Another Hypothetical Question

[SpectorBass308]

Here's a hypothetical question, inspired by Major Metal's latest post.

A group of armed men take 10 hostages that include men, women, and children. This armed group comes to you and tells you that they will kill every one of the hostages unless you take one of their guns and kill one of the hostages yourself, if you do this they will let the remaining 9 hostages live. Do you shoot and kill one of the hostages to save the other nine or do you have nothing to do with the whole situation and let the armed men kill all 10 hostages?

Assume that there are no other possible outcomes.

I was recently asked this question, kinda took me a minute to think through it, I'm still not 100% sure the right answer is.

 

[jady]

I would take myself out since I am one of the hostages. I don't have to kill anyone and die a hero.

 

[SpectorBass308]

You are not one of the hostages, your only a bystander. You would have to shoot someone else, or let them all die.

 

[vene-nemesis]

You are not one of the hostages, your only a bystander. You would have to shoot someone else, or let them all die.

Are you one of the hostages?

 

[Fontaine]

take the gun and shoot the guys keeping the people hostage...DUH

 

[tplyons]

depends... tell us more about the hostages

 

[Relic]

Are you one of the hostages?

LMAO!! nice

 

[Joe Gress]

take the gun and shoot the guys keeping the people hostage...DUH

Bingo. Even if I only take one out, I'll be dead anyways after they shoot me.

 

[Joe Gress]

I'm waiting for the thread that goes: You, Obama, Bush, Clinton, McCain, Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton all are hostages together...





Course that would get ugly.

 

[SpectorBass308]

Sorry, but you have to assume that there are Only two possible outcomes, Either you shoot one of them and save 9 or you let them all die. Lets assume that the hostages are made up of 5 ten year old boys and 5 ten year old girls.

 

[rarbass]

Well that's just ridiculous. If they were adults the choice would be different. I mean you can't pick just one child, but if you can pick an adult that's wasted their life...

 

[vene-nemesis]

Blindfold russian roulette, let god kill the worst of em!

 

[TheDarkReaver]

You need to rework the question, rather than shooting a hostage yourself, you need to choose someone to be shot. Even in hypothetical situations it would be stupid for a hostage taker to give a gun to anyone.

 

[armywalaby]

You need to rework the question, rather than shooting yourself, you need to choose someone to be shot. Even in hypothetical situations it would be stupid for a hostage taker to give a gun to anyone.

Yeah, OP, GAWD!

 

[beaglesandbass]

no pics, no hostages.

 

[HollowBassman]

There would be 10 dead hostages.

 

[benthughes]

I would take myself out since I am one of the hostages. I don't have to kill anyone and die a hero.

Yeah....enjoy your party fella.

 

[L-A]

I'd shoot the hostage who said "Kill yourself".

 

[funkalicious101]

I think I would kill a hostage. I wouldnt be happy about it, and it would probably mess me up for the est of my life. But I would feel like I saved nine lives.

 

[mike_v_s]

There would be 10 dead hostages.

Dude, you're only supposed to shoot ONE of them. Jeez.

Mike