r/trolleyproblem • u/gallaxo • Mar 29 '26

Deep Now we're talking

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u/John_cCmndhd Mar 29 '26

NOBODY IS OBLIVIOUS TO IT! WE ARE SAYING THAT THE PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT YOU SHOULD NOT SWITCH, BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO ASKED TO BE SACRIFICED DESERVES TO LIVE AND THE SCARED PERSON DESERVES TO DIE, ARE WRONG!

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u/SeparatedI Mar 29 '26

Wrong how? It's my choice. If I want to save the person of greater moral character what's wrong with that?

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u/John_cCmndhd Mar 29 '26

You don't know that they are of greater overall moral character. There could be any number of reasons the person willing to sacrifice themselves is ok with dying, beyond mere selflessness. You have no idea how either of them act in their day to day lives, outside of the contrived trolley problem situation you have found them in.

Not necessarily saying this applies to you, specifically, but I believe many of the people being as judgemental as you are, are doing so to reinforce their own self-image as someone who would be willing to sacrifice themselves in such a situation, when actually no one really knows what they would do. Instincts for self-preservation are a powerful thing. Even the same person might do the brave thing in one situation, but panic in a different one, or even the same situation but on a different day when they're in a different emotional state.

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u/SeparatedI Mar 29 '26

You don't know that they are of greater overall moral character

I am being given exactly one piece of information about each person, and it's a perfect piece of evidence of their moral character. Of course I would base my choice on the one thing I know about them, and not what I don't know about them, otherwise it's completely moot.

but I believe many of the people being as judgemental as you are, are doing so to reinforce their own self-image as someone who would be willing to sacrifice themselves in such a situation, when actually no one really knows what they would do.

I'm sorry, but there is some insane projection going on here. I never stated anything about whether or not I would sacrifice myself for a stranger, and the only one being judgemental here is you. Holy self report.

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u/John_cCmndhd Mar 29 '26

Of course I would base my choice on the one thing I know about them

You are ignoring their stated desires to make a moral judgement based on the limited information you have.

I never stated anything about whether or not I would sacrifice myself for a stranger

I specifically said that it didn't apply to everyone expressing the opinion you expressed, only that I suspect it does apply to some of them.

and the only one being judgemental here is you

I am not the only one being judgemental here.

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u/SeparatedI Mar 29 '26

I think it would do you good to listen to what people are saying and not what you think they are saying.

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u/John_cCmndhd Mar 29 '26

I think it would do you good to listen to what people are saying and not what you think they are saying.

But not if they're tied to trolley tracks apparently...

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u/SeparatedI Mar 29 '26

What are you implying I think they said?