot, and then everybody reached in and picked whichever ones they wanted—they’d STILL pick their own troubles. The point is, however good or bad other people’s lives seem, the one you’re living is the best for you.

rooeytoo's avatar

This question is so intriguing and it worries me that I can’t seem to come up with an answer. It either means I have lost my imagination or I am content with who I am. I don’t think either is a correct assumption so I wonder what it all means?

(@zen again please don’t be branson, there is something about him I just can’t stomach and I like you)

jonsblond's avatar

I’d pick Richard Branson too. As long as I could spend the entire day at his island

Dr_Lawrence's avatar

This is an intriguing question and I’m not sure the transformation would be worthwhile enough unless the duration was greater. I would want enough time to really learn much more about that person’s view of the world and to have the chance to see what I could experience as that person.

I think spending time as a member of the opposite sex would teach me a great deal although I am quite happy being a man. I would want to be a person with enough intellectual and financial resources to try to make a lasting difference for someone else or maybe even many people.

That’s the best I can do, I’m afraid.

Blondesjon's avatar

Aaron Rodgers on game day during the playoffs. This is assuming that quarterbacking is an autonomous function.

janbb's avatar

Stephen Hawking; for so many reasons!

filmfann's avatar

Jessica Alba. then just spend the whole day alone with a mirror.

faye's avatar

Somebody very well off, currently on vacation at some 5 star resort somewhere lovely and warm.

scotsbloke's avatar

I’m loving everyone’s answers. thanks for the input guys.

I had a chat with my daughter (she’s 24 by the way and a bit of an armchair philosopher, she did a year of a course to be a teacher before she had her kids and is hoping to go back to it and is good at generating deep meaningful conversation) and she said the reason for it being a 1 day deal was so we could experience briefly without changing anything. I showed her the responses and she’s smiling.
I asked HER the question back just now too, Expecting a deep, serious answer…......... she said “I’d be Paulo Nutini for a day – cos I LOVE him!!!”
............ huh? I mean Kids today eh? lol

Zen_Again's avatar

@rooeytoo Don’t worry, buddy, I wouldn’t become him: I’d just replace him for a day. I’d take you up in the spaceship with me.. who else wants to come for the ride? I read it’s a 6-seater plus the two pilots.

scotsbloke's avatar

Hell yes! @Zen_Again – but isnt it REALLY expensive? or as Branson are you covering our costs too? and I want a bag of nuts please…...

Cotton101's avatar

Been playing golf with a group of guys for 30 years. Everyday we play at noon. We are called, “the nooners!” Anywhere from 12 guys to 30 guys play at our club everyday at noon. This has been a tradition for 40 years at the club.

For one day, would like to be Tiger Woods and take all my friends money…loll..don’t need the women, got one real good one!

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