The Chosen Few

[Bonecrusher Doc]

So, the guys in the suits get out of their black suburbans and explain to you that the government is doing a "purely hypothetical exercise" in which they are selecting 1% of the population for shelter during an imminent major disaster which has not yet been made public (OK I'm pretty much plagiarizing the movie DEEP IMPACT here).

Those who are selected will be able to bring their spouse and children with them to the bunker/colony ship/quarantine zone/whatever. The guys in suits would like to interview you, to hear what you feel your/your family's contribution to humanity would be such that you should be selected.

They of course have boxes to check regarding knowledge, skills, physical health, and cultural/artistic contributions, but they have a lot of space for "outside the box" reasons why you should be considered.

What would you do or say in this situation? Would you even agree to the interview?
Alternatively, or in addition to the first question: Which celebrities would you nominate for preservation for the future of the human race?

Here's my answer to start things off:

1. My qualifications: my emotional stability and easy-going nature will make me a valuable team member in a crisis. I have an international family which will set the example for cooperation necessary in the new post-apocalyptic world.
2. What would I do: I would talk to my siblings and, if it looks like they're not going get selected, I would ask if they would want me to try to adopt their kids from them, 'cause what parent doesn't want to know that their children's future is secured?
3. I nominate Shakira for a seat on the colony ship because of her multiethnic, multilingual, multicultural, and multitalented qualifications. And, you know, nice jeans. I mean genes. :smalltongue:


Oh yeah - no thumbs up or down on other people's answers or this will turn into a religious or political argument real quick! Just let us know YOUR choices!

[Obrysii]

What would you do or say in this situation? Would you even agree to the interview?
Alternatively, or in addition to the first question: Which celebrities would you nominate for preservation for the future of the human race?

I would not agree. I'd rather not live without my friends, thank you.

The only celebrities I'd consider are already passed breeding age, so ... none?

[Joran]

Are we sure this isn't for a Vault project like the Fallout Series? ;)

I don't have a high opinion of my worth to humanity at the moment, so I'd probably decline the interview.

[Dallas-Dakota]

I could probably convince them with my knowledge of psychology, art, being Bi-lingual and a smattering of other languages and that having a camera man there to record your everything would be good.

But I'd probably decline the interview, not really a world I'd like to live in if all my friends and well everybody I knew was gone. Also my self-worth isn't that great.

[Don Julio Anejo]

Dunno... seems doubtful they'd do something like that. More likely than not, they'd make a shortlist of everyone who's going to make it (politicians and top military brass since they're probably the ones making the list) and anyone left over will be 1. Icons like top scientists, celebrities, etc and 2. Specialists really good at what what the government believes is important.

For #2 chances are a part of the consideration would be specialists who already have stable families, preferably with kids.

Contributions to humanity would probably play little role in who gets selected - it's idealism. A good janitor would be more important in a post-apocalypse situation than the most talented post-modernist writer on Earth if the writer is a cloud cuckoolander. Simply because in the immediate future survival is more important so the writer won't be of much use, while further off a new generation of writers will be born. Yes, they have to be taught, but teachers would fall under "specialists."

[Bonecrusher Doc]

What, no more celebrity suggestions?

[VeisuItaTyhjyys]

Whatever lies it took to get me there. When I'm there, the only skill that matters is elementary and inelegant sabotage. If I don't get to bring my loved ones with me, we all die.

Seriously, eff humanity. If the couple people in it that don't suck don't make it, I hope nobody does.

[Orzel]

I'll leave. I'd rather die than like in Crapsack Afterworld.

Actually put me under whatever it is. I wants to punch. I don't care if it's a meteor or something.

But save Mariano Rivera.
Because we will always need a closer.

[FoE]

Eh. I have nothin' to offer to the society to come. I'll just stay out here and watch the world burn, thanks.


If I don't get to bring my loved ones with me, we all die.

And I'm sure they'd be proud of you.

[KuReshtin]

Eh. I have nothin' to offer to the society to come. I'll just stay out here and watch the world burn, thanks.



You bring the lawn chairs. I'll bring the beverages.

I have the same thoughts about this scenario as FoE.

[Orzel]

You can watch the video feed of me with the big gag boxing glove punching the nukes/meteor/titalwave/germs.

[Moff Chumley]

I'd stay behind for the betterment of humanity. :smalltongue:

[VeisuItaTyhjyys]

And I'm sure they'd be proud of you.

This isn't about me being happy, this is about them getting to survive if they want. They can think and act however they like.

