A question for you, escapists.

[BaronUberstein]

Tough question, mainly because if every whim includes working towards the betterment of mankind.

But then, that would mean making humanity in MY idea of better, and is that truly the best option?

I honestly can't say if I'd press it or not, but I can at least say if I did press it, it would be with the best of intentions.

 

[PatrickXD]

I'm with you, OP. I would probably do it because it's a temptation too difficult to resist.

 

[duck-man]

Yes, because waaaay deep down I; just like almost every other human alive, am a selfish, arrogant little puke that doesn't care much for human life. Over the years humans have shown me that there are almost no redeeming qualities about them, so why should I be the saint?

I'm aware that there are good people out there, but the odds of my button-press killing five, truly good people is roughly 1/100'000'000 (give or take a hundred million or so), whilst the other 99'999'999 would gladly press the button.

Say what you will about this view-point, but it's technically irrefutable, since every human alive has their price, and some would kill you personally for a sandwich.

I don't think that I'll ever understand the argument of 'Everyone else is ________, so there's nothing wrong with me being _________'..... I don't think that moralising works in that comparative manner. I suppose you can say that there's no shame to it, but that's saying that whether or not an action is wrong is measured purely by the majority's opinion.

The other one that I'm not following is 'People die all the time, so what difference does 5 people make?' Supposing that the 5 people who die have many years, good or bad, ahead of them (Not too unreasonable an assumption) you're action is still destroying all those years which would have been there even with your statistics.

Ok, I'm done now!

 

[jultub]

Would I get more for pushing it more times? Because if so I'd be mashing that button

 

[Sigmar ov The Hammer]

So... By pressing the button, my every wish will be granted?

So an end to world hunger, poverty, diseases, the end to modern society, pollution disappearing, the world staying in it's current state (no ice caps melting, invincible ozone layer, no global warming, etc), returning to nature, etc will all be granted if only for the lives of 5 people?

It's a price I would pay to save millions of others.

 

[Carbonyl]

I've lost people I love, I lost my younger brother at the age of 17, I've cried and sobbed and felt the heartbreak every day. I can't put anyone else through that, not for my own petty gain that really isn't all that fulfilling. I like working for what I get, it's not fun or special if you get whatever you want, your life would have no point.

I wouldn't press the button, I'd destroy it.

 

[ExileNZ]

I saw a movie about this. Don't do it! The button's a trap!

 

[NoCakeFourU]

What if your version of a 'perfect live' with all the luxuries, would be to have no guilt? Would the button magically erase the guilt of the deaths of those people? Or would they be brought back to life?

 

[EightGaugeHippo]

Yes, definitely...
But one of my needs would be that the families of those 5 people are cared for and have financial stability for life.

 

[Arnie1000351]

I'd press it before the guy even finished explaining, I'm selfish and greedy and those 5 people were going to die anyway.

 

[JamesStone]

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.

Sign me up to the fixing everythang train.

 

[retyopy]

YES! Every single one of my whims, for the rest of my life? For only 5 people? I would kill a hundred for that opportunity, dammit! 5 is nothing! NOTHING!

There are almost 7 billion people in the world. 5 people are gone because of me. Other than myself, nobody would know that I did it! These are people who I would never meet. Their deaths would not affect me at all, other than that I get anything I want in the future. This would be too good to be true!

What about the others? What about the family's whom will grieve over their lost family?

What if it's only an innocent baby girl... who dies when the family has already started to fall apart, their last hope... And you cut it's chain... You cause a chain reaction, causing more than just 5 deaths... Perhaps a brother is lost? Or who knows... Maybe the fates will be cruel... and extract one of your own family members from life... You need to read into the possibilities before you charge into anything... wouldn't you agree?

Well, first of all, it would be people I don't know and will never meet, so it wouldn't be a family member. And second of all, you're under the impression that I actaully care about people I don't know. They mean nothing to me. Zilch. Squat. As for my friends and family? Love em' to bits. And by killing those 5 people that I care nothing about, I can, by extension, make 20 people I care about live long, happy, prosperous lives.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

I'd press the button in an instant. And to offset five people dying, my first 'whim' would be to develop a cure for cancer. Job's a good 'un.

 

[thom_cat_]

I'd thrust the button.

 

[Cobbs]

At the risk of it being said allready, I would demand a repercussion-less button.
Or I would press it once and order a grand sum of money, enough to keep me comfortable forever and enough to thoroughly change the world.

 

[Brightzide]

I'd push the shit out of that button. Maybe im an arsehole for it....well definately an arsehole. But y'know. Ive not had the best life thus far, and things arent exactly looking peachy in the future. I'd just like to live long and prosper, just for a little while. And if 5 people are going to die, im going to hope they were serial killers and get along with life...The good life

 

[SuperSuperSuperGuy]

YES! Every single one of my whims, for the rest of my life? For only 5 people? I would kill a hundred for that opportunity, dammit! 5 is nothing! NOTHING!

There are almost 7 billion people in the world. 5 people are gone because of me. Other than myself, nobody would know that I did it! These are people who I would never meet. Their deaths would not affect me at all, other than that I get anything I want in the future. This would be too good to be true!

What about the others? What about the family's whom will grieve over their lost family?

What if it's only an innocent baby girl... who dies when the family has already started to fall apart, their last hope... And you cut it's chain... You cause a chain reaction, causing more than just 5 deaths... Perhaps a brother is lost? Or who knows... Maybe the fates will be cruel... and extract one of your own family members from life... You need to read into the possibilities before you charge into anything... wouldn't you agree?

You seem to have missed the part where I said that "I would kill a hundred for that opportunity". Plus, as described in the OP, "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." Family members are excluded from the equation.

Meh. Maybe I'm a terrible person. But I'm a terrible person who gets whatever the hell they want in life.

 

[carlmolina]

I would.

 

[omicron1]

Reverse-engineer the button, reconfigure it to remove negative side-effects, then monetize it (after pressing it myself, of course).

 

[funguy2121]

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.

I still can't believe they made a movie out of this. It looked like the worst movie ever (except, of course, for Cutthroat Island). I am reminded of this: