Be Someone Else for 1 Year

[IrishCanadian25]

If you were given the ability to assume the life of another human being - anybody at all - for one calendar year, who would it be?

Bear in mind, if you assume that person's life, you assume their job, their lifestyle, their pressures, their everything. For one full year, no turning back. If you turn yourself into Brett Favre, you have to take the pressue and the aches and pains as well as the reverence, the fame, and the fortune.

My workout partner (WZ's njperfection) asked me this question at the gym last night, and after a few moments of deliberation, I settled on one name - Dick Vitale.

Vitale lives the dream in my eyes. He's a philanthropist (something I am heavy into), he's a public motivational speaker (to me the greatest feeling in the world is public speaking), and he lives sports. He is in two halls of fame, does regular TV and Radio engagements for ESPN, has a book out, and LIVES off of his own undaunted enthusiasm. I have so much respect for the man, and to be him for a year would be an honor.

Who would you be, and why?

 

[Tim]

I'm split on this one, however they're still related.

The first guy would be Jon Petucci. He is a god on the guitar, which is something i'm learning to play. He is ranked the 9th greatest ever, and won the guitarist o the year 2007. Also he has played with his idols. How many people can say they have met, let alone done something with their idols?

The second guy would be someone like Chris Martin. I'm about to start a band where i'm singing and I like singing along to his tracks. He's good singer that almost everyone likes that makes good music and is on the charts. A guy who helps charities as well. Also, it would be interesting to see what life would be like as a vegetarian

 

[Enigmania]

Fran Healy - this guy is a genius. Great song writer and a really nice guy to speak to. Touring around the world playing in one of the greatest Scottish bands ever, Travis. I love visiting other countries and to have a voice like his would be brilliant and also the skill on the Guitar is great - haven't played guitar in a while myself but loved it back in the day.

 

[HBK-aholic]

Rebecca Hickenbottom. I'd live with being that ugly to be with the guy she has - lucky bitch. Seriously though, her life is great. She doesn't even work, does she? Just sits at home looking after the babies and being with Shawn. Heaven on Earth.

I'm trying to think of a more serious one now. Hmm. The problem is you don't actually know about a persons life until you're there involved in it. So you could think you're being the greatest person ever, but it could be awful.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

Rebecca Hickenbottom. I'd live with being that ugly to be with the guy she has - lucky bitch. Seriously though, her life is great. She doesn't even work, does she? Just sits at home looking after the babies and being with Shawn. Heaven on Earth.

You should be so lucky to be punched in the mouth by someone with Chris Jericho's character and panache.

I'm trying to think of a more serious one now. Hmm. The problem is you don't actually know about a persons life until you're there involved in it. So you could think you're being the greatest person ever, but it could be awful.

That's the beauty of this exercise. It really puts you to the test and gets you thinking critically about what's most important to you. With my choice of Dick Vitale, sure there are people richer, more revered, more famous. But philanthropy, public speaking, and sports are three passions of mine, and who brings those together more aptly than Dickie V?

 

[My$terio_Fan]

Seeing how I am going to school to become a journalist, and report on the news and interviewing people is a huge passion of mine, I would probaby become Anderson Cooper. The man is bloody rich, and super famous but still goes out and reports the news(Iraq war, Hurricanes, ect)I would love to be able to go all the places he goes and get to report on the things he does. Also the fame & fourtune wouldnt be bad.

 

[Dead Kennedy]

I'd wanna be Bruce Campbell. The man kicks ass. Most badass tough guy to ever be in film. Chuck Norris, Stallone, Schwarzenegger all suck compared to Campbell. Evil Dead films? OWNAGE. Hell, even his cameos in the Spiderman films were cool. I just wanna be a cool bastard like him. That'd be sweet. Sure, there'd be a lot of having to go to nerdy comic book conventions, but isn't that everyone's goal in life?

 

[Monkey_Mania]

Vince McMahon. I know he has a horrible schedule, and he rarely sleeps. But this guy has the world at his fingertips. He makes a hell of a lot of money, and has a ton of fun doing it. I would love to step into his shoes for a year and just see what makes him tick. Know what his side of the stories are. Have to deal with all the criticism. It wouldnt be dull, it would be very entertaining, and Im sure it would be a blast.

