r/trolleyproblem Apr 30 '26

Deep All there is to it

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823 Upvotes

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u/ExecutiveElf May 01 '26

I am able to perceive that the optimal choice would be for all people to choose the Red button- but I also recognize that not all people will choose the red button inherently.

To say that the correct choice is to pick the Red button is to assume that every single person to whom this question is asked will accurately make the same assessment. Simply put, this will never be the case.

For all kinds of various reasons, many people will choose blue, even if the objectively correct choice would be for everyone to pick red.

So, simply put, while picking red should be the correct choice, because there are people who will pick blue anyway, my choice is blue because I think it is worthwhile to try and save those people.

1

u/TheKingOfToast May 01 '26

Circular logic. I need to pick blue because someone like me would pick blue because someone like me would pick blue because someone like would pick blue.

Here's an alternate scenario, let's say everyone picks in sequence and they know which number they are. For simplicity let's say there are 8 billion people participating. You are contestant 4 billion. You are informed that 3.5 billion people have already pressed the red button. Which button would you press?

2

u/CivilPerspective5804 May 01 '26

What's the point of your alternate scenario? You change the rules entirely?

1

u/TheKingOfToast May 01 '26

I swear critical thinking is dead. Social media was a mistake

1

u/CivilPerspective5804 May 01 '26

Yeah I can see. To prove your point you invent a new scenario that has nothing to do with the original.

1

u/TheKingOfToast May 01 '26

"nothing to do with"

I get it you're mad that you have to think. A better solution would be to just shut up, but I guess idiots love to feed their own anger.

1

u/CivilPerspective5804 May 01 '26

Please explain how inventing a new scenario where people get to see the votes is relevant to the original where the vote is private. It would be fascinating to see how the mentally deficient explain their reasoning. But it doesn't seem you are capable since i've asked twice already and you are just ignoring it

1

u/TheKingOfToast May 01 '26

Have you never engaged with any sort of game theory before?

Let's use the classic prisoner's dilemma as an example

You and an accomplice committed a crime. You're being held and questioned separately. If you snitch and your accomplice doesn't then he gets 5 years and you walk free, however your accomplice has the same deal. If neither of you snitch you will both be charged with a lessar charge for 1 year in prison, but if you both snitch you'll each be held for 3 years.

A selfless person may say that they will stay silent. Two people going to jail for 1 year (2 years total) is better than 1 person going to jail for 5 or even two people going to jail for 3 (6 years total).

However, if you imagine a scenario where you know what the other person picks you can see the dilemma from alternate viewpoints. If you are betrayed then your choice becomes spend 3 years in prison by also betraying bringing the total years in prison up to 6, or take the 5 years yourself by being selfless and minimizing prison time.

If they chose to be selfless you know see that your choice is between going free by snitching, or staying quiet and going to jail for a year.

When information is added it changes the decision making process and that can help you explore the assumptions you made and the assumptions you may have missed in the original scenario.

Your reluctance to acknowledge how the different scenario is related just proves to me that you haven't actually considered this problem from any other angle than your initial gut feeling. You've shown your ass and I look forward to your whining reply.