That’s tough. I’d do anything to protect my wife, kids, etc. But, I have no interest in hurting an innocent person to do so. That’s someone else’s child, sibling, spouse, or parent. Knowing myself, I’d try to save both my loved one and the stranger. Here’s hoping I’m never put in such a position.
I totally agree. I knew this would be a tough one. I think that most of us would wish never to be put in such a situation. I had to ask the question, after watching a movie. The main character’s mother was on her death bed, terribly ill, and a girl he barely knew had healing powers, that allowed her to take another person’s sickness but she would then suffer from it herself. And the guy was puzzled between forcing the girl to basically kill herself by saving his mother, or letting the young woman live, and leave his mom to die. Not a happy dilemma.
I hope that’s a decision I’ll never have to make, and since I’ve never been in that situation, I can’t say for sure what I would do. We live in an imperfect world, and sometimes our actions have unforeseen consequences, even collateral damage, in spite of our good intentions. If I had do something in order to save someone I love, and as a result someone else was harmed, even though unintentionally, that would be a very hard thing to live with… but it might be even harder to live with the knowledge that I could have saved my loved one, but didn’t.
Damn if you do, damn if you don’t… Luckily, I think that the chances of such a dilemma presenting itself are slim to none. And I hope it remains that way.
LOL yeah, I know that, and it is one of the reasons why I hesitate to team up with you if it ever happens. You have so much prep done on the subject, but knowing that you would sacrifice me anytime you’d need to… Hmmmm 😉
The thing you have to look at is what would you rather, someone who is honest to say I will sacrifice you or someone who you trust sacrificing you. Ultimately it is going to happen, but at least as the zombies are eating you, with me you wont be very emotionally hurt
What do we mean by hurting? I certainly would not hurt someone physically. But if we mean not turning up at an appointment, some emotional hurt, I would hope I could explain my actions later.
I totally understand the nuance, and unfortunately, I meant hurting physically the stranger. As I explained in my comment to Sonofabeach, above, the idea came from a movie. (Sorry for the ”copy-paste” – it is late…) The main character’s mother was on her death bed, terribly ill, and a girl he barely knew had healing powers, that allowed her to take another person’s sickness but she would then suffer from it herself. And the guy was puzzled between forcing the girl to basically kill herself by saving his mother, or letting the young woman live, and leave his mom to die. Yikes, right?
This is such a great ethical dilemma you have posed here. There are some great studies on this issue I have read, just can’t find them right this minute. The same issue applies to the greater good issue.
Great Post, Dear! 😊💕🌹
Great question. I really have to think about it. Difficult. I probably lean toward, “yes,” if it were a life and death situation or a severe health issue.
Cyranny's Cove 
That’s tough. I’d do anything to protect my wife, kids, etc. But, I have no interest in hurting an innocent person to do so. That’s someone else’s child, sibling, spouse, or parent. Knowing myself, I’d try to save both my loved one and the stranger. Here’s hoping I’m never put in such a position.
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I totally agree. I knew this would be a tough one. I think that most of us would wish never to be put in such a situation. I had to ask the question, after watching a movie. The main character’s mother was on her death bed, terribly ill, and a girl he barely knew had healing powers, that allowed her to take another person’s sickness but she would then suffer from it herself. And the guy was puzzled between forcing the girl to basically kill herself by saving his mother, or letting the young woman live, and leave his mom to die. Not a happy dilemma.
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I guess it would depend on the circumstances.
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I totally understand… The devil is in the details, right? 😉
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Absolutely. 🙂
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I hope that’s a decision I’ll never have to make, and since I’ve never been in that situation, I can’t say for sure what I would do. We live in an imperfect world, and sometimes our actions have unforeseen consequences, even collateral damage, in spite of our good intentions. If I had do something in order to save someone I love, and as a result someone else was harmed, even though unintentionally, that would be a very hard thing to live with… but it might be even harder to live with the knowledge that I could have saved my loved one, but didn’t.
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Damn if you do, damn if you don’t… Luckily, I think that the chances of such a dilemma presenting itself are slim to none. And I hope it remains that way.
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Amen to that.
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Are we talking Zombies? Because if so I would sacrifice everyone I love as long as I lived.
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LOL yeah, I know that, and it is one of the reasons why I hesitate to team up with you if it ever happens. You have so much prep done on the subject, but knowing that you would sacrifice me anytime you’d need to… Hmmmm 😉
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The thing you have to look at is what would you rather, someone who is honest to say I will sacrifice you or someone who you trust sacrificing you. Ultimately it is going to happen, but at least as the zombies are eating you, with me you wont be very emotionally hurt
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That’s a heavy question. I think that I would have to. It’s like the Sophie’s Choice of situations.
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It sure is heavier than my usual Quickies. Let’s just hope we never have to make such a difficult choice. Ever.
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What do we mean by hurting? I certainly would not hurt someone physically. But if we mean not turning up at an appointment, some emotional hurt, I would hope I could explain my actions later.
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I totally understand the nuance, and unfortunately, I meant hurting physically the stranger. As I explained in my comment to Sonofabeach, above, the idea came from a movie. (Sorry for the ”copy-paste” – it is late…) The main character’s mother was on her death bed, terribly ill, and a girl he barely knew had healing powers, that allowed her to take another person’s sickness but she would then suffer from it herself. And the guy was puzzled between forcing the girl to basically kill herself by saving his mother, or letting the young woman live, and leave his mom to die. Yikes, right?
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet and commented:
How would you act in this ethical dilemma?
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This is such a great ethical dilemma you have posed here. There are some great studies on this issue I have read, just can’t find them right this minute. The same issue applies to the greater good issue.
Great Post, Dear! 😊💕🌹
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Great question. I really have to think about it. Difficult. I probably lean toward, “yes,” if it were a life and death situation or a severe health issue.
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Yes! I’d do anything to save someone I love!
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