"Push this button for $100,000!" Edited

[Firoth]

OP, First you say: 'truly put yourself into the scenario' and then you say 'this isn't about trying to beat the system'.

I have no idea what you want me to say now...

As I said, think of it as a magic button, there's no way around any possible shock. Saying that you should truly put yourself into the situation was to try to help prevent people from saying "yeah, I could totally do that" without really thinking of the pain.

 

[archvile93]

I convince other people to press it and see what happens to them. Then, based on their experiences, I try to recognize the probability of the various results (assuming it can have different results) and make my decisions based on that data. I really don't have enough information to make a decision.

 

[SteakHeart]

Press it with an umbrella or some other object. On a related note, http://xkcd.com/242/.

 

[DEATHROAD]

[Addition:] Ugh, ok, this isn't about trying to beat the system. Even if you use a stick or rock or rubber suit, you still get shocked. It's a magic shocky button that dispenses money. -_- This is a question of philosophy on risk/pain vs reward, not a riddle.
[Addition 2:] Ok, you people are really ruining this by thinking too much. You can't steal the money from other people. This is about YOU and YOUR decision to press the button or not. But, yes, sitting to watch for a pattern is an acceptable answer.

I asked a question with the same idea in mind a while back and got pretty much the same results, there will always be people who think they're clever and have "beaten the system" my advice, dont let it bother you and scour through for the ones who get into the spirit of the question. It pissed me off to no end through truth be told.

OT: Yeah i'd press it, a bunch of times. Aslong as i received no perminant damage i'd take a moment of intense pain for £50

 

[Secret world leader (shhh)]

£100,000? No way.

£100,000,000? I'd kick that button in the fucking face.

Worst case scenario: I get £50.

 

[SAMURAJ]

yes i press the button no question asked but i won't take the 50 bucks !!!

 

[SenseOfTumour]

Hell, I'm a bit of a gambler, tho I'm not sure about an hour of agony. I've had an abcess under a wisdom tooth, and I genuinely think I started to lose my mind after about half an hour of that on full power. I've never broken a leg or anything, but that just blocked out everything, there was nothing in my life but the pain.

I'd probably risk 30 seconds of pain for a maybe $50. You make it sound like the worst pain ever however, and I think that for an hour would shatter my sanity. I've electrocuted myself at home, and it hurt, but it wasn't on a par with my tooth abcess.

Maybe shoulda gone for 'press the button and a wizard appears and casts lightning inside your torso for an hour', no amount of lobbing rocks or rubber pants are going to help, tho rubber pants might protect the floor from staining.

 

[silver wolf009]

Hmmm... I'd trick others into doing it for me. Either that, or train a dog to do it. We can pay for medical treatment with the money Lassie makes.

 

[lacktheknack]

There's a ton of practical answers that people have already mentioned, but under the pretense that I can't push it carefully with other objects, then no. NO WAY I'd push that button.

 

[Ruwrak]

Based on the information, I'd let other people push the button, should the 100'000 come out,I bonk em on the head and make a run for it.

Not like I'm gonna get shocked =/

 

[drisky]

The frist thing I thought of is why would I watch someone rolling on the floor in pain for an hour? Seriously what kind of sick freak just stares at a person in pain for a whole hour doing nothing, never mind deciding to do what he did to be in that pain. This scenario is all kinds of dumb.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

Yeah, sure, what's to say my experience will be the same as his? All I know is the button shocked one person. I'll go for that 100 large, thank you very much.

 

[ccggenius12]

Hell yes, I'd smack the crap outt'a that button. $50 for an hour's work? It's not like its emotional trauma like from working in retail, it'll heal. Heck, I'd get right back up and push it again after the hour was up, like some kind of zappy Skinner Box.

 

[Wintermoot]

press it with a stick.
I always carry a pen with me so I can use that.....

 

[SuperSuperSuperGuy]

Hhmm... So beating the system is out of the question.

I wouldn't press it, but I'd still probably smash it somehow. That'll teach that button what happens when you think you can beat me! I don't take very kindly to losing. If I'm not going to get my money painlessly, no one else is going to get anything, either!

 

[HalfBakedCheeto]

I would complain.

 

[Wicky_42]

£50 an hour? That's not a bad rate, really... plus with all that writhing you'll be in better shape than if you're stuck at a desk all day! I get £7.70 an hour with unpaid compulsory overtime, so hit the button a few times each day, freaking sorted

Though perhaps observing it being pressed by others a few more times would be a good idea... to check consistency and look for any noticeable pattern n all that.

( )

 

[Edible Avatar]

You see a button on a wall with a sign that says "Push this button for $100,000!" (Please substitute for a similar amount of your country's currency from here on if needed)

SNIP

So, will you press it? If yes, what is your reasoning?

[Addition:] Ugh, ok, this isn't about trying to beat the system. Even if you use a stick or rock or rubber suit, you still get shocked. It's a magic shocky button that dispenses money. -_- This is a question of philosophy on risk/pain vs reward, not a riddle.
[Addition 2:] Ok, you people are really ruining this by thinking too much. You can't steal the money from other people. This is about YOU and YOUR decision to press the button or not. But, yes, sitting to watch for a pattern is an acceptable answer.

But thinking about these questions expose the huge flaws in philosophic thinking and thought experiments. Its never just A or B, there is always hundreds of variables involved within real life examples. On these grounds, i will refrain from answering the question...




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[small]i would'nt press it[/small]

DAMMIT, I COULD'NT RESIST!!!

 

[ABLb0y]

For £50, I'd give the one finger salute to Kim Jong Il.

 

[Wicky_42]

Hell yes, I'd smack the crap outt'a that button. $50 for an hour's work? It's not like its emotional trauma like from working in retail, it'll heal. Heck, I'd get right back up and push it again after the hour was up, like some kind of zappy Skinner Box.

Goddamn it, I was so close to being original guess most repliers so far aren't employed XD