Who do you Save?

[HK_01]

I heard this question the other day in my philosophy class and what at first seemed like a harmless conversation starter slowly became an all out philosophical brawl. I now pose this question to, members of the Escapist, and ask: who do you save?

The question goes as thus: You are a government leader who is aware of an impending nuclear war, and is faced with the decision of who to save. Their is only one fallout bunker capable of escaping the radiation (just go with it), and it only has enough food for 3 months, which is how long the radiation is supposed to last, and 6 people total. Keep in mind that these people that are in this vault may be the last humans and must reinhabit the vacant Earth. You have a list of 10 people to choose from...
1) A male Librarian
2) The Librarian's wife, who is 6 months pregnant
3) An Olympic male Athlete (for arguments sake, of all sports)
4) An elderly male, famous historian
5) A renowned female starlet (dancer, actress, singer, songwriter, etc)
6) A college co-ed
7) A second year medical student
8) A police officer
9) A rabbi
10)A biochemist

So now it is entirely up to you... Who do you save? Only 6 people can survive, meaning 4 people have to die.

I would save the ones in bold(and myself, if I don't fit into the vault, then I'd kick out the famous historian). The only reason for saving 5 is that there are only two females in that list, and she's one of them. The librarian is unnecessary, so is the olympic athlete. The historian is in because, well, there's no rational reason. I suppose he'd lead the group and be their brain. The police officer will have to die because I highly doubt that six people need a police force to not kill each other. The rabbi would also die because I honestly don't see why he even is on the list. The others I chose all have some useful skills or they are pregnant and will help the repopulation.

 

[Kriptonite]

10, 4, 2, 7, 6, and 1. They seem to be the best bet at repopulating the earth with useful things if there are many other humans somewhere.

 

[Crystal Cuckoo]

3) An Olympic male Athlete (for arguments sake, of all sports)
4) An elderly male, famous historian
5) A renowned female starlet (dancer, actress, singer, songwriter, etc)
6) A college co-ed
7) A second year medical student
10)A biochemist

This is just assuming that we'll be able to re-populate the Earth, and nothing else.

The athlete and the creative starlet could spawn Superkids, the historian because, well, it's good to know history, the college co-ed because I'm probably gonna get bored with having no-one my age to talk to, the second year medical student to diagnose and heal us if something goes wrong, and the biochemist because... (s)He sounds cool?

Edit: Oh, right, I'm a government leader. I still pick the college co-ed

 

[skyfire_freckles]

Six people are not enough to repopulate the human race. Not unless you want a race of inbreds.

 

[Shamgarr]

I would take the pregnant lady, the medical student, and the police officer. Because, I ahve played enough Fallout to know you only need 3 things in post apocalyptia: Medicine, Guns, and Babies. Everything else comes later.

EDIT: forgot 3. I would also take the college kid(Cause he/she is young enough to be useful), The athelete(cause running will be a big part of my survival strategy) and the Rabbi(Hope?)

The Rabbi? He's the most useless.

Realy? because if Religion was such a useless part of society, how could it have survived since the dawn of man? Ever since we could talk we have been using religion to get what we want; it inspires acts of heroism and hope, both incredibly usefull things in post apocalyptia. And you may think religion is all but dead in this day and age, easpiacly in the industrialized world with things like science and technology and big bangs, but don't kid yourself, the second shit hits the fan, people run screaming to thier gods for salvation. I honnestly think that in the hour of despair a man with the book that says "Don't worry, god has our back, nothing bad will happen" and the know how to make other believe that will be equaly as useful as the meds or the guns.

Really? Because when the shit hit the fan hard enough, I dropped religion like a Molotov cocktail. Why? Because a kind god wouldn't let everything around us happen.

well this isn't a relgious bashing thread so take your complaints elsewhere. And some would argue that if "shit hitting the fan" caused you to drop your religion, either you never held the faith in the first place or you can't handle tough shit.