 

[klunderbunker]

Either HHH or Bill Gates.

HHH- Think about it. You're one of the best wrestlers in the world, you're the WWE champion, you're built like a freaking tank, you're the heir to the WWE empire, which could happen anyday now after the way Vince lives, and you're married to Stephanie McMahon. You could main event WM or Summerslam, headline at the Garden, and rule Smackdown. It would be amazing to be in the sport I love and be the most powerful guy on the roster.

Bill Gates- One of the richest men in the world and an absolute genius. How sweet would it be to have so much money that your 4th generation of grandchildren will be rich? You run the biggest computer company in the world. Can you imagine what this guy's house looks like? It would be sweet to have that much money and never have to worry about a damn thing. "Sir you've lost 4 billion dollars!" Uh, so? I have 3 more. Freaking sweet.

 

[AnthonyMango/NoFate007]

Bill Gates- One of the richest men in the world and an absolute genius. How sweet would it be to have so much money that your 4th generation of grandchildren will be rich? You run the biggest computer company in the world. Can you imagine what this guy's house looks like? It would be sweet to have that much money and never have to worry about a damn thing. "Sir you've lost 4 billion dollars!" Uh, so? I have 3 more. Freaking sweet.

If you were Bill Gates for a year, wouldn't you send checks to your real self? That way, when the year is up and you're back to being your normal self, you've got millions and millions of dollars and you can do what you want in your own life haha.



As for me, I don't think I'd be able to live in someone else's life for a year. I'd end up spending some of the time talking to the real me and thinking "man, this guy's awesome" haha. No really, there aren't too many people that interest me enough that I'd be willing to be them for a full year. A day or so? Yeah. Too many people to name. But a full year? Way too much. I'd rather spend the year split up between different people. Take a week as someone, go back to normal. Take another week as someone else, go back to normal. Etc etc etc. I'd love to just be transferred into whoever gets access into Area 51 and then be able to retain the information. I want to freaking know what's going on there haha.

 

[BooCocky]

alright i am taking the IC route. If i could be one person for a day it would have been Jim Valvano( before his death). The man won an NCAA championship at NC St, but thats not even the important thing, i would love to inspire millions and millions of people, i would love to change lives. For several minutes Jimmy V stood infront of the people at the ESPY awards and gave a speech, one that will be remembered for years to comes. In basically 10 short minutes Valvano gave a speech of a lifetime, and a speech that would lead to the Jimmy V foundation.I picked this man because he was an inspiration, and he lived life to fullest, even if his life wasnt fully lived.(if that makes sense?)
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Now if i was going to pick a man for my own pleasure it would have to be George W Bush. Because i wanna see what runs through his mind every day.

 

[TheOneBigWill]

Might step away from the norm, but I'm honestly going to say.. my Wife, Erin.

The main reason I say that is because there is simply no other female I know, that's been through more shit and dealt with more crap, especially from me, yet she strives and goes through it all. I truly would like to get a better feel for exactly what she feels, what she goes through, just so I know mainly what I put her through.

Her Family to me is horrible, and to her she even has issues with them, but at the same time because they're her Family she doesn't always feel she should stick up for herself. I can't imagine not chewing or bitching them out the instant they said something to me I didn't like.. but she does. I just want to be capable of feeling the type of restraint she holds.

She works outside of the house as well as within it. She (through my eyes) likely raises our Daughter more than I do, and on top of that I'm more than sure she does things for me that in retrospect I could easily do for myself.

In a show of respect, just because I have endless amounts for her.. I'd love to be her for a year, to see exactly what she goes through. Then, and only then could I figure out my own flaws toward her and fix them as well.

I'm sure I could pick a famous person, or a wrestler, or anyone rich and popular.. but that's what everyone is always going to attempt doing.

I know Erin's life isn't any more worse off than my own through how much money we have or don't have.. and the type of popularity or fame either of us share. But what I don't know, is exactly what she goes through day in and day out.. and that's what honestly kills me.. just because I don't want to think of her ever having a bad day, or holding pain inside that could hurt her emotionally. For that, I'd like to be her.. so I know what she goes through.

 

[The Snake]

I'll take another alternative route, maybe not want, but I think need, I would pick the person that would make the person I am better after returning to my own body.

