The moral choice decision

Recommended Videos

pulse2

New member
May 10, 2008
2,932
0
0
This came up in a work meeting the other day, and it relates to my other topic:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.338479-Cruiseliner-disaster-Women-and-children-first-Still-relevant-today

So here is a dilemma, a group of people go cave exploring, with them is a tour guide who takes them a little off course to get a closer look at a waterfall, but what would you know, while they are exploring that restricted part of the cave, the walls collapse and they are trapped inside. Now the cave is filling with water quickly and there is only one exit, which happens to be above everyone's head, the group will collectively have to help ONE person climb up and get help, that person will be the first to escape, from which point the rest will be rescued, but not all, getting out is treacherous and the water is filling up fast, ONE PERSON MUST STAY BEHIND AND DIE. In which order would you save the cave explorers. Here are the explorers:


Dave: The tour guide, he's 26 and fairly fit and does this quite often, yes he made a little mistake by venturing a little off route in the cave and getting everyone trapped, but he has parents who love him very much.

Emily: A 17 year old, she's also quite fit and has her whole life ahead of her, she came with her father John. She is ambitious and loves music and sports.

John: Not fit at all and 40 years old, Emily's father, he abandoned her at a young age as well as her mother, drank and did drugs, this was his first time meeting Emily in 19 years and his way to show her he wants to get back into her life and be a proper father. There is no guarantee of this but she has managed to convince him (reluctantly) to go to rehab before they met, via facebook.

Charlotte: A 26 year old drop dead gorgeous brunette who only took part in this dirty boring trip because of her boss, who happens to have her one chance of promotion in hand. She is a glamor queen and hates getting dirty, she is single but has been having an on off affair with her boss to get a promotion. She is stunning and looks after herself, so is very fit.

Roger: Charlotte's boss, 45 and married with two kids, he's been having an affair with his subordinate, Charlotte, that his wife and kids know nothing about. Quite fit, very arrogant, loves sports, loves himself, loves women.

Barry: Barry is retired, he is 70, fairly fit, has lived a fruitful life and simply wants to do all the things he couldn't or didn't do as a youth. His wife died 7 years ago but he has gotten over that grief, he still has a place in his heart for her.

Bob: Overweight and quite geeky, spends all his time gaming and this was forced upon him in order to get him out of the house, not fit at all, but his Warlock in the MMO "Guilded Stars" is level 87, if he isn't around, who will be there to level him up?

Marinda: A priest, the first female priest in her area, she takes her job seriously and when she is not working, she takes part in physical activities, both to keep herself healthy and to really become one with her spirituality. Her age is unknown.

So guys, which of the 8 leaves first, and which stays to die?
 

Saladfork

New member
Jul 3, 2011
920
0
0
The first to leave should probably be Roger, as he would likely be able to at least lift any of the others.

The one who stays I think should be Barry. Barry has the least life left in him to save, and overall, we should maximize the total amount of life possible from this situation.

Why yes, I am a utilitarian. Why do you ask?
 

twohundredpercent

New member
Dec 20, 2011
106
0
0
I kind of dislike all of them really. I get the feeling that you'd want me to choose Bob or Roger. And that you'd like me not to choose Emily, which kind of makes me want to choose her out of spite. But hey looks like Dave got everyone into this mess, he knew the risks, so he's the one who gets to eat shit if no one volunteers. Sorry Dave.
 

pulse2

New member
May 10, 2008
2,932
0
0
Mortai Gravesend said:
Well let's see... all of them except Charlotte and Roger seem to be good enough people. It was mean of John to abandon his kid, but he's trying to make up for it. The question is which of Charlotte and Roger is worse. I imagine neither one will have no compunctions about continuing their poor behavior if the other dies. Hmm. I'll have to kill Roger in this instance. He's somewhat more guilty than Charlotte.

Edit: Oh and I don't think it matters much who leaves first since we all know they'll live afterward. Dave would probably be the most realistic choice as the one who ought to know how to get out and get help the fastest but as that isn't taken into account...
I suppose it depends on Dave's circumstances, used to this though he is, he's found himself in a predicament he didn't quite plan for.
 

Durgiun

New member
Dec 25, 2008
842
0
0
Holy up, hold up, hold up! It's filling up with water... There's an exit above their heads... What abou buoyancy? The human body CAN float in water. Why don't they just, you know, float up?
 

Hero in a half shell

It's not easy being green
Dec 30, 2009
4,285
0
0
It's a trick question:
Clearly Dave should go for help because he is the main character (young, male, and fit).

Emily's the youngster of the group, so she can't die, and her dad will inevitably be involved in a noble sacrifice for her by staying behind last so she can escape

Charlotte is the love interest (same age as main character, opposite sex, uncommonly beautiful) but her wayward past will either make her a femme fatale or damsel in need of redemption.

Roger will get his comupance in a tragic, avoidable accident he creates through his own selfishness while in the mayhem of everyone escaping the hole.

Barry is the old mentor, and his wise words to Dave before he leaves the hole will no doubt become invaluable advice later on in the search.

And Marinda the priest has healing powers, so she will save the hero's life after the inevitable unknown secondary danger attacks the group after they had escaped the hole and just when they thought they were safe. (they're underground in a water filled cave so it's probably Gollum)

As for Bob the overweight geek, well, who do you think has been providing all this genre-savvy insight into the plot circumstances? You didn't think I would become another victim of a cliche death did you? Ha! anyway, the virgin always survives... No wait I mean...
 

Nouw

New member
Mar 18, 2009
15,607
0
0
Lottery. Who am I to judge who dies and doesn't? I don't like playing god.