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[suibian]

@wwx

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Comments

[wincon]

[ he's had enough people ignore the moral dilemma and insist they'd brute force their way through the problems (which, although not unrelatable to him, does make the thought experiment less fun!) that those have become a stale, boring shield of an answer. everyone likes to fantasize that they're capable of saving everyone else, don't they? ]

I see
it makes the most sense numerically after all
the greatest good for the greatest number.

[suibian]

in the most cruel, cold logic of it, that's the optimal solution

of course i'd prefer another way. of course i'd look for another way. but the scenario laid out as you've laid it out, that's the answer. one life for the many.

[wincon]

would your answer stay the same if the necessary sacrifice was the person you care for most?

[suibian]

it would change. though the person i care for the most, he would volunteer

[wincon]

both of you are just overflowing with good will, aren't you

[suibian]

i just said i would change my answer if my person was the one i had to sacrifice. how does that make me full of good will?

[wincon]

but that person would sacrifice themselves.
sounds like you make up for each other's shortcomings.

but to be fair, I also said you couldn't obtain their agreement, so I guess your person never has to know.

[suibian]

that'd be a hard secret to live with

[ not that he couldn't. he's done it before. ]

[wincon]

would it be?

[suibian]

for me? yep. i could do it but it would be hard to come back from if the truth ever came out

[wincon]

so your person's the type who would get mad if you wouldn't gank him and harvest his organs, huh

[suibian]

for a noble cause? yeah. he would sacrifice himself immediately to help those less fortunate

though he might not if i begged him not to

[wincon]

what a hero

[suibian]

hey, you're the one who changed the question. i'm just answering it

[wincon]

I didn't say anything about you answering
it's not like there's a right or wrong answer.

[ there's just what he thinks about them! ]

[suibian]

you're not wrong. it's a good thought experiment.

what about you? how would you deal with this situation? kill the child?

[wincon]

me?
I wouldn't do anything

[suibian]

not interested in helping?

[wincon]

no
it's got nothing to do with me

[suibian]

and if the person who'd you have to sacrifice was your most important person?

[wincon]

if I wouldn't do it when the cure's a stranger, why would I do it when it's someone I know?
maybe if it was my worst enemy there'd be something to think about.

[suibian]

so you're indifferent to the unknown, but selfish when it comes to what you cherish. but vindictive when it comes to what you hate.

[wincon]

I guess that's pretty on point

[suibian]

honestly, can't begrudge you for it. i think i'm similar in my own way though i have more of a bleeding heart

[wincon]

is that what you think? even though I wouldn't choose to save anyone.