What would you do? (#3)?

Question

Please read this first: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgPcEmgUMfT80Lqga8DLy0Xzy6IX?qid=20061010063254AA6xmZO
And then this: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Avg2kPlDZlw1Ja_WHSCYnq_zy6IX?qid=20061010071545AA6nsBQ

As a continuation of those two questions, I noticed a lot of interesting answers about doing it not for oneself but for another. So let's look at this.

Say this madman comes into your house, cuts your electricity and phone line and you don't have a cell phone or anything to fight back with. But instead of pressing the gun to your head, it is pressed to someone else's head. He poses the same question to you, but if you disagree, he will shoot the other person. If you agree, he will shoot you and let them go. If you disagree, he will NOT shoot you. Please answer all parts of this.

How would you respond if the person is:
a) your child?
b) your parent?
c) another family member?
d) your friend?
e) your enemy?
f) a total stranger you've never met?

Note: Also, the madman is counting down from ten. You don't have time to think hard about it.

Conclusions!
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061010113308AAfo2rW&r=w

Answer 1

I would gladly lay down my life for any of the people you have listed. It would not be my wish to see another person die a violent death, not even my worst enemy. I would say whatever was necessary to save them.

Answer 2

Ooooooo! Now you get to the fundamental meat and potatoes with,

"e) your enemy?
f) a total stranger you've never met?"

These two options get down to the fundamental question of how much you value life itself. A to D are obvious. Most would do just about anything to save a loved one. But an enemy? A total stranger? That requires your value system to take a gigantic leap of faith. And what would I do?

I quite honestly do not know. And that's not a cop out. I truly do not know what I would do in a situation like this. My higher self says that I should give up my own life to save another. But my practical, temporal self would want to stick around in order to be here for the ones I love.

Answer 3

I would give my life for all these people in any other circumstances,but here in this scenario,I have to think of my soul. If I were to deny God to save any one of these people's lives,I'd be condemning my soul to hell. On the other hand, I'd be responsible,in a way,for their souls also. What if they weren't right with God at that time,and the madman kills them because I wouldn't deny my faith? I'd be taking the chance of their souls going to hell,and I couldn't live with that. It's a very thought-provoking question,and just the thought of being put in a situation like that terrifies me. There doesn't seem to be a right choice. Ultimately though,after much thought and consideration to this question, I would have to say that I still would not deny my beliefs,even if it meant the lives of those I love most.We are each responsible for our own souls,and if any of them weren't right with God at the time,that would not be my burden to bear. Of course,my grief would be overwhelming,but that's the choice I would have to make.

Answer 4

a I don't have any kids myself but I would gladly save any kid that's there so I'd agree
b My parents are dead already but if they were alive I'm pretty sure they would rather die themselves than seeing me die, they would tell me to let them die and not myself so then I would disagree ( I think, I'm not sure if I would be so level headed at that moment)
c depends on which family member, I've got cousins I never see so they would be like strangers for me and I would probably be on survival-mode.
d Shoot me, don't shoot my friend!
e I think I would let him shoot my enemy although I can't think of anyone who I consider to be an "enemy" (survival-mode)
f I think I would let him shoot the stranger ( survival-mode kicking in again I guess)

Answer 5

a) I'll never have children, but shoot me.
b) Shoot me
c) Shoot me
d) Shoot friend - depends on the friend
e) Shoot enemy
f) Shoot stranger
g) Aunt/Uncle: Shoot them
h) Elivs: Shoot Elvis
i) Mark Foley: Shoot Foley

Answer 6

I guess it comes down to God comes first before anybody else, no matter what. It would not be easy, but I could not deny God even to save my own child. God has to come first. I could not deny God for any of the people on your list. The first two would be the hardest though.

Answer 7

For e) and f) I would definitely disagree. For a) I would definitely agree. For the others, he would probably count to 10 before I was able to choose. In all cases in which I disagreed, I would still probably try to attack him even if it was futile.

Answer 8

I'd let everyone die except my child.

He/she are my heir and they are the only ones I am responsible for. Although it may be traumatic for them to see me killed; I have faith that they will understand the sacrifice that I have made to carry on our genetic gifts and will hopefully use this as a source of strength to live long and fruitful lives.

Answer 9

I would agree, then make a desperate attempt to dodge the bullet and save the day. Sure he'd probably kill me, but at least I tried, and put myself at risk rather than let someone else die and do nothing.

Answer 10

there is the problem of who says they will uphold their promise if you sacrifice yourself?
If he would it would go like this

a) agree
b) disagree (i don't like my parents very much)
c) either (depends on the relative)
d) agree
e) either (depends on how much i hate this enemy)
f) hard to say, i guess it would depend on how old they are and if they are trying to make a good life for themselves.

I guess im not a saint