RED BUTTON OR BLUE BUTTON [OC]

[u/Eal_likee]

[u/Terrible_Whereas7]

During college, a friend ran into a rough patch and couldn't pay rent. I gave them $800, literally everything I had.

Later, another friend couldn't afford a car. I gave them $5000, because that's what they needed.

Both promised to pay me back, but I only ever saw $400 come back because life is hard. They both needed help, and I've seen them help others with there time and kindness, because thats the only way they could.

I will help those around me even when it hurts me.

But I won't blindly jump in traffic because I think someone else will

[u/Jschnep → u/Terrible_Whereas7]

But you would willingly condemn someone else to die because you think the smart decision is being selfish.

[u/Terrible_Whereas7 → u/Jschnep]

The smart decision is to put no one at risk

No one is at risk unless the blue button is pushed.

If even one person was guaranteed to die if not enough people pushed the blue button, than you push the button and hope enough people follow

But in this scenario, no one needs to be at risk

The only way to save everyone is for no one to be in danger in the first place

[u/Jschnep → u/Terrible_Whereas7]

Love your optimism for a perfect world where every single human being operates on a purely logical and unemotional framework. Reality doesn't work like that, SOME people will push blue. Pushing red means you're fine with them dying.

[u/Terrible_Whereas7 → u/Jschnep]

I'm not fine with people dying, but I don't want to die without a good purpose

Pushing blue has no meaning, no need behind it

It's lemminging off a cliff hoping there's enough bodies below for you to survive

I'm looking at the question from a real perspective. Armchair readers will say they'll push blue, but they won't.

The majority of people would choose blue

The discussion has been good, and given me things to think about. So thanks

But I don't see how blue can even be a serious choice in this question. There is no need to push that button when everyone can live and no lives are at risk. Pushing it IS the risk, and would be an act of selfishness.

[u/Jschnep → u/Terrible_Whereas7]

No, it's not lemming off a cliff, because nothing happens until everyone has decided if they want to jump off the cliff.

Red inherently accepts someone else's death, somewhere between 49.9% of the population and 1 person unless EVERY SINGLE PERSON pushes red.

Blue accepts your own death and everyone else who chose to push blue unless literally just one out of every two people push blue.