What would you do in this situation?????????

Discussion in 'Ethics, Morality, & Justice' started by Deathfromabove, Aug 5, 2007.

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  1. Deathfromabove

    Deathfromabove Hopeless and Useless Registered Senior Member

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    Imagine you work as a railway drawbridge operator. You are closing the bridge for the express train that's about to arrive when you see your son trapped in the machinery. To close the bridge will kill your son, but save the train. To open the bridge will save your son, but the train will not be able to stop in time.

    What would you do?
     
    Deathfromabove, Aug 5, 2007
    #1

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  3. Norsefire

    Norsefire Salam Shalom Salom Registered Senior Member

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    I dont know. There must be some sort of mutual solution
     
    Norsefire, Aug 5, 2007
    #2

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  5. draqon

    draqon Banned Banned

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    save my son without any adieu.
     
    draqon, Aug 5, 2007
    #3

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  7. shorty_37

    shorty_37 Go! Canada Go! Registered Senior Member

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    this sounds like the Trolley thread.......Baron care to remark on this one? lol
     
    shorty_37, Aug 5, 2007
    #4
  8. Hapsburg

    Hapsburg Hellenistic polytheist Valued Senior Member

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    Save my son, of course. The perpetuation of my genes, and the survival of my child, would be more important than some random fucks on the wrong train.
     
    Hapsburg, Aug 5, 2007
    #5
  9. ashpwner

    ashpwner Registered Senior Member

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    Save my son im selfish and when doing stuff for stranger it nether realy benifits you.
     
    ashpwner, Aug 5, 2007
    #6
  10. francois

    francois Schwat? Registered Senior Member

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    francois, Aug 5, 2007
    #7
  11. Fraggle Rocker

    Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

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    These are just exercises in sophistry. No one can predict how he will behave in a situation in which he is overwhelmed by conflicting emotions. Perhaps only a person who has been under stress like that, such as combat.

    To make matters worse, these scenarios are never well crafted. The train will be stopped until the bridge is closed. Such a foolish safety risk would not be tolerated, even in Minneapolis. Furthermore, they work the other way. They stay down so the trains can pass. If a boat approaches, then they are raised, after making sure that every nearby train has come to a complete stop. There will be a considerable period when both train and boat are stopped. If it's a large ship their stopping distance is measured in fractions of a mile, nobody is going to risk that collision either.
     
    Last edited: Aug 5, 2007
    Fraggle Rocker, Aug 5, 2007
    #8
  12. draqon

    draqon Banned Banned

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    person in stress such as combat will kill everyone...the train passengers...his son...and himself.
     
    draqon, Aug 5, 2007
    #9
  13. Crunchy Cat

    Crunchy Cat F-in' *meow* baby!!! Valued Senior Member

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    Save my son.
     
    Crunchy Cat, Aug 5, 2007
    #10
  14. Hapsburg

    Hapsburg Hellenistic polytheist Valued Senior Member

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    What conflicting emotions? It's your son! The decision should be a reflex, you shouldn't even have to think.

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    Hapsburg, Aug 5, 2007
    #11
  15. Enmos

    Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    I think my brain would short-circuit. Sadly i would probably just stand there being horrified at my choices and kill them all in the process.
     
    Enmos, Aug 5, 2007
    #12
  16. Tiassa

    Tiassa Let us not launch the boat ... Valued Senior Member

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    How old is the son?
     
    Tiassa, Aug 5, 2007
    #13
  17. lucifers angel

    lucifers angel same shit, differant day!! Registered Senior Member

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    7,590
    my son all the way!!

    no one will ever stop me saving any one of my family members!!
     
    lucifers angel, Aug 5, 2007
    #14
  18. John99

    John99 Banned Banned

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    the best thing to do is leave the bgridge open, get on the tracks, open your arms wide over your head, close your eyes and wait.
     
    John99, Aug 5, 2007
    #15
  19. Anti-Flag

    Anti-Flag Pun intended Registered Senior Member

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    3,714
    Didn't something similar actually happen in real life(quite a few years back) whereby a guys son had fallen into the hole beneath a switch for a set of points, and a train was due when he needed to switch the points.
    He switched them and crushed his son. I guess it's the right thing to do and we all know it but it takes some courage.
     
    Anti-Flag, Aug 5, 2007
    #16
  20. Fugu-dono

    Fugu-dono Scholar Of Shen Zhou Registered Senior Member

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    Save the train I can always put another kid on the production line.
     
    Fugu-dono, Aug 7, 2007
    #17
  21. cosmictraveler

    cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

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    I wouldn't have let my son on the tracks to begin with. This is a totally stupid question if you ask me for it could really never happen as you state and it never has that I know of anywhere.
     
    cosmictraveler, Aug 7, 2007
    #18
  22. Tiassa

    Tiassa Let us not launch the boat ... Valued Senior Member

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    Tiassa, Aug 7, 2007
    #19
  23. scorpius

    scorpius a realist Valued Senior Member

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    turn on the RED LIGHT as all railroads tracks have,so the train would stop..then save the kid.

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    scorpius, Aug 11, 2007
    #20
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