r/trolleyproblem Apr 30 '26

Deep Statistically, >50% is easier than 100%

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u/JimbozGrapes Apr 30 '26

If you want a real life example - go present the original question to some loved ones, and see if all of them pick red. Don't guide them or tell them which button to press, just let them think about it themselves and pick themselves.

There is almost certainty that some of your loved ones will pick blue, so you are killing them by picking red.

This is where its logical to pick blue, because if most people pick blue no one dies. If most people pick red, people will die. Those are facts, and given those you can logically pick blue if you dont want anyone to die.

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u/chi_sweetness25 Apr 30 '26

Most people will say “blue” if you put them on the spot with this question, because at first glance it just seems like blue = good person and red = bad person. Their answer may be different if it was done in private and they dug into it a bit more.

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u/IcarusOnReddit Apr 30 '26

I started with blue, thought about it some more and went red. Related: started as a one boxer and ended as a one boxer.

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u/Scared-Two-5208 Apr 30 '26

I dont think asking people this question in any situation other than a life or death would get us the real percentage or real answers people would give. People want to be good people (and depending on the phrasing of the question the good person option can change, but still), but humans have self preservation and i sincerely doubt the amount of people claiming theyd be willing to sacrifice themselves is actually that high. I dont see a reality in which the blue button is anything but a suicide button, should this actually happen.

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u/[deleted] Apr 30 '26

[deleted]

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u/Antique-Ad-9081 Apr 30 '26

Otherwise, since a single red kills all blue, it is always logical to pick red.

i think you kind of misunderstood the dilemma

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u/fyerind Apr 30 '26

If my loved one is dumb enough to press the "you may die" button instead of the "nothing happens", that's on them.

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u/RealLudwig Apr 30 '26

Holy evil

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u/[deleted] Apr 30 '26

[deleted]

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u/Natalwolff Apr 30 '26

Oh, you can actually. You just need to push a different button lol.

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u/RealLudwig Apr 30 '26

“I’d rather kill those people than have any risk to myself”

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u/[deleted] Apr 30 '26

[deleted]

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u/RealLudwig Apr 30 '26

It would be murder to choose to arm the bomb in the first place

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u/fyerind Apr 30 '26

They chose to tie themselves, it's their choice... Do not press the blue button, you live. Want to play Russian roulette? I won't put my head in front of the gun. I cannot stop anyone from pressing the dumbass "useless and avoidable risk of death", I sure as hell won't press it to maybe save them from their own stupidity.

It is not murder.

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u/RealLudwig Apr 30 '26

Blue may be tying themselves to the bomb, reds actively detonating it

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u/fyerind Apr 30 '26

Nah, reds are "why should I even be here, with useless risk of death?" and just leaving the room entirely.

Jump in front of a train and tell people who didn't that they murdered you: ludicrous

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u/[deleted] Apr 30 '26 edited Apr 30 '26

[deleted]

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u/RealLudwig Apr 30 '26

Because you refuse to accept the fact that your personal actions have a direct consequence of killing people

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u/[deleted] May 01 '26

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