The button.

[LeonLethality]

Sure, the world is overpopulated and reducing the numbers is fine by me. Being paid to do it is even better. The odds of it being someone I know are so damn slim I wouldn't care.
Think down on me for this if you want but I don't care I'm a cold person and the life of someone I don't know means nothing to me.

 

[ZephrC]

Hmm... if I don't press it, it passes on to someone else? I think I'd push it just often enough to keep it. That way I keep it out of the hands of anyone that would mash it until their hands bleed, thereby saving lives, while simultaneously gaining money and making sure everyone I know is safe. It's a win win situation.

 

[PixieFace]

So you all would take a human life in exchange for a little piece of paper? That's all any dollar bill is.

Just... huh? Why is this even a question? No. No. And no. I personally value the life of a human being over fleeting materal bullshit that I don't actually need.

I wonder: What if, by chance, the dollar bills you were getting were coming from a robbed bank that ended up getting traced back to you? How the hell would you explain the "magical button" then? What if the bills turned out to be counterfeit, and authorities recognized it? There's a lot of little loopholes that could happen that I wouldn't want to even think about touching.

(Oh, and lol, Twilight Zone ftw.)

 

[BlindMessiah94]

These are the same people, most likely, that would think negatively of a man who kills someone while drinking and driving. How is this any different? What's worse is you are sober. It's still random murder.

Well, Necroswanson was right. Many people here are just hypocrites. There are a few good ones, though - the ones i keep coming back for.

I can bet i'm going to attract mod-wrath for civilly voicing my honest opinion.

You might, but I'm on your side. You stated your opinion, and you weren't a dick about it or anything.

I wouldn't go far as to say many people here are hypocrites. I would take out the "here". They're everywhere.

 

[Ishadus]

For $100, there's no way I'm pressing the button. A human life is worth more than that.

no it isn't people are routinely killed for far far less. thats not even taking into account the sheer overabundance of them. a HUGE amount of problems could be solved with the sudden loss of a few billion people

That's all well and good in a cold logic kind of way until you or someone you care about is one of those few billion people. While tempting, I don't think genocide is necessarily the way to go to solve overpopulation. Unless perhaps for someone who thinks Hitler was on to something there.

Even if you don't know the person, someone does. It's likely whomever dies will have family/friends/people who love them. Does that not matter just because it's not "you" who gets someone they love taken away?

People are killed for way less than $100, that's true, but that should be a wake up call to how shitty we treat each other. How people can be such selfish assholes. Call me crazy, but I don't think other people being selfish assholes justifies me being a selfish asshole.

Genocide is singling out a specific group but that would be stupid, genetic diversity is what keeps a species adaptable long term. Hitler targeted specific groups for no damn reason and invented a whole load of crap to back up his insane rampage. You should really think things through before making comparisons like that.

The implication being that mass murder is okay as long as it doesn't target one ethnicity over another? How politically correct of you. Is killing a million people for money more morally pure versus killing a million people because you don't like their culture/the way they look/etc?

Giving value to human life based on genetic diversity isn't particularly well thought out either. If you believe that, then if the population of the world boasted 2 billion black people and only 1 billion white people, you would be prepared to make the argument that the life of a white person is inherently worth more to our race (all other factors being equal) as the loss of life of a white person impacts genetic diversity more.

Things are perfectly well thought out. I'm not trying to justify murder, and when it comes down to it, anyone who would push this button are doing just that. "Murder is okay if it's no one I know, I'm getting paid for it, and I won't get caught."

 

[luclin92]

keep the money youst let me push the button.

 

[Hippobatman]

Nope, no chance.

I couldn't live with my own conscience after that.

 

[breadlord]

I would bring my girlfriend in and other loved ones and have them all press the button with me.

And we would be tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap....

 

[derdeutschmachine]

shameless pressing of button shall commence and not cease until I feel the world has been depopulated sufficiently. I would then walk to the bank with my large sums of money.

 

[clzark]

I don't know...100 bucks just doesn't seem enough for me to justify it. Too many risks (the Twilight episode everyone is referencing). Make it a million and you've got a deal

 

[Kron_the_mad wants to be deleted]

For $100, there's no way I'm pressing the button. A human life is worth more than that.

no it isn't people are routinely killed for far far less. thats not even taking into account the sheer overabundance of them. a HUGE amount of problems could be solved with the sudden loss of a few billion people

That's all well and good in a cold logic kind of way until you or someone you care about is one of those few billion people. While tempting, I don't think genocide is necessarily the way to go to solve overpopulation. Unless perhaps for someone who thinks Hitler was on to something there.

Even if you don't know the person, someone does. It's likely whomever dies will have family/friends/people who love them. Does that not matter just because it's not "you" who gets someone they love taken away?

People are killed for way less than $100, that's true, but that should be a wake up call to how shitty we treat each other. How people can be such selfish assholes. Call me crazy, but I don't think other people being selfish assholes justifies me being a selfish asshole.

