The Bullet

Acebot44 · 02-14-2009, 11:50 AM

Last night was spent talking into the weee hours of the night with a few friends about...well...everything (religions, abuse, future, relationships, family, etc). I brought up the question of family in reference to the discussion that has been happening in the Marriage thread, and asked each of them to define it. I also threw in Prof's "If you would sacrifice your life to save theirs, then they are a part of your family" definition and a whole other discussions came out of it that I now pose to you.

If you were put in the situation where essentially you had the ability to save a child from dying in exchange for your own life, would you do it and why? Would you take a bullet for a random kid?

My answer was no, and all three of my friends answered yes, so I'm interested to see what you all have to say.

Swan · 02-14-2009, 02:45 PM

Random kid.....no.

Some kid I know.....we would see.

Not so much that I prefer my own life I just don't care really. Who knows, that kid might be a demon

BreakABone · 02-14-2009, 03:48 PM

I've been asked this question in a variety of ways... loved ones.. friends.. etc

And my answer is always the same.
NO.

Not because I want to be a jerk, but I rather state that I've never been put in the situation so I don't know.
But I rather say no then to say yes and be placed in the situation and go against my word.

Combine 017 · 02-14-2009, 03:57 PM

An insignificant child?
Hell no.

The Germanator · 02-14-2009, 05:05 PM

That's a no from me. At the age of 23, I'd like to live for a while longer. If I was certain I'd be only injured from the bullet and not killed, I would probably do it, but I wouldn't sacrifice my life.

I suppose the argument is..wouldn't I want someone to do the same for me? Not really, if I get shot, then I guess I was meant to be shot. Thems the breaks, same goes for the kid. Life is short and I'd rather be, well, alive. Sorry kid.

I also think it's a different situation...Let's say a random kid is trapped in a car or is drowning or something. I might risk my life to save someone else as long as there's a chance I'd make it out as well. I could also totally crumble in a situation like that, I dunno.

Teuthida · 02-14-2009, 07:03 PM

I'd take the bullet if the kid, traumatized by my death, grows up to be Batman.

BreakABone · 02-14-2009, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teuthida

I'd take the bullet if the kid, traumatized by my death, grows up to be Batman.

Haha that reminds me of something.
When went out with friends last weekend, they started joking about me actually putting my life in danger just so there is a better chance my kid would become a real life Batman.

I hope I'm not that huge of a fan, but it is an idea...

KillerGremlin · 02-15-2009, 05:40 AM

Would I personally do it?
...No, not unless it was my kid.

This is a "tough" question but I think an even tougher question is:

"would you take a bullet for your wife knowing that you will die and she will spend the rest of her life grieving, or would you let her die and take the blame for the rest of your life."

Both questions (mine and the original one) really hinge on if we know in advance. If saving the kid's life is premeditated, then a whole world of moral questions pop up.

Bube · 02-15-2009, 02:48 PM

For my wife, yes.

For random kid, would try to save, but not by directly taking the bullet myself.

Angrist · 02-16-2009, 06:44 AM

I would do my best to save the kid's life, but I don't think I would take the bullet.

Crash · 02-16-2009, 01:30 PM

Random Kid no, buttttt...

A run away cable car was careening down the street towards you, and your foot is stuck so you can't move. You couldn't stop it, but you can reach a switch that you could change the track. However, the switch would switch it to the track where a child is standing, and he would certainly die instead. What would you do?

once answered...

A run away cable car was careening down the street towards a construction worker, and you couldn't stop it, or warn them, yet had a switch that you could change the track. However, the switch would switch it to the track where a child is standing, and he would certainly die too. What would you do?

once answered.

A run away cable car was careening down the street towards a group of 3 construction workers, and you couldn't stop it, or warn them, yet had a switch that you could change the track. However, the switch would switch it to the track where a child is standing, and he would certainly die too. What would you do?

Professor S · 02-16-2009, 03:28 PM

No, and to be quite honest I doubt many other people would either. Its not about self analysis or even philosophy, it's about instinct and I highly doubt anyone would instinctively put themselves at mortal risk to save a stranger regardless of the danger posed to that stranger. I can count on one hand the amount of lifelong friends I believe I would endanger myself to save, when I'm honest with myself.

To tie things together, this is also why I believe large government programs fail. You can pretend to care and it feels good to imagine you do, but when a person becomes a number reality and human nature have a harsh way of butchering those ideals. This is why I've always believed that family (whatever its made of) should be the basis of society and culture, not government. Government pretends to look out for you, you're family really does.

Typhoid · 02-16-2009, 04:10 PM

I would try to take the bullet, yeah.