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"For anyone thinking of entering the Channel 4 wake-a-thon"

Channel 4 seem to be looking for people to stay awake for a week. In case anyone was thinking of entering (the competition, naughty) you might be interested to know that after five days of waking you start to lose a sense of who you are, you're personality appears to dissolve. And it doesn't necessarily come back. Peter Tripp, a New York radio DJ stayed awake for 8 days quite a few years ago, and afterwards his wife divorced him on the grounds that he wasn't the same person. He then argued with his boss, lost his job and became a travelling door to door salesman. Ruined his life.

On the other hand, Randy Gardner (real name) stayed awake for even longer, about 11 days, and when he'd had a bit of a kip afterwards he was back to normal. He was only 16/17, as opposed to Tripp who was in his thirties.

Moral of the story: Do what you want. In fact, I may have dreampt the whole thing, and Channel 4 may not be doing anything of the sort.

Insane Bartender wrote:
> Although the longest a human has remained awake was eleven days

I'm sorry, you're wrong on that. Ever heard of fatal familial insomnia? A guy called Michael Cork (possibly an E on his name, not sure) had this, it was only discovered a few years ago. Basically, it's a genetic disease that means you can't sleep. It can kick in at just about any time I believe, and there is no cure as yet. Cork went about 130 days without sleeping, because he just physically could not sleep. He did die, eventually, but 130 days is hardly a week.

One of the possible side effects of a continued lack of sleep is death. Usually this is the result of the fact that the immune system is weakened without sleep. The number of white blood cells within the body decreases, as does the activity of the remaining white blood cells. The body also decreases the amount of growth hormone produced. The ability of the body to metabolize sugar declines, turning sugar into fat. One study stated that people who sleep less than four hours per night are three times more likely to die within the next six years. Although the longest a human has remained awake was eleven days rats that are continually deprived of sleep die within two to five weeks, generally due to their severely weakened immune system.


Point here being lack of sleep:
- weakens immune system
- can induce certain forms of cancer
- reduces hormone production
- alters metabolism
- can cause diabetes
- can cause obesity
- can kill

Never mind the well documented effects which impair brain function to the extent where even "18 hours without sleep is equivalent to drinking to the legal limit" meaning that you shouldn;t be drivng, as your decision making skills and reflexes are impaired.

Anyone stupid enough to stay awake for a week deserves to die, even if they don't.

Depends where you shoot yourself.

What if you shoot yourself?

But death takes a hell of a long time to happen. A week is nowhere near long enough.

Lack of sleep can cause mental instability and even death.

Channel 4 seem to be looking for people to stay awake for a week. In case anyone was thinking of entering (the competition, naughty) you might be interested to know that after five days of waking you start to lose a sense of who you are, you're personality appears to dissolve. And it doesn't necessarily come back. Peter Tripp, a New York radio DJ stayed awake for 8 days quite a few years ago, and afterwards his wife divorced him on the grounds that he wasn't the same person. He then argued with his boss, lost his job and became a travelling door to door salesman. Ruined his life.

On the other hand, Randy Gardner (real name) stayed awake for even longer, about 11 days, and when he'd had a bit of a kip afterwards he was back to normal. He was only 16/17, as opposed to Tripp who was in his thirties.

Moral of the story: Do what you want. In fact, I may have dreampt the whole thing, and Channel 4 may not be doing anything of the sort.