My choice would be either someone who is confined to a wheelchair or someone who has lost their sight. These are the two experiences I believe would completely destroy my life if they happened to me, I have so much admiration for those who overcome it and do something with it, it also makes me a little bit annoyed at those who use it as an excuse CONSTANTLY to not be able to do something.

I think knowing what it is like to lose something that you use all the time is perhaps the most enlightening experience I could ever have, not being able to walk around and having to have people help me do things would really hit home how amazing some people are, the same goes for blind people, just closing my eyes for 2 minutes is a challenge as I lose my sense of awareness if I move around a bit. I know it would not be an ideal existance, but knowing I have to return to my own body means that there is no point in beng a rich or famous man, because when that year is up, you have to go back to that crappy life you had, I would much rather come back to a body I am grateful for than to come back and realise how I have not achieved as much as these sports men and women or these multi millionaires have.

So there, perhaps not what most people would think of, but it is what I think would be the right thing to do - Especially if it is only for a year.

 

[Mexican Geek]

Ok, if i'am sure that this person couldn't die in the entire year, I would choose to be Barack Obama. (or John Mccain, but that wont happen, lol) in other words: the winner of the 2008 elections for President of the United States of America.

Wait, before the bashing let me explain...

I could have an entire year to make the changes that people like me, (not the crooked rich folks in Washington and in the big banks) needs. I would end the war not under 100 days but immediately: Those men overseas need to be with their families. Jobs, education and medical/psychological attention for all of them.

Overhaul the the medical care system, reactivate the people AND the economy, enough with stepping over the constitution and the common sense: you break the law, you are going to pay. EDUCATION is the keyword, no more dumb no-sense in America! every kid should be in the school receiving the same quality education, regardless of race, economic background, etc. HUGE economic boost to the science/research field.

I would make bold moves, if someone in my cabinet doesn't work, he/she is out; if some political bullshit is obstructing the progress of something more important, to hell with that.

I would help America to be, once again, a leader and a respected nation. We should be recognized as a constructive nation, not a bunch of assholes who are slaves of the TV and the apathy.

Once the massive changes are set, I would secure them with a executive clause or something, so after my year is over, these changes cannot be overruled.

whoever wins, should do the same.

 

[Richard]

There is three people I would like to be, one wrestler and two lead singers in bands which I chose for the exact same reasons so I will put their names together.

The Wrestler, Chris Jericho: Being my faveourite wrestler I would love to get inside his head and find out what he thinks about during the day and to find out what he actually does during the day and then I would be able to interact with other wrestlers aswell. I would be able to entertain millions of people each week and I would also have fans.

The lead singers, Gerard Way or Marilyn Manson: Since they are the frontmen of my faveourite bands, it's only natural one would want to be them and tour the world performing infront of lots of fans, record music and live their life for a year. Whether you like them or you hate them there's no denying their bands are immensly popular and they are idolised around the world by their legions of fans. People say they would do anything to be their idols and I would be able to say that I was my idol for a year.

 

[Miko]

I would be John Malkovich, then when I return to my normal self I could say "I was John Malkovich".

In all seriousness this guy is one of my favourite actors and just seems like a cool dude, he can act serious, or like a tough guy or a ****** (of mice and men people) and he aint afraid to play stupid comedy characters either. I would also just love to pick up a Malkovich sized paycheck.

 

[Mr. TM]

Elton John. Yes it is a strange choice for a heterosexual to pick, but I'll go with him for the fun of it. He is great on piano, and I love piano. One of the first songs that attracted me to learn was Crocodile Rock. He is lucky to be able to live his life the way he wants to. He was one of the first openly homosexual celebrities, and he can express himself anyway he wants. He seems like a guy with very few enemies, loved by millions. He is rich, he has been knighted, and even with all his fame, he still seems like a great guy. He is my choice.

 

[santinoistight44]

I would choose my best friend Dakota.HE has everything he could ever want (but he doesnt know it.) You see, Dakota is hilarious, captain of the football team, tall, his muscles are all developed, but most importantly, he has the girl that i have liked since the day i met her. Dakota doesnt like her, but if i were him, i would spend all the time i could with this girl (not telling you her name). Just to have her for a day would make me the happiest 13 year old on the planet.