Originally Posted by !@#$%!

well it's the same reply, you just got the long version. i.e., one where the trajectory to the end answer is fleshed out for all to see. which, fair enough, helps to avoid misunderstanding.

anyway here's something i thought about the rest of your post (which i didn't quote):

while it's interesting to know how people assess themselves in the courage-to-live scale (if i'm correct that's what you're driving at), i think that people don't often know their own strengths. because ultimately you're going to have to deal with whatever life throws at you-- death, disease, tickles, tragedy, concentration camps, whatever-- and then and only then you'll be able to say "ok, i can handle this" or you won't and you'll have a freakout and take refuge in booze pills whatever.