Would you give your life for another person?

[CM156_v1legacy]

Yes.

If this person was say 75+ however, I don't think so. They've live their life thus far, and it makes no sense for me to lose mine for them in that regard.

 

[Sansha]

Absolutely, yes. I couldn't imagine a better way to die than saving the life of someone else. That person, and everyone close to them, will remember you forever.

But you'll never hear the tales of praise or the stories of heroism. Wouldn't that bother you in the slightest? Worse yet, what if you're forgotten altogether, or are just a footnote in this person's life history? I like where you're going with that, but I'm not sure it necessarily translates well into real life.

Reality: I'm going to die eventually anyway, and that could happen at any moment without warning, or I could grow old and die in my sleep, neither of which hold a candle to the meaning and honor of giving your life so that someone else keeps theirs.

Admittedly, I argue that this person might not share my sentiment, appreciate the gesture or even be a person worth saving, but I couldn't possibly stand aside and watch a person die when I'm capable of saving them.

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

I'm going to let this speech by Julia from 1984 serve as my answer:

"Sometimes," she said, "they threaten you with something?something you can't stand up to, can't even think about. And then you say, 'Don't do it to me, do it to somebody else, do it to so-and-so.' And perhaps you might pretend, afterwards, that it was only a trick and that you just said it to make them stop and didn't really mean it. But that isn't true. At the time when it happens you do mean it. You think there's no other way of saving yourself and you're quite ready to save yourself that way. You want it to happen to the other person. You don't give a damn what they suffer. All you care about is yourself."

She's right, I wish I had the kind of bravery and humility to sacrifice myself for a loved one, but when it comes down to it I'm just not able to face death.

 

[eclipsed_chemistry]

Absolutely, yes. I couldn't imagine a better way to die than saving the life of someone else. That person, and everyone close to them, will remember you forever.

But you'll never hear the tales of praise or the stories of heroism. Wouldn't that bother you in the slightest? Worse yet, what if you're forgotten altogether, or are just a footnote in this person's life history? I like where you're going with that, but I'm not sure it necessarily translates well into real life.

Reality: I'm going to die eventually anyway, and that could happen at any moment without warning, or I could grow old and die in my sleep, neither of which hold a candle to the meaning and honor of giving your life so that someone else keeps theirs.

Admittedly, I argue that this person might not share my sentiment, appreciate the gesture or even be a person worth saving, but I couldn't possibly stand aside and watch a person die when I'm capable of saving them.

Fair enough. For the record, if you would have asked me this question 4 months ago, I would have also said without hesitation that I would gladly give my life so that someone else might live. But now, I've met a beautiful girl and I feel like I have something great to live for. It's not just about me, but for my family and everyone else I care about that I have to say, if it's for an good cause, like a really good friend or family member, I'd give my life, but for a random stranger I might hesitate before deciding anything.

 

[Dr. wonderful]

Can I crack off one last wiseass comment.

 

[TheAceTheOne]

Maybe ONE person...but I'd rather live by her side than have to give my life. Guess I'm asking for a third option.

Same.

On topic: I'd try to help *without* dying first. If that failed, I'd say "piss this" and walk off. I know, that's an evil stance to take, but I like living.

 

[Navvan]

If its either me or some stranger I'll pick me every time. There is no reason to from my line of thought to do otherwise unless you're already suicidal, about to die anyway, or just don't care about living. I honestly wouldn't even help if I felt my life was seriously threatened for a complete stranger. As the number of people increases it becomes a bit less clear what I would want to do, but I believe my response would be the same.

The more I get to know you the more likely I am to sacrifice myself for you. I would endanger my life to save close friends and family, but the only people I would make the clear cut decision to sacrifice myself for would be my wife or children.

That may sound cold and selfish and it is. However sacrificing yourself is also a selfish act since dieing doesn't just effect you it effects everyone who was close to you. So it comes down to this simple question. Do you want to make someone else and their close ones happy, or those close to you. Dieing means not only can you not do anything in the future for yourself, but nothing for them in their times of need. So you better make sure its worth it before ending you for someone else.

 

[Berethond]

Yes, and as I went I would sing "The Bard's Song" by Blind Guardian.

 

[jack583]

yes
even for those i hate
i'm just a giving kind of guy

 

[Jedoro]

Yeah. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I could save who I believed to be an innocent person, but chose not to.

 

[crudus]

Only if I got to stay in Valhalla.

Yeah, this is my thoughts too, but seriously I probably would. I don't value my life much so someone may as well.

 

[Gamer_152]

If it's just a random human being then no. Don't get me wrong, I never think a human being killed is right but I consider myself an altruistic person and if I don't know this person, they could be a complete ass. I could die for them and miss a whle bunch of opportunities in my life to be giving to other people while they go around making other peoples' lives worse, I don't think it's worth the gamble.

 

[Chromanin]

If it was someone I knew, I probably wouldn't want to save them anyway. I like strangers much more. When I get to know people, I always wind up hating them. So, yes, I like to think that if I saw someone about to get hit by a car or shot I would valiantly step in to help. It isn't as though I've been any good to the world alive.

 

[ChildofGallifrey]

Nope. Outside of my immediate family, there are maybe 5 people I would risk my life for, unless you count my girlfriend as 'immediate family', but we do have a child, so maybe she does count.

 

[Dr Snakeman]

A random person, with whom I have no personal connection?

I like to think of myself as a nice guy, but... no. I like living. To just give up living in order to save someone else who I don't know makes no sense. How am I supposed to make that judgement? How do I know that this person deserves to live more than me?

I would die to save someone else. A good person. A doctor who saves lives for a living. A child. A family member. When I commission as an officer, I'm probably going to be willing to die for the men under me.

But I'm not going to throw my life away just to save a generic human life. I'm a human life, too, and there's nothing to say that I'm the one who should die.

Edit: Now, I would risk my life for an innocent person in danger, but I would not knowingly kill myself to let someone I can't even see live. Does that make sense?

 

[-Dragmire-]

I would probably dive to push someone out of the way of a car, I'm impulsive that way. On the other hand I wouldn't run into a burning building to save anyone. Guess I gauge the risk differently.

Basically, if I have time to think about it, I wouldn't risk myself. A guaranteed and premeditated exchange of life to a stranger though... not sure.

 

[infohippie]

For just a random? Not a chance. For someone I know? Maybe, depends on what relation they are to me and the exact situation. For it to be completely unconditional, that would only be for the couple of kids in my life.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

Well, I think that's one of those split second decisions you'd have to make. If you mean something like risking your life to save someone you don't know. I like to think that I would do so. A main problem in the world today is that no one cares about anyone but themselves. Someone could get killed on the street and people will just walk by while they bleed out.

 

[DanWydola]

yes.
i couldnt tell you why.
i tried writing at least 3 different answers as to why and non of them seemed to do it.
i guess some people just have an inate feeling that if they can save another person than no cost is too much