Poll: How would you react?

[Jonluw]

Hiya escapists.

Let's have a look at our psyches, shall we?

Spoiler: Hypothetical scenario

For the sake of the scenario, no such things as cellphones of hospitals exist.

One evening you're out walking in the woods, you meet a small child who has gotten lost. The child appears to be in a horrible condition: Covered in scratches, with a broken leg; and appears to be very hungry. You decide to help the child find its way home; and after walking for about an hour you reach the small cabin in which it lives. Night has already fallen over the land, so - satisfied that you probably saved the child's life - you drop it off at the cabin, and tell it to wait there for its parents to come back home.

The next morning, once again walking in the woods, you decide to walk by the cabin and see how things are going. Upon returning, however, you find nothing but a smoldering pile of ash, in which you catch a glimpse of the remains of a small child.

How would you react to this?

When I first came up with the scenario last night, I thought I would laugh at the irony, and maybe feel bad about it afterwards. Now, though, I am not so sure. I might just feel really sad.

Edit: Ummm... what? I didn't press 'post'?

Edit: I should definitely have workshopped the scenario a bit, but the thread somehow posted itself while I was busy making poll options (there was supposed to be more options, I just failed rather badly).

Edit: Okay! Okay! Just imagine you had a viable reason for leaving the child in the cabin before answering. Be it that the parents were home, or the cabin was a first class hospital.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

Trouble is, the broken leg throws it out for me, there's no way I wouldn't be calling for an ambulance for that kid, not just dropping him back to an empty house and hoping it all works out.

That's a strange scenario to be thinking tho, but I've probably had weirder stuff pop into my head...but then I decided not to share

 

[Jonluw]

Trouble is, the broken leg throws it out for me, there's no way I wouldn't be calling for an ambulance for that kid, not just dropping him back to an empty house and hoping it all works out.

That's a strange scenario to be thinking tho, but I've probably had weirder stuff pop into my head...but then I decided not to share

Oh, I didn't think of that. Let's say this all happened in a time where neither cell phones nor health care excisted.

 

[RatRace123]

That's an utterly cruel scenario... I like it.

I'd probably feel bad, but I'd see the irony, and after a few years of therapy I'd probably look back and laugh.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

I wouldn't even get myself into the situation in the first place.

 

[Riccan]

Well since I could do nothing at all to prevent this, I would go on with my day and not worry about it.

 

[Betancore]

I wouldn't leave the kid alone, in that condition. Especially in the dark, all alone, with a broken leg, and no parents in sight. If their parents hadn't returned by a certain time, then I'd take the kid home with me, or stay with them, rather than leave them alone.

However, if I did, and I came back and saw a pile of ashes, I guess I'd freak out, run away, throw up, and call the police. I see the irony in this, but if that actually happened, that's not the first thing I'd think of. I'd be more like...'Oh god, a dead kid. A dead burnt kid.'

 

[kwagamon]

For me this question is a bit of a moot point because I know I would have waited with the child for the child's parents the night before, then never come back ever again for lack of interest. That aside, I would most certainly be heartbroken at that misfortune were I to see it happen to anyone, let alone someone who I had any sort of connection with.

(By the way, I'm a guy. Just one who admits he has emotions.)

 

[Willwillwritehiswill]

I would wonder aloud why I left a clearly injured child with the sole instruction "wait for mommy and daddy to come home. I've got to leave you here now. I'm a very busy man."

 

[Danzaivar]

I'd probably dribble a bit, then aimlessly wander about til someone found me. Because the only way I'd leave an injured child by themselves is if I'd been lobotomised.

But err, on the hypothetical I'd feel really bad and be full of regret. Cos I could have done more and I'd be (somewhat) responsible for the death.

 

[Pariah87]

In reality, even in a time without mobile phones or decent healthcare I'd take the child either back to my house to clean them/see to their wounds, or I'd take them to someone of authority like the police who could then take the child back to its parents.

If things were to play out exactly like the scenario, there wouldn't be any laughter, i'd feel like absolute shit and the guilt would remain with me for quite a while.

 

[latenightapplepie]

I'm pretty sure I'd weep. I've done so over less.

 

[Lust]

I'd mourn for the kid and pay my respects however I could. That's about all I could do.

 

[GreyEarth]

It was like that when I got here.. *backs away*

 

[Kurokami]

Hiya escapists.

Let's have a look at our psyches, shall we?

Spoiler: Hypothetical scenario

For the sake of the scenario, no such things as cellphones of hospitals exist.

One evening you're out walking in the woods, you meet a small child who has gotten lost. The child appears to be in a horrible condition: Covered in scratches, with a broken leg; and appears to be very hungry. You decide to help the child find its way home; and after walking for about an hour you reach the small cabin in which it lives. Night has already fallen over the land, so - satisfied that you probably saved the child's life - you drop it off at the cabin, and tell it to wait there for its parents to come back home.

The next morning, once again walking in the woods, you decide to walk by the cabin and see how things are going. Upon returning, however, you find nothing but a smoldering pile of ash, in which you catch a glimpse of the remains of a small child.

How would you react to this?

When I first came up with the scenario last night, I thought I would laugh at the irony, and maybe feel bad about it afterwards. Now, though, I am not so sure. I might just feel really sad.

Edit: Ummm... what? I didn't press 'post'?

Edit: I should definitely have workshopped the scenario a bit, but the thread somehow posted itself while I was busy making poll options (there was supposed to be more options, I just failed rather badly).

Edit: Okay! Okay! Just imagine you had a viable reason for leaving the child in the cabin before answering. Be it that the parents were home, or the cabin was a first class hospital.

Sounds like an interesting scenario, but its not really... applicable, I can't imagine that happening at all. (atleast not with the role you've put me in)

So... Yeah, sorry. I guess I would simply be sad though, I guess I don't think the irony is so applicable in that case, instead I'll just see some kid I've invested some time into dead. Or just a kid dead in general. And I have no clue why, which would bug the hell out of me.

 

[Outright Villainy]

I'd be traumatised forever most likely.
That's a horrible scenario...

 

[PoliceBox63]

I not seeing any irony here...
I would feel remorseful and probably report the incident to the authorities.

 

[Jonluw]

I not seeing any irony here...
I would feel remorseful and probably report the incident to the authorities.

The irony would be that, in making an effort to save the child, you sent it to its doom.