This is one of those inconvenient moral decisions.

[SomeUnregPunk]

If one of your good friends was going to be hanged and you could save his life by serving 3 years in a very badly run prison, one where life would be hell, would you do it?

I saw a similar concept in a movie i recently watched, named Back To Paradise, with such concept. It made me think.

I personally would do it, i couldn't live with the guilt.

EDIT: since the actual crime is under question by quite a few, i'll say a few more words.
You are also responsible for the crime, but you fled the scene before any witnesses showed up, meaning you're partly responsible. It's only that good friend of your's who got caught.
i mean hypothetically. I don't want anyone giving me crap that they wouldn't do it.

If I fled the scene knowing that I did it, I'd probably wouldn't have a problem with seeing my friend get hanged. Are you trying to tell me that if I'm immoral enough to flee the scene of crime that I would actually then suddenly acquire morals to save a friend from death?

 

[Acidoctor]

I don't know. I don't have any "good" friends.

 

[Marble Dragon]

I'd probably do it. I'd kill myself because of the guilt if I didn't, so the choice is really between the prison and my own death. I guess I might be killed in a badly run prison, but I'd rather take the chance than live with the guilt.

By the way, where would my friend go if I saved them?

 

[chstens]

I know I sound like a horrible person, but it depends on which one.

I have some friends who aren't worth their salt.

Or pepper.

..... Or carbon....

Frienemies?

 

[Arkhangelsk]

Depends on what friend, I'm on different levels of friendship with some of my friends. If it's my best friend for ever, then hell yeah, I'll take the punishment that actually was meant to me.

 

[SecretTacoNinja]

I don't bother answering these kinds of questions, since they always involve nearly impossible situations.

 

[dontworryaboutit]

Just to offend, no.

Also, that's kinda a silly question.

I'm offended.

 

[GeeseH]

if he was worth saving & i knew he'd be loyal (as i wouldn't be immoral or unreasonble), no doubt about it!

if he may relapse forget it!

and he'd better visit me in prison or send a bountiful wench... if not i may just go after him afterwards.

but as scam points out, gaol can have an effect on a man

I don't bother answering these kinds of questions, since they always involve nearly impossible situations.

now i feel like a taco, don't ninja it! grrr.

 

[Eggsnham]

what crime is being committed where he gets hanging if he is found guilty but you only get 3 years in jail for pleading guilty(excuse my lack of knowledge for the legal system)

 

[Satin6T]

I know I sound like a horrible person, but it depends on which one.

I have some friends who aren't worth their salt.

Or pepper.

..... Or carbon....

psh seconded

 

[TurkMafia]

I believe he means Turkish prison like. Where the guards torture you and beat you every day.

As a dual citizen with Turkey and the states currently residing in Istanbul I have to disagree with your view of Turkish prisons. I'm not particularly sure exactly when this little gem showed up but it most certainly can't be applied to prisons post-Ataturk. However, the mandatory year of military service required by all male citizens of Turkey is a little more inline with what you want, sans-torture. But what do you expect from a bunch of sergeants tasked with looking after a group of people only committed to be there a year?

On topic however, I'd have to go with screw the friend. There is no way I'm going to take a fall for someone that committed a crime, even if I also committed one.

The one thing that still kinda odd on my mind is if I'm an accomplice why wont they hang me as well in the event I come forward? Could just be a ploy to flush me out.

 

[Skreeee]

Are they innocent? Why should I be guilty that they're dying for something they were accused and found guilty of? Was I the only friend given the ultimatum?

The devil's in the details. Anyway, I probably wouldn't, even assuming my friend didn't do what they were found guilty of, merely because I don't feel I should be humanity's 'saving grace' as far as moral examples go should a justice system have fucked up and sent an innocent man to his death. Even if I was given the choice, either way the mistreatment of a human being (friend's death or my own torture) would be on the hands of those in charge of the courts and the prison, and thus I don't believe any fault should fall with me.

Sometimes bad hands are dealt in life, and I would never expect my friends to put themselves in danger in such a stupid way just so I could live.

 

[TurkMafia]

I believe he means Turkish prison like. Where the guards torture you and beat you every day.

The movie Midnight Express.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Express_(film)

As an answer to what coined the phrase that could be. However a quote from the wikipedia page (however accurate it may be)

"The movie deviates from the book's accounts of the story, especially in its portrayal of Turks, to such a level that many have criticized the movie version, including Billy Hayes himself... both Oliver Stone and Billy Hayes expressed their regret on how Turkish people were portrayed in the movie."

And a bit farther down the same article;

"The rape scenes are also fictional. Billy Hayes never claimed to be raped by his Turkish wardens or that he ever suffered any sexual violence. He engaged in consensual sex, but the film depicts Hayes rejecting the advances of a prisoner, and the warden."

And a last little bit:

"When he visited Turkey in 2004, screenwriter Oliver Stone... made an apology for the portrayal of the Turkish people in the film."

Turkish prisons and citizens still nothing like people say they are.

 

[Pendragon9]

If the crime was their fault, then it would be best they serve their time. If it was murder, then it definitely warrants a hanging.

If it was a minor crime that he doesn't deserve to die over, then yeah. I would turn myself in. Especially if it could save his life. Only if he would be thankful though. If he's gonna backstab me in jail or even get off scott free while I serve time, then screw that. I mean, I value my friends, but I'm not gonna take their punishment.

 

[Ultimathul]

no, he was the one who got caught. i would sit at home with a smile knowing that i got away, fate is cruel but not to me.

 

[The_Prophet]

No, because I'm not responsible for the crime.

 

[Biek]

It would really depend what that friend did. And wich friend it is. And whats in it for me in the end.

 

[FallenRainbows]

For Chloé? Yes, I'd die a thousand times over for her.
For anyone else? No.

 

[fulano]

Yeah. I'd do it, especially if it was my fuckup in the first place.