Selling Your Soul

[Shannon]

Going on Zaia's sticky in OT, this probably belongs here. If I'm mistaken, Mods please move.
I also was not able to find anything resembling this in a quick search of the past six months or so.

The scenario: A mysterious stranger appears to you, and he/she claims that, in exchange for your soul, they will grant you one (fairly detailed) wish. The stranger's power is not unlimited, but it is substantial and verifiable. He/she could easily manipulate destiny/events/fate to make you rich, successful, irresistible to the opposite/same sex, or even give you medium (let's say X-Men class for the sake of argument) level superpowers.

Note that it does not matter if you believe in the existence of souls or not. The stranger makes the offer regardless. They merely require your signature (in blood of course) on the dotted line of an airtight contract, which specifies that in return for the fulfilment of your wish, you grant the stranger posession of and all rights to your soul (so no wishing for immortality to get around the 'soul delivery on death' thing).

So, do you sign up? If not, why?
If so, what do you get out of it?

[Sam Or I]

If a being with that much power could do that, then I would believe in a soul with out a doubt. (Especially if he wanted it) So no I would not.

A harder question is would you do it for something material that a rich billionaire could give you for your "soul" with no superpowers involved.

[Enforcer Talen]

Id prolly sign and laugh all the way to the bank. I dont believe in souls, as a rule.

[Sam Or I]

Id prolly sign and laugh all the way to the bank. I dont believe in souls, as a rule.

If the dude could manipulate time and space, that kind of changes things does it not?

[Darth Ruinus]

Well, since my parents religion says that your soul goes to heaven or hell, then wouldnt selling my soul be a good way to get out of going to Hell?

So if selling your sould has no adverse consequences then yes, I sell it and ask for the amazingly awesome luck (for instance if I wanted a couple thousand dollars, I hold out my hand, and luckily, a couple thousand dollars fall from the sky into my hand.)

If selling your soul makes you some kind of "evil" soulless monster, then I sell it anyways, cuz being a soulless evil monster with awesome luck sounds cool

[Oni Koneko Damien]

I'd make a counter-offer. Before agreeing to the deal, I would demand that this mysterious stranger provide a workable definition of what a 'soul' is, quantifiable evidence that I am in possession of such a thing, and a list of the ramifications of me giving it away.

If, after all this is done and I find the terms agreeable, then I'd be all for it.

I think I'd ask for a sort of 'stasis' type superpower, a suspension of the laws of physics on my own part so that I will never physically age and never have need for material sustenance. Then I could go about the world making sure I got everything I wanted to get done, done.

[darthbob88]

I'd happily do so, only I've already sold my soul. I asked Satan if he would grant me the ability to improve the world, and we agreed to the deal. Only problem was some damned dyslexic postal clerk, who sent my soul to the wrong person. All I got for my trouble was a wooden choo-choo, and eternal fame as the Man Who Sold His Soul to Santa.

[darthbob88]

Ghetto Edit: Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week.

More seriously, I'd take the offer in exchange for incredible luck, such that whatever I need I get, when I need it.

[Morilore]

Pretty simple, really. Since no one knows what a soul is, "selling the soul" can mean anything this guy (who has extraordinary powers) wants it to mean. So Jesus Fuck, no.

[Singular Intellect]

I'd make a counter-offer. Before agreeing to the deal, I would demand that this mysterious stranger provide a workable definition of what a 'soul' is, quantifiable evidence that I am in possession of such a thing, and a list of the ramifications of me giving it away.

If, after all this is done and I find the terms agreeable, then I'd be all for it.

Pretty much what I'd do, although given what I generally consider the definition of a 'soul' and assuming the being in question considers it the same thing, I'd have to decline.

[Oni Koneko Damien]

Pretty simple, really. Since no one knows what a soul is, "selling the soul" can mean anything this guy (who has extraordinary powers) wants it to mean. So Jesus Fuck, no.

Which is exactly why I'm demanding to know exactly what it is this guy is wanting from me beforehand.

[Patrick Degan]

I'd happily do so, only I've already sold my soul. I asked Satan if he would grant me the ability to improve the world, and we agreed to the deal. Only problem was some damned dyslexic postal clerk, who sent my soul to the wrong person. All I got for my trouble was a wooden choo-choo, and eternal fame as the Man Who Sold His Soul to Santa.

Could have been worse. You could have made the mistake Crow T. Robot made and have accidentally sold your soul to Stan.

[Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba]

So I'm selling my soul (which has invariably been portrayed in literature as damning oneself) to a god-like entity. Fuck no.

Also, I imagine adding numerous addendums and queries as to the nature of this bargain would be met with the supernatural equivalent of "Fuck off".

[18-Till-I-Die]

No.

This guy wants something that, i would gather, be valuable. Why? Why MY soul? It must be worth something more than he's giving me, thats just good business, he'd have to be an idiot to give me something of greater value for nothing.

So obviously my soul is important, if only to him and me, and if thats the case i'd rather keep it.


Though considering this guy has the power to distort space-time at a whim and rape the laws of physics, he'd probably be quite upset about that.

[The Grim Squeaker]

Sure, if my wish includes something along the lines of "Possesion of all souls" or "Unlimited poer equal or superior to yours" or "immortality, eternal youth and the power to alter reality to my whims".

If clauses start popping up then I'll pass, after all "Why does god need a Soul/starship?"

[Lord of the Abyss]

No, I wouldn't. As pointed out, he could define "Soul" to mean all sorts of things, especially since people use the term to mean more than just the religious concept. I'd hardly benefit from, say, having my consciousness removed and being turned into an automaton.

As well, if he wants something from me and is willing to pay so much in exchange, that implies it's quite valuable. It positively reeks of rip-off.

Although it's possible that he's, say, just an alien psychologist running an experiment, and has no intention of ripping me off, I think it's a better bet he wants something I'd be foolish to give up.

[Lord Pounder]

This dude wants me to bleed from the off, thats not a good sign. I only find bleeding acceptable when caused by a lover in the heat of passion.

[Pick]

I would really need more information.

Hopefully, the deal could go down something like this .

[Oni Koneko Damien]

Why should we give a shit if this 'soul' is valuable to him? My main concern is whether or not it's valuable to *me*. That's kind of the basis of trade, you offer something that is more valuable to someone else than it is to you, in exchange for something you find more valuable than the person who currently owns it.

So who cares if this person finds your soul super-valuable? If, after having it explained what exactly this 'soul' thingie is, you don't find it valuable to you, give the damn thing away, take the money and run. If he refuses to give you the details, tell him to fuck off, as a good businessman never goes into a blind deal.

[Crazy_Vasey]

There's no way I could verify that he was telling the truth when I asked him exactly what a soul was and what selling it means, so I'd pass. It's tempting, but not that tempting.

[Oni Koneko Damien]

There's no way I could verify that he was telling the truth when I asked him exactly what a soul was and what selling it means, so I'd pass. It's tempting, but not that tempting.

...well, since he's an ultra-powerful entity whom you're not sure is telling the truth or not...what's stopping him from taking from you without your consent? Or just atomizing you if you don't give him what he wants? Or any number of other hypothetical scenarios you could branch off from the main one?

From the information given in the OP, he's telling the truth about his want for your soul. He's telling the truth about the contract. He's telling the truth about his ability to bestow incredible powers upon you. He's obviously a rather powerful thing. If you run with the assumption that he's lying about something, you're conceding that this entire scenario is useless because then there's nothing really stopping him from giving you a drastically painful death.

I think it's pretty safe to assume that if he's going through all this trouble in the first place, he's likely telling the truth. If he was lying, why say he wants your soul? Why not claim he wants your appendix, and just take the soul instead?

[wolveraptor]

Agreeing to this contract without knowing what functions a soul performs would be retarded. I'd say no until he defined "soul". Although if it were a good contract, the definition would be in there already.

[Crazy_Vasey]

You're completely correct, Oni; if the guy making the offer can't be trusted then you're pretty much screwed whatever choice you make. I was assuming that he couldn't take a soul without consent, but, looking at it again, that's just a prejudice coming from books I've read in the past.

[Vampiress_Miyu]

Well, I'd question what a soul was.... as has already been stated many times... then I'd prolly just leave.
I like my soul, whatever it is. Maybe later in a time of desperation I'd sell it, buuuut.... things are okay now. -shrug-

[Medic]

As-is, I believe I and you and everyone is soul-less and won't go anywhere upon death.
Going by my understanding of what a soul is though, were I to sell it, instead of going somewhere magical and great or terrible and awful, I'll just... cease to exist as I already expect to upon death.

I'd sell it in a heartbeat. (but as I said, that depends if my understanding of a soul is correct)