A Tough Choice

[Dawson]

Okay, this question should be a little bit more thought provoking and serious than most polls, and I suspect a lot of people wont want/be able to answer it. But I'll give it a shot anyway. It will require a bit of imagination for some people.

So, the scenario. Disaster has struck and flooded everywhere. You are left stranded on a small piece of land, miles away from salvation, with your pet dog, cat, whatever (if you have no pets, try to imagine having one) and a complete stranger who you've never met before and know absolutely nothing about.

Next to you is a small flotation device or raft of some kind, capable of only carrying two of the three of you to safety. And it's down to you to decide which two get to use it.

So the question is; Who do you choose to use the raft to float to safety and who will you leave to effectively die? Do you save the stranger and leave behind your pet, which has been like another member of the family for years, or do you save your pet and sacrifice another human being because you don't know them? Or do you let the pet and the stranger go and sacrifice your own life?

 

[22sa]

On principle, I'd try to convince the human being.... I can't imagine a pet so important or special I'd abandoned a fellow human being for. In such an emergency, it just ain't right to abandon somebody when you can save them.

 

[Margot]

Well, I had a dog so I'll think of it from that view. I would save the other human and I and leave my dog (that of course I loved to death). The reason is because a dog is an animal and they probably have a better chance to survive since they have animal instincts. They wouldn't have a problem with killing other living things for food, finding shade and water. Humas aren't that great at that, especially though's who don't have hunting skills.

So yeah, I'd leave the animal ;;

 

[Lily]

Idealistically, I'd love to send the stranger and pet off. Realistically, I am highly, highly, highly indecisive; thus, logically speaking, I'd leave it up to the stranger to choose, and assuming he values a human's life over a dog... Then again, it depends on the person, too, like if he suffers from the mental disorder, has a fetish with animals, a sociopath, etc etc...

In the end, I remain inconclusive and vague. ^_^

 

[22sa]

Idealistically, I'd love to send the stranger and pet off. Realistically, I am highly, highly, highly indecisive; thus, logically speaking, I'd leave it up to the stranger to choose, and assuming he values a human's life over a dog... Then again, it depends on the person, too, like if he suffers from the mental disorder, has a fetish with animals, a sociopath, etc etc...

In the end, I remain inconclusive and vague. ^_^

Your pets would die if they go off with the stranger without you though. :P

Then again, in reality, is it hard to make a raft for pets? Depends on the island I guess...

 

[mrplanters]

Wow this is a tough choice. Okay I can think of it in two ways. People have to choose one of these ways.
Way 1: You choose your pet over the human. Well think of it this way people, you could love your pet as much as your mom or dad, right? Well think of the pain somebody would have to go through to never see it anymore because you were saving a person you have never seen before.
Way 2: You choose the human over your pet. You love your pet but you choose the human anyways, because you value humans more than animals.
Really there is no wrong decision here because either way a live is saved or lost.

 

[Aether]

hmm, this is a tough one, my pet would be small enough to carry in a raft, but technicalities aside, i might have to chose the human, the way most people look at it, a human life is more important than an animals, but that's his/her decision, so i can't really decide all on my own.

 

[Chibi-chan]

Well, my dog is around 1/4th the weight of an average person, so maybe...if I made the the stranger loose 1/4th of their weight, we'd be able to fit! 8D But if that didn't happen...I'd probably leave my dog; only if I truely trusted the stranger. If it was a 40 year old man, I'd definately be more than scared. Hopefully, the stranger wouldn't just kill us for food and pack us on the boat o.o;;. I know it'd sound mean, but if I didn't trust them, I'd probably just use the language of persuasion and convince him that I need the boat more than he does and that he might have time to reflect on his past...some bogus like that. It'd probably work though yay for something out of debate classes!

If it was someone near my age and definately if it was someone younger, my dog would be left behind. I know it may sound bad to some people, but I value the life of a human more than I do the life on an animal like a dog or cat. It'll catch fish or something D: The position of me letting the stranger and my dog go and leave me here is totally out of the question; who knows? They may just eat my dog! o.o;; I definately know what being out at sea for a couple of days not in a cruise ship can be extremely weary...but yeah, in most circumstances, the pet would be the one to stay.

