Would you? Could you?

[Traci66]

Watching the film 127 hours last night got me wondering, would you be able to cut off your own arm if you had to in order to survive (I'm really squeamish, so don't think I could)? Also when it rained about day 2, why didn't he use the w(h)et stone to sharpen his knife and get out of there quicker?

[mrs_overall]

Difficult to say without having been in that situation

[Old_Geezer]

I didn't watch the film. But in answer to your first question, I suspect I couldn't do so: but I guess one doesn't know what one is capable of until put in the position. I suspect I'd be of the view that we all have to die sometime, no escape, but we don't all have to inflict awful things on ourselves to put off the fateful moment. No urgency to go, but there is a judgement call as to how much a bit more life is worth.

[ummmm]

I think the instinct to survive will always kick in.

[Baldric]

I think if it really was a question of survival any one of us would be truely amazed by what we are capable of with 'our back against the wall'

[smilingcrow]

You know I am an engineer as he is and I would never have thought of sharpening the knife. Are you a chef by any chance?

[netibiza]

It would never dawn on me to do it, I would always think I was gonna be rescued!

[commoner]

Arm?..I'd cut off my dangly bit to survive.....mind you I'd be better off keeping my arm...t'other's not a lot of use anyway.....ready numbed too, no painkiller required....

..seriously though, I think we all would do whatever was required to stay alive...

[tenrec]

I've just finished reading the book and now I know how to cut off my arm, I might just do it, but it really would be the last option.