This is a "greater good" question -
If by killing someone you were emotionally close to you, you could cure some dread disease or end hunger in the third world, would you do it?
I like to think I would, but know that I could not. I'm not that strong.
John
If by killing someone you were emotionally close to you, you could cure some dread disease or end hunger in the third world, would you do it?
I like to think I would, but know that I could not. I'm not that strong.
John
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Charleston
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Re: Would you?
Sat, March 17, 2007 - 6:28 AMFunny you should ask that. I've been watching the third series of 24 where Bauer is trying to stop a deadly virus being released and he faces similar dilemas.
But if this person were carrying a deadly virus, such as ebola, which would only spread if the host were alive and there were no other options available and the probability that this person would infect 1000's of others - then Yes, I would.
How I would do it? Not sure! I would also have to think whether I'd also be at risk of infecting others and would probably have to consider suicide.
Hopefully I (or others) never have to face that situation.
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Re: Would you?
Sat, March 17, 2007 - 6:37 AMYes I would, but I would cry myself to sleep when and IF I could sleep.
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one."
Questions:
what if YOU were source of infection? Could you 'pull the trigger' on yourself, knowing you would save 1000's of lives?
Yes, I could. -
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Re: Would you?
Sat, March 17, 2007 - 7:29 AMYes I'd do it, I'd have trouble with the actual killing but the principle is sound.
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Unsu...
Re: Would you?
Sat, March 17, 2007 - 7:46 AMI don't think I would kill to cure a dread disease, because I believe another would just arise to fill it's niche.
How could killing someone end hunger in the third world?
Isn't that what people have been trying all along? Killing each other to get more food, land, etc. It hasn't solved anything so far.
So my decision at present would be no.
"if this person were carrying a deadly virus, such as ebola, which would only spread if the host were alive and there were no other options available and the probability that this person would infect 1000's of others"-
- If the virus would definately spread if the person were alive and quarantine wasn't an option. Yes, a shot to the head is pretty quick I think, and then incinerate the body. I would be sad but wouldn't feel guilty. If I was a risk for being close to them, I would rig something to burn my body after I shot myself.
I don't think killing someone can cure a dread disease, just stop it spreading. -
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Re: Would you?
Sat, March 17, 2007 - 11:30 AMthe question is hypothetical, not actual - a moral question, not actual
killing one's self to save others is easy - its killing a loved one that is hard, perhaps too hard -
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Re: Would you?
Sat, March 17, 2007 - 1:02 PMI disagree.
I've stood on the edge and looked.
Held the .44 in my hand and LOOKED.
Not hypothetical! Real.
Been there and going back, there's something about the edge the draws me - live or die, my choice.
You make your decision.
My guns are loaded.
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Re: Would you?
Sat, March 17, 2007 - 2:50 PMI don't think I could actually kill anyone or anything.
But yes, I would sacrfice a loved one for the better of society, IF THEY WERE SICK - if not I would have to go the murder suicide option, depending on how close this loved one was supposed to be. I don't think I could live with myself if it were my child. -
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Re: Would you?
Sat, March 17, 2007 - 4:28 PMNow there's a question......could you kill your own child for the greater good?
I have no clue if I could. From a "what if" point of view? Sure..... I say yes...for the greater good. But don't know how I'd live after killing someone close to me...even if it were for all the right reasons AND they approved (you would tell them, wouldn't you why you're killing them??????)
Ah........... these are very difficult choices.... but life is all about difficult choices. -
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Re: Would you?
Sat, March 17, 2007 - 6:49 PMI know of someone who lost a son in Afganistan. They didn't intend for their son to die, they didn't plan on bargaining his life for the "greater good", and there is no guarantee that there will be any "greater good" coming from anything that is going on over there. They can only reconcile themselves that their loss might have been for something.
It sounds like a great bargain. Greater good for thousands, or hundreds of thousands of people, in return for just one life?
I don't think that I could do it. It sounds incredibly selfish, but I couldn't. -
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Re: Would you?
Sun, March 18, 2007 - 5:34 AMThe only way I can reconcile the lost of service men and women in ill-thought wars such as the current situations in the Middle East is that their sacrifice is for their comrades, not for some greater good that may or may not ever come to pass. Given the criminal ineptitude of politicians in general and the ones we are stuck with at the moment in particular, there is no greater good to be had. Senseless losses are the most tragic.
