Posted by JenStar on June 14, 2005, at 0:36:16
hi all,
I wanted to get an opinion from you on this hypothetical thought question.My husband was reading an email from a buddy who was asking hypothetical questions. One question was: "There are 100 people. Some have an incurable illness and may die. You can choose to sacrifice 5 people to save the 50. Do you do it?"
My answer was, MAYBE, but it depended on who the 50 were and who the 5 were. If they were all strangers, it might make sense to go with the numbers. But if the 5 were my friends or family, no way would I sacrifice them!
My hubby went with the straight numbers. THEN he said: "If there was a bus about to crash, full of people, and I could save them all by sacrificing myself, I would do it."
I thought about it and said, "I might not, I don't know."
The I said to him, "If I had the chance to save either you or the bus, I'd save you."
He was quiet. He said, "That's a bit dicier. You or the bus?" He didn't immediately say he'd save ME.
I went on. "If I had to personally shoot each person on the bus to save your life, I'd do it," I told him. He winced. "I would!" I said vehemently. "That's how much I love you."
He didn't answer. "F*** all the people on the bus," I said. "I love you so much that I would rather have you than them all. To me, it's not about straight numbers. It's about the people involved and who I love more."
I was irritated that he didn't say he'd save me over the bus. And I'm not saying I would be HAPPY to send a bus full of people to their doom, but I'd do it to save HIM.
So the question is, if you feel like answering it, would you save the bus or the man/woman you love best in the world? ASsume the bus is full of strangers. And would you sacrifice yourself to save the bus?
JenStar
poster:JenStar
thread:512393
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050610/msgs/512393.html