A question for you, escapists.

[TheAdam]

It's entirely circumstantial for me. I'd need to know if these people were cancerous children or the barely-scraping-by single parent of four. Are these people going to die soon anyway? If not, do they want to? How are they going to be killed? Is it as simple as an apparent accident, or a home invasion turned murder.
Consider these my terms and conditions.
-These people need to be at least 35 years old.
-They can't be supporting anyone.
-They must be wanting to die or are very soon.
-Their death must be painless or as close to painless as it can get.
-The condition of their relationships must be in a state where they have already made peace with the fact that they're going to die.

Only under these circumstances would I feel comfortable with pressing that button. If any one of them aren't met, no deal.

 

[Pat8u]

no why cause its funner to work to have a at least stable life

 

[zf6hellion]

I would offer very simple terms to appease this button.

I press it.

It kills the really stupid people.

I'm not as nice as most people that have posted so far are, but meh, I ain't changing and I don't really feel like I need to lie.

 

[deus-ex-machina]

Probably - across the planet, people are dying all the time, seconds apart. It happens anyway. The only things that would change my position would be if:
a) The families and friends knew the person had died because I had pressed the button. If I didn't know them, I don't know who to mourn, but if they knew I was to blame I don't think I could live with the guilt so easily.
b) They died in very gruesome ways
c) They would all be children
d) They supported other people
Otherwise, to me, it would just be five more people dying and statistically there is already a chance they are terminally ill, suicidal, or elderly 'with good innings'. Not that those people have any less right to life, but at least they expect death.

I see it very much in the same premise that firing squads or capital punishment techniques usually have one 'blank' so you can never me sure that YOUR bullet or injection etc. was the killing shot. A single car accident can kill five people in a few seconds. Chances are such a thing has happened while I've been writing this message. It's morbid and I don't dwell on it but there is every chance it is true.

And other than the death of five people - my 'whims' include good health and wealth for all good people so I can't say I'm doing it all for my own good.

 

[Neaco]

5 people die everyday just so you can all live your life in peace. in the end, is the only difference because they volunteered?

 

[Epailes]

I think I would. Let's try this:

Go on, click the button.

Ooooohhh nooo, I'm not falling for that one again!

 

[Psychedelic Spartan]

Well, I'll be completely honest, I would press it and to hell with the other 5 people. I mean, a perfect life? Why not?

 

[retyopy]

I think I would. Let's try this:

Go on, click the button.

Ooooohhh nooo, I'm not falling for that one again!

I fell for it. 3 times. And again. To me, you're Justin Bieber.

 

[PotatoLord]

Part of my "every whim" is that no-one dies as a result of pushing the button.

I win.

 

[yman15]

No the idea of benefiting off of someones death is disgusting and anybody who presses that button is no better than a murderer.

How about if, because of pressing the button, said person discovers a cure for cancer? Or HIV? Are they still evil?

They're not evil but they're still a murderer. Besides what he's talking about seems to be for more selfish reasons.

 

[Ursus Buckler]

Yes. No question. If I was killing 5 people I knew then I wouldn't, but I don't so I wouldn't care. Of course, knowing me I'd end up brooding about it, so I wouldn't be THAT happy...

 

[TakerFoxx]

Unless the majority of the people on this thread are joking, I'm starting to think that Jack Thompson had a point.

 

[Galletea]

It would depend on my mood, and of the terms and conditions involved in this button pressing. Would they die painlessly? Why would it lead to their death in the first place? What are the restrictions on this seemingly good offer? Would I have to live alone? Could I give stuff to other people?
I'm not saying I would, but I can't say I wouldn't either.

 

[Hawk eye1466]

This reminds me of a video and it also sums up what i'd do if presented with this choice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBNOXYlYswA

and if your too lazy to watch the video I'd push the hell out of that button.

 

[Tiger Sora]

5 lives are but a small sacrifice for the good I can bring to the world. A grain of sand in the sea if you will. And those 5 should they be known or not, would be treated as the ones who brought about the golden age of man. Heroes, to be held in a regard higher than anyone.

 

[VeLoCiTy562]

I remember this, well at least I think it was the same question.

It was from a Rooster Teeth short, the one where a man in a black cloak asked one of the staff to press a red button and they could have something, I can't remember what they got though, and one person they knew would die. He could press the button as many times as he liked.

EDIT: Lol, ninja'd

This reminds me of a video and it also sums up what i'd do if presented with this choice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBNOXYlYswA

and if your too lazy to watch the video I'd push the hell out of that button.

 

[otakon17]

I couldn't do that. I couldn't do it. And I'll be honest, stuff like death and destitution scare the living piss out of me. But I could not live with myself knowing I was personally responsible for the deaths of other. They might have deserved it, I can hear some say. But I couldn't do it. The only way it would happen is if it's a life or death situation with no diplomatic solution to be had. Even thinking about something like that makes my heart heavy. I know that sounded cheesy, but that's how I feel on the matter. So no, I wouldn't press that button.

 

[silversnake4133]

I'd press it. I wouldn't care so much for the luxuries and what not because I'm quite content with where I am now, but a button that can start to control the human population? Where is it so that I may press it? Natural selection sure as hell isn't affecting our species anymore because of the compassion we feel for those who are weak, sickly or deformed (thus resulting in a difficult life as is). Also all of this medication that we take every day staves off the influence of the grave as well. It's our compassion that basically makes our species the laughing stock of the animal kingdom. But what do we need natural selection for? We've got guns and computers to solve our problems right?

What I think needs to happen is the button should come with configurations were instead of instantly killing random people, you attack those that are only "existing". Such examples of people would be those on welfare, those living off the generosity of others, and those who just sit in a big office and collect large sums of money for basically doing nothing. (Oh, and a huge chunk of the elderly population would be going too.) That would solve plenty of problems right there. Jobs would open up, space would be cleared for more people to live. You know, "useful" things. It's kind of like cleaning the memory of a computer, you get rid of the junk, and quite frankly this world has a ton of "junk".

In other words, if they aren't helping the species as a whole move forward, then that little red button is going to terminate them.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

But what if one of my whims was for those five people not to die when I press the button? What would happen then? Would the button still cater to that wish, or would it just implode because of the paradox?

Question aside, no. I don't think I could press it. I doubt I'd be able to deal with the guilt of having ended the lives of five people for my own personal greed and gain.

 

[The Big Boss]

If you'd asked me a year ago i would have said "Fuck Yeah! Push that button baby."

But since then i haven't become religious, though i do think i would have bother justifying my decision to God come the end of days.