John
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Re: Would you?
Sun, March 18, 2007 - 7:39 AMWell I am on the front lines in Iraq right now. I have lost a couple of buddies, and even some people I did not know that well or at all. We are all about the same here. We are here, because we believe what we are doing is for a greater good. I am a single parent of 2 wonderful children (7 year old daughter and 4 year old son) I am here for them. If I need to give my life then so be it. God has it all in his hands. I would rather come over here and die, to keep these idiots out of my country away from my children. This is my view. My brothers in arms feel pretty much like me. So from the front lines, we feel it is for a greater good. People in the states watch the news, and see what the news wants people to see, not the real thing. It is slowly changing here. We are making progress. Slow, but progress. -
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Re: Would you?
Sun, March 18, 2007 - 8:35 AMWhile I respect what you and your comrades are going, and I really hope that there will be a successful outcome and truly democratic government(s) are established under the rule of law, how will you and your comrades feel if that is not the outcome?
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Re: Would you?
Thu, March 29, 2007 - 9:56 AMI would have no idea if i could actually kill someone but have certainly felt like it alot of times even tho i dont like confrontation- however I think that anyone that feels that strongly with the cause should follow it thru - the trouble with the english is we dont have a cause - we only think about ourselves not our country - infact i would say its an embarrassment to us to be patriotic
I lived in the states for 5 yrs and loved it that they love winners their country and are so passionate about helping others too - even if not always what others think is politically correct - who ever is now days
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Re: Would you?
Thu, March 29, 2007 - 5:35 PMDaniel, You have my heartfelt thanks.
This is a heartless thing to do. KiLL people. But these assholes need killing! Been there, done that. But I was proud to be able to defend those that couldn't defend themselves.
You'll never forget it, but It's something you gotta do. "If I don't do this, who will?"
I be proud of you.
Brothers in Arms!
I never was a Marine, but I understand Semper Fi!
Bless you.
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Re: Would you?
Sat, March 17, 2007 - 8:15 PMI know I could. But it would have to be for something very great and I would have to see the great result nearly immediately. Because as soon as I had seen the result for the greater good i would go into a self imposed exile. Spurning my fellow man as unfit to live amoung them. A hermit I would be and end my days alone and only slightly less miserable because some good had been achieved and bemoaning the day of my death and my arrival in Hell. You may ask how I know so unshakening that I could.....well let's just say I have some experience in doing what needs to be done for a good cause thanks to the USMC. When I did it. I did it without compunction or hesitation and with very few second thoughts. However that was "the enemy" not someone I knew or was emotionally close to. Still experience makes any job easier. -
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Re: Would you?
Mon, March 19, 2007 - 12:50 AMI absolutely would not.
I'm a typical selfish human. We all like to think that we would help people that we have never met
if they were suffering and death were imminent.......but I have been on this planet long enough to
see true humanity in action and for the most part, I don't think that most humans would help one
another. I walk by homeless people every day and do nothing and I see hundreds others do the same.
We don't help the greater good when it doesn't mean killing someone that is close to us - so why would we
do it if it meant killing a loved one?
It sounds cynical, but it is my observation and I am being honest about my own selfishness. -
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Re: Would you?
Mon, March 19, 2007 - 10:20 AMI would not be able to kill someone I love. Even if it were to save hundreds of other people. I know thats horrible, and quite selfish. But it's very true.
However, if by killing myself, I could fix something like this... I could do that. I would tell my family and friends first, but I could do it. -
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Re: Would you?
Thu, March 29, 2007 - 5:52 PMExcuse me if I misunderstood something you said.
Do you love yourself?
I would not hesitate, I'm an old man and I love me.
See you later, maybe. Click-snick, BANG!
No problem.
Been to the Edge and looked over. It's waiting! -
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Unsu...
Re: Would you?
Thu, April 26, 2007 - 11:52 AMHell No!
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
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Re: Would you?
Sat, July 28, 2007 - 2:47 AMThat puts a whole new spin on "moral"!!! Unfortunately I am not for the "greater good" but killing has never really appealed to me.
Oona