 

[Frostweaver]

I like this type of polls... Actually do have to think and type a bit.


For me, it's obvious to save the other human being... for reasons stated above by the others already. (Plus, being a Christian and all, religious values also back up that choice) So instead, why don't I play the daredevil and be evilly going against all of you guys for the heck of it?

I'm sorta surprised how nobody tried to bring up animal rights yet and how it's wrong to view the animal's life to be "less important" and easier to discard than the stranger. Afterall, they are both living creatures, hm?

What about the fact that since the stranger is of a completely unknown origin, you may be rescuing someone who isn't worth rescuing? What if it's a bloody murderer who'll only commit more crimes after this particular event? If that's the case, maybe it's better to choose the pet, since you know your pet unlike the stranger... who knows what a stranger can do to you either. After the hardship is over, and the stranger doesn't need your help anymore...


Just some dumb thought provoking statements XD;

 

[Dawson]

Way 1: You choose your pet over the human. Well think of it this way people, you could love your pet as much as your mom or dad, right?

What about the fact that since the stranger is of a completely unknown origin, you may be rescuing someone who isn't worth rescuing?

Yeah, those were the two points I had in mind whilst thinking about the poll. I'm glad they were picked up on.

I know people with pet dogs that consider them a part of the family, they view them as a brother or sister, especially pets that they've had for years, ever since they were young. So giving up their pet would be like leaving behind a sibling.

And that was the idea behind it being a complete stranger. You don't know who you are with, you could be with a nice, honest person or you could be with a murderer, rapist, paedophile etc. And with a person, they could be anything, at least you know the "personality" of your pet.

I like this type of polls... Actually do have to think and type a bit.

Thanks. Yeah, me too, I felt that OVP needed a few more thought provoking questions.

 

[Alex_]

What a weird question...

To be honest, I'd take my pet; without a doubt. Since it more or less is part of your family it'd be like leaving a family member behind to die.

For all you know the stranger could be a notorious serial killer he'd drown you to make more room for himself on the raft or something.

I'd take the pet.

 

[Krafty Quill]

Not A Tough Decision At All...

In a perfect world, the best way to handle the situation would be through a simple game of paper, rock, scissors - best out of 3 rounds of course, to be fair. That would be the most preferable decision but since the dog/cat/pet lacks the mental capacity and necessary posture to play the game, we'd have to find another way to settle things (and ponder why we are considering taking an animal over a human in the first place as we do so).

Now, one thing I do know, is I'm not giving up my life for a mere stranger, nor am I sacrificing myself for another Asian man's dinner. If it was entirely up to me, I'd be the first one on the floatation device without a doubt. …Don't even look at me like that, everyone one of you would do the same thing. O.o You may not think so but once the situation is presented live before you, things will be a lot different.

Alright, now that I'm sorted out, it's time to start thinking about the others. Assuming the worst case scenario (this perfect stranger is a rapist/serial killer/ hogs the floatation device), I'd still take him. And I'd tell you why I'd choose him over a loved canine member of the family if weren't so obvious.

 

[Zelos]

Hate to say it, but I would totally take my cat over some random stranger. I love her and just met this guy... why is he so special? He'd probably just end up throwing me overboard so he's more comfy or something... but a cat can't do that. And my cat HATES water.

Okay, ranting here. Whatever. My cat over the stranger. End of story. ^^

 

[Sammi]

I think it depends on the person I'm with. If it's someone that's important or someone with a family to take care of, I know I'd feel guilty if I took my cat over them. I might think I need my cat, but there are real people out in the world that need that person more than I need my cat. On the other hand (I'll probably sound mean by saying this), if they're really not needed (criminal, dying, something like that), then I just might think about taking my cat instead. I'm attached to my cat as well, and I know I'll miss my cat if it has to stay behind.

