Would You Sacrifice Your Well-Being to Save a Life?

[Thaius]

It is an interesting question.

I would like to say that I would. I believe that human life is endlessly valuable, so giving up my well-being for a stranger's life is something that, ideally, I would be willing to do. But I admit, I'm not sure how I would act were I put in that situation.

For someone I know, like family member or my girlfriend? Absolutely. It's a wrong and biased distinction, but I'm looking at it realistically: the value of human life is intrinsic, so none of my family members are somehow "worth more" than a random person on the street, but my emotional connection to them would undoubtedly make me jump into action much more easily than with someone I don't know.

So in short, I would ideally put my own well-being at risk to save another. However, without actually being in that situation, I can't guarantee that I would unless I had an emotional connection to the person. It's a hard question to handle theoretically, and is never truly answered until put into practice.

 

[Mr. Spazza]

Anyone else can go die for all I care.

I'm curious, why is human life so expendable to you?

 

[Cornish]

No I wouldn't.

I wouldn't see the benefit in trading my well being for the well being of an other. Obviously I wouldn't say that this answer is a fact as I've never being in a situation where I would have to make that decision.

 

[Master Kuja]

If it were someone I cared for deeply, like one of my friends, a loved one or a family member, then yes, I wouldn't even have to think twice.

However, I'd imagine that my self preservation instinct is too strong to put myself on the line for a person who means absolutely nothing to me in some mental/emotional sense.

 

[Ashbax]

It also depends on who the person is, I have to say. And the exact situation tbh.

 

[SextusMaximus]

I'd like to think I would, but at the time Id probably chicken out. I'd push myself to do it though.

 

[gostchiken]

Only for a precious few people.

 

[MicrosoftPaysMe]

It sounds greedy but honestly no. The worst part is if my own house was burning down I'd run in for my 360 but not for another life.

 

[CrikeyO]

Would you be willing to sacrifice your welfare in order to save someone else? It depends, probably not.

For example:
If you heard someone shouting for help inside of a burning building and the firemen had not yet arrived, would you be willing to suffer severe burns to try and save their life? Definitely not. I don't even know this person. I'm not going to risk serious damage to myself to save someone I don't know.
OR
If someone needed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but they had a cold sore, would you be willing to contract HSV-1 to save that person's life? I will update this after learning about HSV-1, probably not.
Edit: Oh no it's herpes ew. I would call the ambulance maybe? I don't know in that sort of situation

What do you value more? Minor/Major aspects of your welfare, or another person's life? Minor/Major aspects of my life.

Would your answer change if a family member or loved one's life was at stake? Yes, but depending on the severity of the damage to myself.

Would you be prepared, or even able, to live with the guilt if you decided not to save them? People are able to deal with a surprising amount of guilt, or even are able to ignore it altogether.

If you don't think that you would feel guilty about letting them die, why do you think that you wouldn't feel guilty about it? Because I don't know them, so it wouldn't have an impact on my life. I would probably end up rationalising it shittily such as "Oh millions die every day it's not a big deal".

Letting someone die because you're too 'zomg icky' about something as minor as coldsores isn't commendable at all.

OT I have done CPR on someone with blood dripping out of their mouth at work. God knows what was in that blood, but the person survived and I'm still healthy so no great damage was done.

 

[Susano]

Anyone else can go die for all I care.

I'm curious, why is human life so expendable to you?

It's not, he's being the Internet Tough Guy.

Would you be willing to sacrifice your welfare in order to save someone else? It depends, probably not.

For example:
If you heard someone shouting for help inside of a burning building and the firemen had not yet arrived, would you be willing to suffer severe burns to try and save their life? Definitely not. I don't even know this person. I'm not going to risk serious damage to myself to save someone I don't know.
OR
If someone needed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but they had a cold sore, would you be willing to contract HSV-1 to save that person's life? I will update this after learning about HSV-1, probably not.
Edit: Oh no it's herpes ew. I would call the ambulance maybe? I don't know in that sort of situation

What do you value more? Minor/Major aspects of your welfare, or another person's life? Minor/Major aspects of my life.

Would your answer change if a family member or loved one's life was at stake? Yes, but depending on the severity of the damage to myself.

Would you be prepared, or even able, to live with the guilt if you decided not to save them? People are able to deal with a surprising amount of guilt, or even are able to ignore it altogether.

If you don't think that you would feel guilty about letting them die, why do you think that you wouldn't feel guilty about it? Because I don't know them, so it wouldn't have an impact on my life. I would probably end up rationalising it shittily such as "Oh millions die every day it's not a big deal".

Letting someone die because you're to 'zomg icky' about something as minor as coldsores isn't commendable at all.

OT I have done CPR on someone with blood dripping out of their mouth at work. God knows what was in that blood, but the person survived and I'm still healthy so no great damage was done.

That's why I said I wouldn't know in that sort of situation. Also it would depend on if anyone else was around or not and stuff like that.

 

[interspark]

i would like to say i would but i have been known to wuss out when the going gets rough

 

[stormtrooper9091]

i'd do it for my mother and sister and two best friends, and that's it, the rest can rot for all i care

 

[interspark]

It sounds greedy but honestly no. The worst part is if my own house was burning down I'd run in for my 360 but not for another life.

youve also got to consider the fact that, if you were in a burning building, you couldnt fairly ask someone else to save YOU (except a fireman)

 

[child of lileth]

With the cold sore example in the OP, I'd be extremely hesitant, but if it was the only way, I'd consider it.

In any other example, where it would just hurt me, or kill me, sure, I'd do it.

 

[Agent Larkin]

Yes I would...

 

[direkiller]

Anyone else can go die for all I care.

I'm curious, why is human life so expendable to you?

To quote a Christmas Carrol
Helps decrease the surplus population

On the internet no one cares about anyone in real life most people whould try to do something(call 911) when theirs fire involved
a guy laying on the street is flat out of luck from the looks of it
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/passers_by_let_good_sam_die_5SGkf5XDP5ooudVuEd8fbI

 

[Ekit]

I would like to say Yes, but I'm not so sure that I actually would risk my life for a stranger. But then again... I don't think I could live with the guilt if I didn't save the stranger.... Damn, this is hard!

 

[Olikunmissile]

Depends on who that person is. if I like them then yes, if I don't then no, if it was a stranger it would depend on the circumstance.

 

[Dfskelleton]

I would probably do some things, but not too insane. I would go into a burning building and save someone if I could, but the thing is: I hate fire, and I have learned that walking into a fire without a gas mask can incinerate your lungs instantly. I wouldn't sacrifice myself unless I was sure I could save the person. Some things can't be expected of people, and as much as I would like to help in situations, I probably could not.
Now, if I could help in just a small way, like calling 911, or yelling for help, I would. Someone on this page has already linked to this, but I will too because it's so sad.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/passers_by_let_good_sam_die_5SGkf5XDP5ooudVuEd8fbI

This homeless man is definitely a hero. Whatever Heaven is like, this man is getting some of the best of it.

 

[Mr. Spazza]

I would like to say Yes, but I'm not so sure that I actually would risk my life for a stranger. But then again... I don't think I could live with the guilt if I didn't save the stranger.... Damn, this is hard!

Your life doesn't necessarily have to be at stake. But your life would be effected. What would you do then?