[Flickerdart]

I would volunteer to come along with them and snark at other people that they interview, until the confidence of everyone is deflated and they have to choose me cause nobody else wants to go. :smallbiggrin:

[grimbold]

i would argue that my skill in physics and my skill at running would be good additions to the team. As for my sister, that might be kind of hard, i probably would not tell her. I would nominate, all the surviving Led Zeppelin members andd Jason Bonham
because they are awesome
oh and ozzy and sharon

[shadow_archmagi]

Most important human to save would be Liam Neeson. Then, in a massive movement, every single survivor has a blanket placed around their shoulders and a hot cup of chocolate placed in their hands while Liam Neeson says that everything is going to be OK.

All emotional trauma is gone.

[Telonius]

Yep, I'd take the interview.

My Bachelor's was in Foreign Service, which will help with conflict-resolution. (1% of the population in an enclosed space? Yeah, there's going to be conflicts). I'm a fantasy author, which will help with entertainment and general literacy. My focus on medieval and ancient civilizations in my work will provide some theoretical background on re-establishing a successful and working society from scratch. I'd also cite my SAT scores, which were extremely high, and my job as a manager at a major science journal. (Also pointing to the fact that I could perform my duties while still posting regularly on an internet message board :smallbiggrin:)

My wife is a skilled vocalist, and also has a graduate degree. My daughter is healthy and past the most dangerous age for infant mortality. As a purely practical matter, we'll definitely inject a fairly wide variety of genes into the pool. Between my wife and I, we have English, German, Scottish, Swedish, Danish, French, Italian, African (unknown nationality), and (most likely) Roma in our backgrounds.

I can name quite a number of celebrities who I'd exclude from the bunker, but inclusion is a bit tougher. The biggest problem is most "celebrities" are celebrities because of skills that would not be very transferable to the new world. Just off the top of my head, I'd nominate the guy who designed the rescue apparatus for the Chilean miners. Other than that I'm coming up with nothing.

[CynicalAvocado]

my answer? simple.

you lock me out, and i'm going to sneak in.

so you might as well take me because i'm going whether you want me to or not

[TheThan]

Now I wouldn’t get picked. But I would survive to live in the crapsack afterworld, taking to the streets in my supped up battle Trans Am and become a hardboiled road warrior.

[Traab]

"You either take me with you, or I will form a mad max style post apocalyptic society based ENTIRELY around screwing over your handpicked survivors. Dont make me run you down in a dune buggy and drive an axe blade made from old hub caps through your skull. Ill do it." In all honesty, meh, I dont know that id want to be part of that. On the one hand, I wouldnt have to worry about my 401k anymore. On the other hand, I dont know if turning them down and waiting for the doomsday to hit would count as suicide and send me to an eternity of hell. Most I could do is say, "Im an electrical apprentice, so id cvome in handy with rewiring anything that breaks down. I bet your rocket scientists wouldnt know how to splice wires if humanity depended on it."

[CynicalAvocado]

"You either take me with you, or I will form a mad max style post apocalyptic society based ENTIRELY around screwing over your handpicked survivors. Dont make me run you down in a dune buggy and drive an axe blade made from old hub caps through your skull. Ill do it." In all honesty, meh, I dont know that id want to be part of that. On the one hand, I wouldnt have to worry about my 401k anymore. On the other hand, I dont know if turning them down and waiting for the doomsday to hit would count as suicide and send me to an eternity of hell. Most I could do is say, "Im an electrical apprentice, so id cvome in handy with rewiring anything that breaks down. I bet your rocket scientists wouldnt know how to splice wires if humanity depended on it."

i like you

[IonDragon]

I'd nominate Justin Beiber, Lady Gaga, and what's her name that sings "Party in the USA". Then decline the interview.

I'm prepared to fight radroaches with a shotgun, especially if it means never having to hear pop music ever again.

[CynicalAvocado]

I'd nominate Justin Beiber, Lady Gaga, and what's her name that sings "Party in the USA". Then decline the interview.

I'm prepared to fight radroaches with a shotgun, especially if it means never having to hear pop music ever again.

miley cyrus.

[Cobalt]

I'd take that interview. And then I'd lie my pants off because I know I'm not that good. I can run fairly fast, I seem to get by without working at it, that's about all I bring to the table. But you better believe I'm getting in that bunker and hiding in the darkest corner of it until all the death blows over.

Honestly, I'd be one hell of a burden with my anger issues and the first few days I'd cry. But they'll get over it; it was me or the other guy, and the other guy smells.