A question for you, escapists.

[Archemetis]

What'd be the point of living if I couldn't do a thing for myself?

What personal experience would I gain from subjecting myself to that kind of treatment?
I wouldn't know how to do anything if it was all taken care of for me...
I'd be stuck forever within the mentality I currently have, I don't know a great deal about much, and it's something I endeavour to change about my life all the time, I'm constantly learning new things and if I wasn't alowed to lift a finger for myself, how could I continue?

Forget losing 5 random people to this button, It'd be more like losing all four of your limbs and and your humanity.

Also, OP, have you ever considered a career writing for the Fable Franchise?

 

[krazykidd]

So here's the deal. You now have a big red button. You press it, your every whim will be catered to for the rest of your obscenely long life, and you will stay fit and healthy throughout.

But heres the catch.

You press that button, 5 people die. This won't effect you in anyway. You will never meet those people, it won't hurt you, and you could not press that button and their lives will still mean nothing. To you.

But somewhere out there, a family will cry for them. You will be responisble for a lot sadness and pain and hurt.

Do you press the button?

Now, I would love to say that I wouldn't. I would love to say that I'm compassionate enough to care for these people I will never meet. But I'm not. My life, taken care of, instantly? Money, fame, a big house, extravagant food, but no consquences to stuffing my gob? Sign me up, daddy-o! I would feel guilty, sure, but guilt doesn't cut it. I'm just being honest.

So... Yeah.
EDIT: Wow, the people of the escapist are a lot nicer than me. Go figure. Not changing my answer, though.

In a heartbeat! I would press it twice even ( just in case ) . Is it selfish ? Hell yes! But humans are selfish by nature . I honestly think that 99% of the world population would do it . But only 50% would say they would do it if asked the question . People tend to lie about these thing and give the "right" answer . About 5% of the people would admit to actually doing it after the fact ( btw i make these numbers up based on nothing so don't quote me and ***** about them please). So don't worry , the people here are not nicer than you , they are just trying to save face on the internet ( lolwut!) . They is human nature , take a class in sociology and human behaviour psychology you'll quickly understand . Face witha hypothetical situation people tend to believe ( or lie to themselves ) that they would do the honorable thing , when a situation similar does arise rare are the ones who actually do it .

So i'll be honest and say yes i would. Would i feel bad about it after , no because i know that 4 out of the 5 dead people would have done the same thing . Sociology and humanbehaviour psychology ftw .

EDIT: Made a few corrections

 

[EvilMaggot]

I would... but i dont get the guilt thing unless i see the person eye to eye.. in this case.. solved

 

[Amphoteric]

yep I would press it and then use my "perfect life" to the world.

It is "perfect" after all.

 

[Da Orky Man]

No the idea of benefiting off of someones death is disgusting and anybody who presses that button is no better than a murderer.

How about if, because of pressing the button, said person discovers a cure for cancer? Or HIV? Are they still evil?

 

[gertmenkel]

Press the button and use your newly acquired wealth to save much more lives by donating to organisations like Unicef.

Captcha: Laboratory's Isrkegn
What the hell is an Isrkegn???

 

[GeneWard]

I would, then use my infinite fortune to end the worlds problems. No more needless deaths in third world countries, no cruelty to children or animals, and everyone will be happy, other than assholes. I would make my house it's own nation and use Rainbow Dash's cutie mark for a flag.

 

[Gunner 51]

If those 5 people happen to be my neighbours, sure. They're the most horrid chavvy swines around, the kind of people who if they aren't effin' and jeffin' through the walls, playing loud music, littering or hoovering (one of them has OCD) at all hours of day.

So yes, I'd hit that button. Those people need to die horribly.

People you DON'T KNOW.

In that case, I'll leave the button alone.

 

[alandavidson]

I think that I would get bored with that kind of life after a while. Besides, I'm pretty happy with my life as-is.

 

[Avalanche91]

consequence free, no negative reprecussions and never having to do work if I dont feel like it for my entire long life?

I'd look distrustfull at the button believing it is full of shit, but press anyway for the heck of it.

 

[pffh]

What happens if I push it more then once?

 

[retyopy]

What happens if I push it more then once?

You become a shoe.

 

[DSK-]

Dunno. If life gets a lot harder I'd probably press the big red button.

 

[Blow_Pop]

I wouldn't care and I'd press the button at least once. Get to a stage of I am comfortable(not rich but not poor and definitely not in debt)and I am happy. Oh and probably move out of the US.

 

[Trivea]

Yes, I would, and I don't feel that I have to justify myself to strangers on the internet, either.

People have done a lot worse for a lot less, in my opinion. Besides, as far as I know, it's five old people in a nursing home that were going to die tomorrow anyway.

 

[dikespies]

If we say the 5 killed people are dead and un-revivable, then I wouldn't press it. I believe we already have the privilege and we can be happy to live a life with enough food and clear water. So I don't want to be responsible for the loss of 5 people, who have their own family and friends etc, just to fulfill my own selfish needs..

 

[chstens]

So it won't affect me in any way, which means no-one I know or care for will die. Yeah. I'd do it. I'm a selfish bastard. And if one of those five unlucky ones had the same choice, the chance of them doing the exact same thing is pretty likely.

 

[Xanadu84]

This is kinda a cheating answer, but my Whim would include saving at least 6 peoples lives. So yes.

 

[superstringz]

Can I press the button multiple times?
But in all seriousness yes. I could always wish the 5 dead people back.

 

[Drudgelmir]

A good life, which isn't to the detriment of others. Thus I find a loophole the people live and I get my wishes.