A question for you, escapists.

[retyopy]

So here's the deal. You now have a big red button. You press it, your every whim will be catered to for the rest of your obscenely long life, and you will stay fit and healthy throughout.

But heres the catch.

You press that button, 5 people die. This won't effect you in anyway. You will never meet those people, it won't hurt you, and you could not press that button and their lives will still mean nothing. To you.

But somewhere out there, a family will cry for them. You will be responisble for a lot sadness and pain and hurt.

Do you press the button?

Now, I would love to say that I wouldn't. I would love to say that I'm compassionate enough to care for these people I will never meet. But I'm not. My life, taken care of, instantly? Money, fame, a big house, extravagant food, but no consquences to stuffing my gob? Sign me up, daddy-o! I would feel guilty, sure, but guilt doesn't cut it. I'm just being honest.

So... Yeah.

EDIT: Wow, the people of the escapist are a lot nicer than me. Go figure. Not changing my answer, though.

 

[Da Orky Man]

I wouldn't, because having myself a good life isn't what I aim for. I aim to be remembered for something that will help humanity as a whole. Sure, a good life is nice, but I'd prefer to earn £30,000 as an aerospace engineer than £150,000 as a CEO that does next to no work.

 

[Smerf]

i wouldn't press the button. yes i know that millions die every day, but i refuse to add to that.

 

[retyopy]

I wouldn't, because having myself a good life isn't what I aim for. I aim to be remembered for something that will help humanity as a whole. Sure, a good life is nice, but I'd prefer to earn £30,000 as an aerospace engineer than £150,000 as a CEO that does next to no work.

I'm not talking about a good life. I'm talking about the best life. The most amazing life you could possibly have, ever, in the entire universe.

But hey, to each his own.

 

[DEAD34345]

Well, if my "every whim" can include an end to world hunger, or if I can use some of my newly obtained wealth to save lots of lives, then sure.

Otherwise, no, I don't think so. It just wouldn't be worth the guilt, I can afford most things I want as it is, and I don't need 5 innocent peoples' deaths on my conscience for the rest of my life.

 

[ScoopMeister]

I would deliberate for a long, long time, and then not press it. Probably.

 

[NotSoLoneWanderer]

Well, if my "every whim" can include an end to world hunger, or if I can use some of my newly obtained wealth to save lots of lives, then sure.

Otherwise, no, I don't think so. It just wouldn't be worth the guilt, I can afford most things I want as it is, and I don't need 5 innocent peoples' deaths on my conscience for the rest of my life.

oooh I'd kill 5 people to end world hunger war and fix teh economy.

 

[weker]

Yep I would push it, I will never have the emotional back lash otherwise the promise wouldn't be true. We eat animals to improve our enjoyment of life, and some humans are only slightly more advanced then them, and again it's 5 random people ranging from criminals to people on their death bed, so hypothetically I have no idea if I can justify that innocents will die, as I have no way of knowing.

 

[genericusername64]

Wow, the people of the escapist are a lot nicer than me. Go figure. Not changing my answer, though.

Since you don't have any respect for human life, I guess some people have to, I wouldn't press it.

 

[weker]

Wow, the people of the escapist are a lot nicer than me. Go figure. Not changing my answer, though.

Since you don't have any respect for human life, I guess some people have to, wouldn't.

Some respect life, but some just respect their own more, I value my life and wouldn't give it up (sept maybe for my children or something) as it's the only thing I have and only get one.

 

[Indeterminacy]

I wouldn't push the button for the sake of the gain. I would, however, have an utterly insatiable desire to work out how the button worked, and might end up pressing it if doing so was needed to reveal the secret to how killing five people could result in the end of human need.

For Science!

 

[Rawne1980]

Damn right I would.

I wouldn't care about having the best life either, i'd probably press it for free cheeseburgers for a year.

 

[genericusername64]

Some respect life, but some just respect their own more, I value my life and wouldn't give it up (sept maybe for my children or something) as it's the only thing I have and only get one.

Good for you, but the question wasn't would you sacrifice yourself, the question was would you kill 5 people to live a life of luxury.

 

[Da Orky Man]

I wouldn't, because having myself a good life isn't what I aim for. I aim to be remembered for something that will help humanity as a whole. Sure, a good life is nice, but I'd prefer to earn £30,000 as an aerospace engineer than £150,000 as a CEO that does next to no work.

I'm not talking about a good life. I'm talking about the best life. The most amazing life you could possibly have, ever, in the entire universe.

But hey, to each his own.

My version of "the most amazing life ever" would include inventing a faster-than-light drive, in which case I would immediately press the button. An FTL drive is worth 5 lives. Though I may throw in an esay way to terraform Mars, influence enough to build a space elevator, a working missile shield, and a crop that is nutritious, tough as hell, grows anywhere, needs little to no watering, gows fast, and would make a good curry.

I wouldn't push the button for the sake of the gain. I would, however, have an utterly insatiable desire to work out how the button worked, and might end up pressing it if doing so was needed to reveal the secret to how killing five people could result in the end of human need.

For Science!

http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/zoom/e6a5_for_science.jpg

For Science!

 

[Daveman]

Nah, my life is pretty damn good as is, it'd be shockingly selfish of me to press that button. Besides, I find it hard enough to keep busy as is without my every need being tended to. Plus I like the little things...

 

[weker]

Some respect life, but some just respect their own more, I value my life and wouldn't give it up (sept maybe for my children or something) as it's the only thing I have and only get one.

Good for you, but the question wasn't would you sacrifice yourself, the question was would you kill 5 people to live a life of luxury.

And I answered that question, so I don't know what your on about. I take it you haven't bothered to look up and see my other post, as my reply to you was totally based around what you wrote not the OP.

 

[genericusername64]

And I answered that question, so I don't know what your on about. I take it you haven't bothered to look up and see my other post, as my reply to you was totally based around what you wrote not the OP.

You wrote "Some respect life, but some just respect their own more, I value my life and wouldn't give it up (sept maybe for my children or something) as it's the only thing I have and only get one." Giving up your life has nothing to do with my post or his post, and in this case respecting your life more than others is called Greed

 

[gabe12301]

....Of course not. this really isn't even a choice. I mean seriously? I don't deserve an awesome life more then they deserve to live.

 

[Jonluw]

I might have if the button promised me happiness. As it is though, a life where your every need is catered to - a life where there is nothing you have to do - is tremendously unfulfilling.
There's a saying: When you're unemployed there's no vacation.

If I'm left to my own devices; allowed to do only what I want to do, I'll end up watching anime and playing video games all day. My existence would lose all semblance of meaning. That's practically the way to become depressed.