Genocide is singling out a specific group but that would be stupid, genetic diversity is what keeps a species adaptable long term. Hitler targeted specific groups for no damn reason and invented a whole load of crap to back up his insane rampage. You should really think things through before making comparisons like that.

The implication being that mass murder is okay as long as it doesn't target one ethnicity over another? How politically correct of you. Is killing a million people for money more morally pure versus killing a million people because you don't like their culture/the way they look/etc?

Giving value to human life based on genetic diversity isn't particularly well thought out either. If you believe that, then if the population of the world boasted 2 billion black people and only 1 billion white people, you would be prepared to make the argument that the life of a white person is inherently worth more to our race (all other factors being equal) as the loss of life of a white person impacts genetic diversity more.

Things are perfectly well thought out. I'm not trying to justify murder, and when it comes down to it, anyone who would push this button are doing just that. "Murder is okay if it's no one I know, I'm getting paid for it, and I won't get caught."

society has already proven that point, you think a single product or service you rely on isn't at the cost of somebodies life somewhere down the line?
Massive wars are fought over non vital resources to protect lifestyles and economies. The simple fact is that this bizarre sense of entitlement and self worth that has developed from the social manipulation of some core (and now mostly redundant) instincts has led to a massive global overpopulation. Moralists are helping to kill off much of the life on this planet to the same degree as big industry.
It can't be helped that you and many others share this blinkered view of the world and your own place in it. There are more "humane" methods of population control such as regulated breeding (one child per couple or some such rule, with possible psychological evaluations and licencing) but we're almost definitely beyond the point where such schemes could make the slightest difference.
you can continue to argue the point if you wish, there's not much else to say on the matter that wouldn't be a reiteration of the arguements put forth at this point anyway.

 

[Mechsoap]

no....these are one of the things that one day will screw you over

 

[Mechsoap]

*Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap*

i just lost hope for humanity

 

[Ishadus]

society has already proven that point, you think a single product or service you rely on isn't at the cost of somebodies life somewhere down the line?
Massive wars are fought over non vital resources to protect lifestyles and economies. The simple fact is that this bizarre sense of entitlement and self worth that has developed from the social manipulation of some core (and now mostly redundant) instincts has led to a massive global overpopulation. Moralists are helping to kill off much of the life on this planet to the same degree as big industry.
It can't be helped that you and many others share this blinkered view of the world and your own place in it. There are more "humane" methods of population control such as regulated breeding (one child per couple or some such rule, with possible psychological evaluations and licencing) but we're almost definitely beyond the point where such schemes could make the slightest difference.
you can continue to argue the point if you wish, there's not much else to say on the matter that wouldn't be a reiteration of the arguements put forth at this point anyway.

Only couple of things I'd say to that is, for one, just because something is commonly done or accepted doesn't make it "right" or "just." Massive wars ARE fought over non vital resources to protect lifestyles and economies. Does that make it right? Just? Good? No, it's done because we're consumerist whores whose lives will end if we don't buy an iphone or new designer jeans. You talk about a bizaar sense of entitlement, well I see it present in the fact that murder is the preferred action to combat overpopulation rather than changes in economy and lifestyle. Of course the latter would require materialistic sacrifice on our part...much easier to kill people then to stop buying shit we don't need.

Secondly, I'd actually say it's a lack of morality that's helping to kill off much of the life of this planet. Valuing human life doesn't necessitate an acceptance of overpopulation, but rather just the opposite. Global poverty necessitates overpopulation of the planet. Why is global poverty an issue? Because our fucked up economy only works when we spend $5000 on a new hdtv. It only works when we attach more monetary value to meaningless shit than to establishing equitable lifestyle across the world. Again, doing so to fight poverty and making it so people don't HAVE to have 8 kids so they won't starve to death when they're older would require sacrifice on our part. And again, nobody wants to do that.

It's our devaluing of human life below flashy technological gadgets and our love of monetary superiority that keeps the planet in its hole.

Ever read the book Ishmael? I recommend it. Based on how you've structured your arguments, you might enjoy it.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

No... That's no where near enough. In fact, I don't know how much would be enough.

 

[Steppin Razor]

No, I wouldn't press it. Not because I actually give a stuff about the majority of people, but because with my luck the first press of the button would kill me.

 

[rt052192]

Hey all. I have a little game i've stolen from another forum, here goes.

You have a button. Each press kills a random person on the earth, and awards you 100$.
You can push the button multiple times if you'd like. No one will ever know if you have pushed the button.

Would you do it?

If I would, could you?

also, can you name the song quote?

 

[Deviltongue]

*Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap* *Tap*

i just lost hope for humanity

I lost hope for Humanity long ago. That's why I tapped the button so much.

 

[WolfMage]

Let's see, I can press a button ~160 a minute, so...
Yes. Til my fingers bled, or there were only one or two billion people left.
Cause really, I hate people. All people.

Too many, you run significant risk you you dying if it's only two* in three.

You can't die from using the button, nor can anyone you know.
Therefore, I'd lay into that button.