However, I also think I can't give a completely accurate answer to this. I might say I can think about leaving a person behind, but until I'm in that situation, I can't really predict what I'll do. I've never run into a situation that resembles anything like this before. Can I give the true answer?

 

[Frostweaver]

I'm pretty sure that the situation described is pretty close to the real thing. You're with a *stranger* so you are not sure if he has any family waiting for him, or is he someone important. He can be a future world savior to be a rare politican without money or power in his mind, but he can also be the gangleader of a band of criminals. You just don't know who the stranger is.

The way I see it is: do you want to risk a 50/50 chance that the stranger you're with is a "good" man or a "bad" one? Certainly if he's good and will do good for the world in the future, then seperating with your pet is better for all in the long run. However, if he's a bad person, you really should've left him to rot then.

All about the risk if he's good or bad, in my opinion ^^;

 

[Warheart]

This is a really...random question...O.o

Anyways, Of course I'd save myself, and the stranger with me, provided I feel as though I could trust them; I love my pets almost as much as anything, but in almost any case, I value human life more than a pets...

And I would have to bare with the guilt of having let another human being die at my hands for the rest of my life.

 

[Abby3563663]

I can't really answer this without thinking too much and ruining the situation. Where are you headed on the raft? Does civilization still exist? Why couldn't you go back for the one you left behind? How did you happen to end up with a stranger on on isolated strip of land? Of course I also realize that asking those questions ruins the purity of the real question, which is the value of a beloved animal or a complete stranger, whose only advantage is that he or she is a human being, while your pet is an animal.

It seems like everyone who answered is far too noble, though, so perhaps the situation should have involved a loved one and a stranger, with no possibility of sacrifice as Lily hinted to. :x Anyways! Chibi brought up a really good point. While the situation is hypothetical, in the real world, you shouldn't board a raft with someone who gives obvious signs that he or she will do you harm. Otherwise, you might as well just let him or her take the raft on his or her own, and save yourself being tortured/murdered/etc. oo; In the end, though, I suspect that this choice would be a lot less clear for many people if they were actually faced with it. Losing a loved one is hard, even if it's just an animal. I imagine that it's even worse when you know in your heart that you could have kept it from dying. So...

My answer? I guess I really can't know.

 

[Cherrim]

I've never had any pets other than fish, which...well, I love 'em but they aren't the most interesting pets. You sure as hell can't bond with them like you could a cat or dog, I suppose.

Sooo...from my point of view, since I've never really gotten emotionally attached to an animal, I'd have to pick saving myself and the stranger. I mean, when you learn to drive, the law says that, god forbid, if you're in a situation where you have to choose between hitting an animal or a person, you're required to hit the animal. So I guess I base my ethics off of that? :\ But then, there's the whole not ever owning a pet (aside from fish XD), so I'm not sure I can answer this properly.

Though if I take my situation as is, I guess I'd leave my fish and save the person. It's the ocean, it'd already have died from being in saltwater, or else would've swam away by the time I figured out that I had to save someone/something. :B

 

[TRIFORCE89]

Maybe I'm not that deep. But, I read this and thought, "Why is this difficult?"

I'd take the human instead of the animal. Unless, for some reason he's carrying chainsaw around with him. Then, I'll take the animal.

However, not all nutcases carry around chainsaws. In a disaster situation, I'd probably be in an everyman for himself attitude except loved ones coming first. So, say the raft could only hold one person. I know I'm good. Dunno about the stranger. I think I'll save myself.

Erica, on that hitting an animal thing. To quote my driving instructor, "If you're driving and deer comes out in front of you... Step on the gas and say 'Bye, bye, Bambi!'".

 

[Rioku_Zanketa]

my two scenarios
1.put my dog on the raft and tell the girl(yea,I said girl)to get on.....(I'll manage to survive....I ALWAYS manage to survive....I wouldn't be me if I couldn't :P

2.put the dog on my shoulders,put the girl on the raft,and get on...we're free!


yea,so I'd probably choose no.2