The trolley problem

@Tes yeux noirs,

Quote:

Nobody's going to "die". This is a hypothetical situation....It doesn't matter what I answer.

Well, of course it's hypothetical. If you have no desire to discuss the issues raised, that's fine. But you are discussing the comments made in the thread, to some degree, at least. So, what's up with that?

1 Reply

@layman,

Quote:

you are discussing the comments made in the thread, to some degree, at least. So, what's up with that?

A good question. I don't know what the answer is. I suppose I am interested in moral riddles. I have recalled something that happened just after 9/11 when I worked in a very busy government mailroom. We were already on the alert for suspicious packages that might contain bombs, but a new category was announced: anthrax. A big meeting of all staff was called, and the procedure outlined: packs of rubber gloves everywhere, anyone finding a package containing "white powder" was to announce the fact loudly, and would immediately be isolated with the package - all other staff were to move at least 20 feet away, and if possible leave the room and shut the isolated person in. Then a specialist hazard team would be called. The only exception to the isolation was that one person might care to volunteer to stay with the finder. A certain person, at this point, announced that she would definitely volunteer because "That's the kind of person I am". This caused a certain amount of muttering and "Like hell it is" could be clearly heard. She was well known around the place for tipping management off about minor staff infractions e.g. arriving slightly late or leaving early, taking pens home, etc. (They told her to stop doing it).

I suppose I feel that however people might answer such a riddle, in real life people don't behave either 100% morally or 100% rationally. Often they freeze.

1 Reply

@Tes yeux noirs,

Quote:

I suppose I feel that however people might answer such a riddle, in real life people don't behave either 100% morally or 100% rationally. Often they freeze.

Well, yeah...so?

Quote:

I suppose I am interested in moral riddles.

OK. So why not give your hypothetical solution to this puzzle, whether you would end up doing what you say, in real life, or not?

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Ok, my hypothetical solution is that I would piss my pants and not do anything.

1 Reply

@Tes yeux noirs,

Tes yeux noirs wrote:

Ok, my hypothetical solution is that I would piss my pants and not do anything.

OK, fair enough. You would be doin the right thing, purposely or not, because them 5 up the tracks deserved it. All's well that ends well, I figure.

The more I study on it, the more likely it seems that these were some damn PETA fanatics who chained themselves to the tracks to stop a herd of cattle from reaching market. Uhh, that is "thinking" they would stop it. Fraid not, PETA. Nice try, though.

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@Setanta,

Setanta wrote:

You're equating yourself with a breath of fresh air . . . Ah-hahahahahahahahahahaha . . . ya can't beat this place for free entertainment.

Nope. I was saying there's no reason a topic can't be discussed again by a different group of people. And if an old timer wants to jump in, that's cool too.

1 Reply

@Tuna,

Tuna wrote:

Setanta wrote:

You're equating yourself with a breath of fresh air . . . Ah-hahahahahahahahahahaha . . . ya can't beat this place for free entertainment.

Nope. I was saying there's no reason a topic can't be discussed again by a different group of people. And if an old timer wants to jump in, that's cool too.

Well, Tuna, I think you're missing the whole point, eh?

The point is this here: He is, beyond all doubt, the most knowledgeable and most brilliant person who ever lived. That gives him plenty of reason to think that every post it about him, and to hold all others in disdain, caincha see?

1 Reply

@layman,

layman wrote:

Well, Tuna, I think you're missing the whole point, eh?

The point is this here: He is, beyond all doubt, the most knowledgeable and most brilliant person who ever lived. That gives him plenty of reason to think that every post it about him, and to hold all others in disdain, caincha see?

I don't know how he got that idea. Obviously every post is about me.

I'm sorry, I didn't understand your answer to the trolley problem. It's a silly question, I know, but it fell in line with my recent ponderings about ethics.

What's your answer?

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@Tuna,

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What's your answer?

My answer was "let it roll."

For reasons that, for some damn reason, I actually went on to explain, ya know?

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@layman,

layman wrote:

Quote:
What's your answer?

My answer was "let it roll."

For reasons that, for some damn reason, I actually went on to explain, ya know?

You're saying you wouldn't act at all?

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@Tuna,

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You're saying you wouldn't act at all?

Right. It's your own damn thread, Tuna. Have you read it?

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@layman,

layman wrote:

Quote:
You're saying you wouldn't act at all?

Right. It's your own damn thread, Tuna. Have you read it?

Dude. Cut a poster some slack. You wouldn't believe the horror I've witnessed in the last three days (unless you work in a hospital that has a trauma unit.)

If you don't want to write it again, I get that. I'll trudge back and.. (mmph!) try to (ohhh...) figure it out.... (Jesus!)

0 Replies

The trolley problem

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