 

[vamp rocks]

2) The Librarian's wife, who is 6 months pregnant - you need women to repopulate, and she has a child on the way

5) A renowned female starlet (dancer, actress, singer, songwriter, etc) - again, female needed

7) A second year medical student - her medical training will come in handy

8) A police officer - his/her knowledge will be immensely useful in setting up a new police force and will have basic training in skills firefighting, being a paramedic, firearms, etc

10)A biochemist - knowledge and training will come in handy

and... myself, if thats allowed. if not... then i have no clue

 

[Najarana]

Why would you choose the poice officer? There wouldn't be any laws for him to uphold. If you're the last 6 people on earth I don't think law will be your first priority, and if you're not.. what is he supposed to do against raiders/wild animals or whatever. Arrest raiders? If he's just there to shoot them I'd just as well do it myself or send the athlete ("all sports" remember) to kick their ass.

Point is a policeman without a policeforce is utterly useless.

 

[Julianking93]

2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10.

Why do we need the olympian?

Just because he's a librarian doesn't make him important.

I already know how to defend myself. The police man would just abuse his power.

And I think most people on here know my feelings towards any religious authority.

 

[Necrofudge]

2) The Librarian's wife, who is 6 months pregnant (although that would mean that she would give birth to the kid some time while in the bunker and have him crawling around for another 3 months)
4) An elderly male, famous historian
5) A renowned female starlet (dancer, actress, singer, songwriter, etc)
6) A college co-ed
7) A second year medical student
10)A biochemist

(I didn't pick the rabbi because I feel that if we have to repopulate the world, we might as well do it right without all this religious nonsense.)

 

[Shamgarr]

2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10.

Why do we need the olympian?

Just because he's a librarian doesn't make him important.

I already know how to defend myself. The police man would just abuse his power.

And I think most people on here know my feelings towards any religious authority.

In my opinion, the Olympian represents the pennacle of human achievmant, the accumulation of thousands of years of strength, training, and the evolutionary process. It would be ashame to have all that go to waste and restart the human race with a sissy college kid and a librarian's wife. The librarian holds importance to me because he holds within him a memory of (most likely) all the greatest stories and works of literature since written language was invented. Classics such as Homer, Shakespeare, Twain... would you be willing to see all these simply fade from existence? So you know how to defend yourself? That's a pretty selfish mindset when the world depends on you to repopulate it. In that situation, one has to think about the good of the future, of the humans that may or may not come from your decisions. The police officer is beneficial because he establishes law and order, in what will probably be a lawless and orderless world. If you hope to rebuild society, you'll need a strong hand to guide it and serve as it's foundation.
As far as religions authority goes, it's pretty much just up to the person. In my opinion, I believe a new society could greatly benefit with the guidance of a spiritual leader. One would argue that religion would just fuck everything up, and I somewhat agree with that completely. BUT: the religion that would screw everything up the most would be the religion set up without someone who knows what they're talking about. If the Olympian declares himself god, or the co-ed declares a flying spaghetti monster in the sky, I guarentee that without guidance, these new religions would ultimately bring about the destruction of our new society. With the Rabbi, religion could be structured, and kept in check. This, I believe, would not only avoid conflict, but ultimately benefit a new world order.

 

[Jaythulhu]

I'll save myself, a friend or two, and some kittens.

 

[Singularly Datarific]

Screw them, and let ME have the bunker.
OT:
1,2,4,7,8,&10

 

[cheese_wizington]

1 2 3 4 10

 

[crudus]

2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 6. Easy. Would have been easier if you told me the gender of everyone which is the most important thing in this situation.

 

[DerpyDerpyDerp]

1) A male Librarian
2) The Librarian's wife, who is 6 months pregnant
3) An Olympic male Athlete
5) A renowned female starlet
6) A college co-ed
7) A second year medical student

Basically, my focus was also reproduction. The Librarian couple are used to reproduce as well as hopefully have some vast knowledge of books for later education, instruction, research, etc. The athlete is there for reproduction with the Starlet and Co-ed, as well as the access to strength and speed if needed. Starlet is needed for reproduction and perhaps entertainment. College Co-ed is needed strictly for reproduction as she is most likely the youngest. The Medical Student is needed to maintain the health of the six as well as deliver the child of the couple (using guide books from the librarian if that is not his specific field). Also, if he wanted, he could have either the Co-ed or Starlet. No one wants to be lonely.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

2, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10.