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Shroomslip
Architekt



Registered: 11/25/12
Posts: 23,651
Last seen: 1 hour, 47 minutes
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Ridiculous hypothetical time.
#22272528 - 09/22/15 03:30 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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All life on Earth may be extinct in the next 24 hours due to a coming cataclysmic event. There is a 50/50 chance it will happen, but if it does, there is no hope for life at all to survive it. Suddenly you're presented with a button to push that can somehow avert this crisis but requires you, and only you are the one to push it, or the countermeasure will not work. If you press the button it is guaranteed to work, but at least half of the world's population (life) will die instantly and nothing can prevent it from happening.
So do you take the 50/50 odds, hope for the best and possibly let every single life form die, or do you choose to preserve as much life as you can?
EDIT: Clarification: This isn't about just human life, it's all life, if that makes a difference. Entirely possible that only a handful of species would be the ones not killed. It would not nessecarily be just half of every single group.
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With my face against the floor I can’t see who knocked me out of the way. I don’t want to get back up but I have to so it might as well be today. Nothing appeals to me no one feels like me, I’m too busy being calm to disappear. I’m in no shape to be alone contrary to the shit that you might hear. You can't wake up, this is not a dream. You're part of a machine, you are not a human being With your face all made up, living on a screen. Low on self esteem, so you run on gasoline
Edited by Shroomslip (09/22/15 03:58 AM)
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Asante
Mage


Registered: 02/06/02
Posts: 86,797
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: Shroomslip]
#22272541 - 09/22/15 03:40 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Extinction of all life on earth is an unacceptable event.
3.6 gigadeath human dieoff, I'm sorry to say, pales in comparison.
I made my choice.

-------------------- Omnicyclion.org higher knowledge starts here
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wolfiewolfie
Just wingin' it.


Registered: 06/16/15
Posts: 2,177
Loc: Australia
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: Shroomslip]
#22272543 - 09/22/15 03:41 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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I would take the risk. The fallout and quality of life after half the population die wouldn't be worth it. And if we're all meant to go then so be it. But 'where' would we all go?
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The only reason why T-rex's can't walk backwards is because they're extinct, which perfectly explains why there are no headaches in the rainforest; The parrots eat 'em all. My Drawings
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Asante
Mage


Registered: 02/06/02
Posts: 86,797
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: wolfiewolfie]
#22272548 - 09/22/15 03:46 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Don't be so anthrocentric.
Half of humans alive dying or the 3.9 billion year evolution of all life on earth coming to an end, including all successors of the human race in the billion years of viability earth had left, and for who knows how long if they leave earth.
This isnt about some humans, its about all life everywhere on earth.
Be rational, all life on earth is not yours to gamble on you are required to defend it at all cost
-------------------- Omnicyclion.org higher knowledge starts here
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wolfiewolfie
Just wingin' it.


Registered: 06/16/15
Posts: 2,177
Loc: Australia
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: Asante]
#22272554 - 09/22/15 03:48 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Asante said: Don't be so anthrocentric.
Half of humans alive dying or the 3.9 billion year evolution of all life on earth coming to an end, including all successors of the human race in the billion years of viability earth had left, and for who knows how long if they leave earth.
This isnt about some humans, its about all life everywhere on earth.
Be rational, all life on earth is not yours to gamble on you are required to defend it at all cost 
Your assuming physical death means end of life?
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The only reason why T-rex's can't walk backwards is because they're extinct, which perfectly explains why there are no headaches in the rainforest; The parrots eat 'em all. My Drawings
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wolfiewolfie
Just wingin' it.


Registered: 06/16/15
Posts: 2,177
Loc: Australia
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: Asante]
#22272558 - 09/22/15 03:50 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Asante said: Be rational, all life on earth is not yours to gamble on you are required to defend it at all cost 
So pushing a button that kills atleast half the population is 'defending it at all costs'?
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The only reason why T-rex's can't walk backwards is because they're extinct, which perfectly explains why there are no headaches in the rainforest; The parrots eat 'em all. My Drawings
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Asante
Mage


Registered: 02/06/02
Posts: 86,797
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: wolfiewolfie]
#22272569 - 09/22/15 03:55 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Not at all, all life goes on. But if you sterilize this planet you prevent the evolution of this planet to run into completion.
Bottlenecks are good for the evolution of a species, and given how we destroy the earth humanity could use a bottleneck just about now.
The end of all life here, however would drop the curtain on this gem on a planet.
Killing some humans vs killing Gaia herself, its not even remotely hard.
-------------------- Omnicyclion.org higher knowledge starts here
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Shroomslip
Architekt



Registered: 11/25/12
Posts: 23,651
Last seen: 1 hour, 47 minutes
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: wolfiewolfie]
#22272570 - 09/22/15 03:55 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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It's not just about humans, it's all life combined. Plants, animals etc. I kinda dropped the ball on that one and should've been more specific, I can see how someone would just assume I meant humans. I edited to clarify.
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With my face against the floor I can’t see who knocked me out of the way. I don’t want to get back up but I have to so it might as well be today. Nothing appeals to me no one feels like me, I’m too busy being calm to disappear. I’m in no shape to be alone contrary to the shit that you might hear. You can't wake up, this is not a dream. You're part of a machine, you are not a human being With your face all made up, living on a screen. Low on self esteem, so you run on gasoline
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Asante
Mage


Registered: 02/06/02
Posts: 86,797
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: wolfiewolfie]
#22272574 - 09/22/15 03:57 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
wolfiewolfie said:
Quote:
Asante said: Be rational, all life on earth is not yours to gamble on you are required to defend it at all cost 
So pushing a button that kills atleast half the population is 'defending it at all costs'?
Half the human population. Its not about us humans, its about us, the Life of Earth. As humans we should be willing to take one for the team. I'd take it upon myself if that was the third option, just me dying vs half of humans or all of life.
-------------------- Omnicyclion.org higher knowledge starts here
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wolfiewolfie
Just wingin' it.


