A madman has you locked up in a room, and has kidnapped thousands of people in a large warehouse. He puts a button in front of you, and tells you:

"If you push the button, 2000 people die. If you do not push the button, 2001 people die. You have one hour to decide."

You assume this man means business. So what do you do, and why?

(By the way I did not come up with this, I remember seeing it somewhere.)

Hurricane

United States3939 Posts

August 27 2008 00:05 GMT

Don't push it. It gives you longer to think of a way to stop it, also with the chance of him bluffing, not pushing is definitely the best choice because it buys you more time for something to happen to stop it.

YPang

United States4024 Posts

August 27 2008 00:09 GMT

can it be 2000 or 2001 ill babies?

ilovezil

United States4143 Posts

August 27 2008 00:18 GMT

On August 27 2008 09:05 Hurricane wrote:
Don't push it. It gives you longer to think of a way to stop it, also with the chance of him bluffing, not pushing is definitely the best choice because it buys you more time for something to happen to stop it.

I agree with what you're saying, but the problem becomes more complicated since there are so many unknown variables. Assuming that the man is as dangerous as he seems, he's most likely capable of pulling something within the one hour, so you might not have as long a time as you think. Plus, there are always the bizzare possibilities such as there's a certain timing to when to push the button to limit casualties. I don't know though, I might be missing something within the information presented, but that's all I can immediately come up with.

Lemonwalrus

United States5465 Posts

August 27 2008 00:22 GMT

I think the difference between 2001 and 2000 is small enough (very harsh, I know) that I could better live with myself if 2001 deaths were caused by my inaction than if 2000 deaths were caused by an action I made when I had a choice not to. This is all, of course, assuming that there is no way to cheat the system. However, given different numbers/situations, I could see myself changing my mind.

Caller

Poland8075 Posts

August 27 2008 00:25 GMT

kick him in the nuts
take button
shove down throat

GG

in all seriousness, I would probably not press the button, because I would guess he is bluffing as he has no way to do so.

Raithed

China7078 Posts

August 27 2008 00:26 GMT

try to get out.

ketomai

United States2789 Posts

August 27 2008 00:26 GMT

Well, when I first read it, it sounded like a threat (IF YOU DON"T PRESS IT YOU"LL DIE TOO, hence the 2001). But, if that isn't the case, I'd wait, and then I'd not press it at the chance that he's bluffing.

Pervect

1280 Posts

August 27 2008 00:32 GMT

A. Flip a coin. Best of three. If you don't have a coin, flip the button. If it presses itself when it lands, then awesome.
B. Complain of a faulty button and ask to contact his manager.
C. Masturbate.
D. All of the above.

This is what the SAT's trained you for, choose wisely.

Lemonwalrus

United States5465 Posts

August 27 2008 00:32 GMT

#10

Semi-related, this reminded me of this video.

XCetron

5226 Posts

August 27 2008 00:33 GMT

#11

I do nothing, I dont believe in helding somebody responsible for lack of action.

kleenexboxman

United States2 Posts

August 27 2008 00:37 GMT

#12

No deal

thoraxe

United States1449 Posts

August 27 2008 00:44 GMT

#13

you should specify the room, cuz I could get out through the window or something.

CapO

United States1615 Posts

August 27 2008 00:46 GMT

#14

push the button, so i can save one person at least, otherwise they are all dead? what kind of question is this? lol, unless there's like a way to persuade the guy in an hour to free everybody yay!

Slithe

United States985 Posts

August 27 2008 00:49 GMT

#15

If I know for a fact that there's no way around the situation, then I will press the button at the very end of the hour.

Dromar

United States2145 Posts

August 27 2008 00:50 GMT

#16

That's true. If there's even a tiny chance he's bluffing/has a heart attack/you all get saved or whatever, you've got a higher EV. Either way, if you choose to push the button, don't do it until the last possible moment to maximize the chance that something interferes.

But I assume the intent of the question is to ask "would you kill 2000 people to save 2001 people?" As if you should carry some heavy burden for pressing the button. In that respect, my answer is press the button, easy.

prOxi.swAMi

Australia3091 Posts

August 27 2008 00:51 GMT

#17

Do nothing of course.

CapO

United States1615 Posts

August 27 2008 00:52 GMT

#18

i feel like this question has such an obvious answer, unless you specify something like that theres a gun on the floor that can be picked up within 5ft or w/e.

FreeDoM[YA]

Canada855 Posts

August 27 2008 01:01 GMT

#19

I'm going to make the assumption that this room is underground, thick concrete walls, a door locked form the outside and absolutely no way to escape.. I would think about it.. alot....

I wouldn't press the button until the time is nearly up. Assuming the police are onto this I would stall for as long as possible and then probably press the button. If you think of it either way ur killing atleast 2000 people. If you don't press it 2001 will die due to your stubbornness and weak conscious, if you push it, 2000 people will die that were inevitably going to die anyway.

Grobyc

Canada18410 Posts

August 27 2008 01:05 GMT

#20

On August 27 2008 10:01 freedom yay wrote:
I'm going to make the assumption that this room is underground, thick concrete walls, a door locked form the outside and absolutely no way to escape.. I would think about it.. alot....

I wouldn't press the button until the time is nearly up. Assuming the police are onto this I would stall for as long as possible and then probably press the button. If you think of it either way ur killing atleast 2000 people. If you don't press it 2001 will die due to your stubbornness and weak conscious, if you push it, 2000 people will die that were inevitably going to die anyway.