For one specific type of problem this exists already as a rehab clinic.

But what if you want to do something positive but can't stick at it for very long? Need to lose weight? Want to write a book? Get a degree?

The 'prison' would be nicer than most, but would still be pretty basic, with as few distractions as possible to allow you to focus on your particular goal.

The sentence you give your elf would be 'until x is achieved or y months, whichever is sooner'.

You would have to pay for your incarceration but due to its beneficial nature I imagine that it could get tax breaks or a government subsidy.
-- marklar, Mar 09 2008

Similar idea but no reason Prison_20volunteers
Let people go to prison if they want to. [marklar, Mar 09 2008]

University of Voice Schrodinger_27s_20Education
[Voice, Mar 19 2018]

I would go for life +
-- zeno, Mar 09 2008


a bit like a monastery, then?
-- pertinax, Mar 09 2008


mmmmmmmm... fresh meat...
-- ConsulFlaminicus, Mar 09 2008


No need for it to be spartan. All you need is an environment where you can't do whatever it is you want to quit doing. The problem is that such a system is still dependent on the willpower of the incarceratee to remain there, since you can't imprison someone even if they ask you to (as I understand it).

Possibly some kind of forfeit system, wherein you pay a huge deposit which is forfeit if you decide to check out.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Mar 09 2008


Who would I have to stick a shiv into to get solitary?
-- stoaty, Mar 09 2008


I thought that there were rehab clinics you could force yourself to stay in. Or you could sign yourself in as mentally unfit and sign over responsibility to a trusted family member. All open to abuse of course.

I'm sure there's a country somewhere that would allow it.
-- marklar, Mar 09 2008


I've often thought of just this thing. Kind of like a boot camp for whatever you want to do. Even something like a 4-year engineering degree, which is fairly full-on as far as undergrad degrees go, could probably be knocked over in 18 months or less in saturation conditions.

I'd sign up tomorrow to learn latin, german, italian and get my masters. Give me say, 12 months. Maybe 18. Bun-diddly-bun-bun.
-- Custardguts, Mar 09 2008


We still have elf slavery in 2018? I thought that was abolished, starting with Hermione Granger in the '90s.
-- notexactly, Mar 18 2018


I thought you could do this at some monasteries.
-- FlyingToaster, Mar 18 2018


// you cant imprison someone even if they ask you// intersting to see where the line is drawn in that sort of thing. What about an extensive maze around the prison.. from which most people would struggle to escape (but which nonetheless is wide open.) ps I don’t think the Maze prison had this, despite its name
-- DDRopDeadly, Mar 19 2018


A lot of things people are trying to give up involve their hands and mouth, or hands and some other part of their body or someone else’s body. So I favour of a good firm set of portable wooden stocks, a muzzle or “ scold’s bridle” and maybe a chastity belt. Then you can concentrate on your diploma
-- DDRopDeadly, Mar 19 2018


Throw my tiger therapy in there and you've got the next craze.
-- doctorremulac3, Mar 19 2018



random, halfbakery