Registered: 06/16/15
Posts: 2,177
Loc: Australia
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: Shroomslip]
#22272578 - 09/22/15 03:59 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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I guess I can say what I want now but if I was actually in that situation who knows... :/
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The only reason why T-rex's can't walk backwards is because they're extinct, which perfectly explains why there are no headaches in the rainforest; The parrots eat 'em all. My Drawings
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Le_Canard
The Duk Abides


Registered: 05/16/03
Posts: 94,392
Loc: Earthfarm 1
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: Shroomslip]
#22272580 - 09/22/15 03:59 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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50/50 chance, huh? And where exactly do you get that tidy little sum?
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wolfiewolfie
Just wingin' it.


Registered: 06/16/15
Posts: 2,177
Loc: Australia
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: wolfiewolfie]
#22272585 - 09/22/15 04:01 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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The fact that if you push that button you might be in the 50% that dies would heavily influence ones decision...
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The only reason why T-rex's can't walk backwards is because they're extinct, which perfectly explains why there are no headaches in the rainforest; The parrots eat 'em all. My Drawings
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Shroomslip
Architekt



Registered: 11/25/12
Posts: 23,651
Last seen: 1 hour, 47 minutes
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: Le_Canard]
#22272590 - 09/22/15 04:02 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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It's a hypothetical. Just suspend logic and disbelief and accept that as a fact.
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With my face against the floor I can’t see who knocked me out of the way. I don’t want to get back up but I have to so it might as well be today. Nothing appeals to me no one feels like me, I’m too busy being calm to disappear. I’m in no shape to be alone contrary to the shit that you might hear. You can't wake up, this is not a dream. You're part of a machine, you are not a human being With your face all made up, living on a screen. Low on self esteem, so you run on gasoline
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Le_Canard
The Duk Abides


Registered: 05/16/03
Posts: 94,392
Loc: Earthfarm 1
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: wolfiewolfie]
#22272591 - 09/22/15 04:03 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Ohhh. I see. Sorry, I just woke up and my brains not firing on all cylinders just yet.
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Asante
Mage


Registered: 02/06/02
Posts: 86,797
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: wolfiewolfie]
#22272595 - 09/22/15 04:04 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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I'm a God boy. I know my soul is eternal and that the Universe itself would want me to take that decision.
I'd do it, I'd martyr myself for half the human race or all of life of earth entirely.
It's been great, I'll happily repay the world for its hospitality. If those were the odds, it would be an honor.
-------------------- Omnicyclion.org higher knowledge starts here
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Magicman69
All About the Benjamins



Registered: 05/29/13
Posts: 6,876
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: Asante]
#22272944 - 09/22/15 07:56 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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I'd probably press the button. Better to ensure the survival of life on Earth than to chance it all on a coinflip. I'd first try to get someone else to press it though
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JoeP83
What?!!1?!



Registered: 09/08/15
Posts: 63
Loc: Oregon
Last seen: 5 years, 7 months
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: Magicman69]
#22274060 - 09/22/15 01:18 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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If this mass extinction was going to happen, not my fault. But killing half of everyone instantly trying to circumvent the extinction would be my fault. Couldn't live with knowing I was the direct result of killing 3.5 billion people, unless we could guarantee they were all Chinese.
Laughs aside though, yeah, couldn't kill people. Rather die knowing it wasn't my fault, spending the last 24 hours with my wife, than killing people who might not die anyway.
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akira_akuma
Φύσις κρύπτεσθαι ὕψιστος φιλεῖ


Registered: 08/28/09
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Loc: Onypeirophóros
Last seen: 4 years, 1 month
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: JoeP83]
#22274103 - 09/22/15 01:25 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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am i in the 50% who die?
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xbloodwhipx

Registered: 02/24/12
Posts: 12,791
Last seen: 4 years, 5 months
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: akira_akuma]
#22274109 - 09/22/15 01:27 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Only if im part of the surviving 50 percent.
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Mr.PhilCybin
Master Baiter


Registered: 06/13/11
Posts: 11,642
Loc: Gnarnia
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Re: Ridiculous hypothetical time. [Re: xbloodwhipx]
#22274349 - 09/22/15 02:23 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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I'd probably roll the dice and leave it to fate.
one consideration though -
clarify the button thing for me. 50% of all life on earth dies. does that mean 50% of the total life on earth dies at random? or do you reduce the population of every specie by 50%?
extinction would be a huge factor in my decision on that
-------------------- I'm stupid, Falcon91Wolvrn03 is smart. I'm ugly, Falcon91Wolvrn03 is beautiful. I'm a loser, Falcon91Wolvrn03 is a winner. Someday, I hope to be like Falcon91Wolvrn03 but secretly know I never will.
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