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No. Whether I know the person or not, even if that person deserves to die, even if that person seems no use in this planet, just NO.
By pushing that button, I'm a murderer already. I'm a criminal. I can be compared to those evil ones who makes this world unsafe. I can be compared to those ruthless, heartless people who takes away life of a loving mother, of a responsible father, a caring brother or a sister, or a much loved son or a daughter. I wouldn't let anyone go through pain for my own sake. I'm not trying to be perfect here, I'm just doing what could make me happy.
Of course a million dollar could make anyone happy. But if I have to be a criminal just to get that money, no thanks. I'll be happy with just the little money I have in my savings account, the loving family waiting for me at home, the special someone I have who truly cares for, for my friends who'll support me all the way, the cats who cheers me up, and the strangers I happen to bump into each day of my life.
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At first I said of course I'd push it. One person in our hugely over-population planet doesn't matter to me in the least.
However I think the reason many people's first instinct is to say yes is they assume the person will be someone they don't know. Some far away random stranger who means nothing to them.
When put into the perspective that the person dying could be your son, your mate, your father, anyone, it changes things.
Based on this I wouldn't press the button. I'd kill the person asking me to and steal his money. lol All they want is a body right?
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rishiku
Just supposed that the person being killed is someone I know and love. I wouldn’t be able to come to terms with the fact that I got 1 million dollars and I killed my own child. Would the money bring me happiness or would it bring me pain.
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Money is just money. We may need it to function and exist, but we don't need it to live. It has no inherent value, only the value we give it as a society. It is totally replaceable.
A human being has a heart and soul, which has no price tag.
No, I would not trade a "thing" that filled my bank account in exchange for a living person's life.
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It could be a friend or family member.
Or it could be just some random person walking down the street.
In any case, I'd say no. We were all put here for a reason and I'm sure it wasn't so some heartless fool could get rich. Just my $0.02 :)
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We kill people by voting for unnecessary wars. We kill people by voting against providing health care in this country to the poor. We kill people by not sending our money for famine relief in poor countries.
Each one of use could have saved a life today by writing a check for some group somewhere in the world feeding starving people.
So, I don't see what difference another dead person will make.
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But on the other hand I might consider pushing the button if I am presented with a circumstance that the million dollars could save a thousand other lives or someone who could save a million lives.
Since I am presented with a responsibility to make a choice I should consider the consequences of the actions that I take and also the consequences of the actions that I failed to take.
If I decide to push the button I would pray that the stranger who dies is a evil person who has killed a lot of people.
Tags: money, decision, morality, responsibility, choice
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I would put that along the same vein of thought as being a hired hitman and say that if you chose to take the money, you should be charged with murder.
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The reason why is because I have 3 children,a husband,2 parents,a brother and 2 nieces that I would miss dearly if it was one of them to die.
Although it would be wonderful to have the money,Life would not be worth living without my family.
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Source(s):
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,566503,00.html
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In the United States alone, there are 810.4 deaths for every 100,000 people (2006 figures).
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/deaths.htm
Calculate that around the world and realize that thousands of strangers die every single day. This question does not say that someone will "be killed". It states that someone "will die". The actual question here does not present a moral dilemma.
The movie "The Box" DOES present the moral battle.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362478/plotsummary
"But, pressing this button will simultaneously CAUSE the death of another human being somewhere in the world; someone they don't know." (emphasis mine)
Even if the box were a one-time button that self-destructed upon use so that it could never be used again, I wouldn't press it. I live my life in a way to not intentionally cause harm to another either through words or actions. Sometimes people are hurt, but not because I intended it.
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I will let a stranger give me a Million Dollars so he can kill a stranger.
First of all, there are thousands of murders everyday, if I can bank a million for one of these random murders, why not!
Second of all, a million dollars will solve a lot of my financial problems, pay bills, buy a house, buy a car, take a much needed vacation, put some in savings for my children. I work just as hard as other millionaires out there, I wouldn't mind a pay day.
Third of all, I would turn the moral argument on it's head and use most of the Million towards life saving charities. Sure my million would cause 1 death, but afterwords it would be responsible for saving many lives. If I didn't take that million somebody else would have, i need to protect that money from getting into the hands of irresponsible people.
:D
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Answered Question
M$3.05
October 26, 2009 11:32 PM
If you had the option to push a button and recieve one million dollars, but a stranger would die somewhere in the world, would you push it?
In relation to the new movie coming out on Friday, "The Box", based on the question I just ask, tell me why you would or wouldn't push the button.
Details:
- The person who dies could be anyone.
- You recieve the money instantly, but it costed someone elses life.
Details:
- The person who dies could be anyone.
- You recieve the money instantly, but it costed someone elses life.
Interesting Question?
Yes ()
No ()
Interesting: jeffhoard M$2.05
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Best Answer Chosen by Asker
| October 27, 2009 06:52 PM |
By pushing that button, I'm a murderer already. I'm a criminal. I can be compared to those evil ones who makes this world unsafe. I can be compared to those ruthless, heartless people who takes away life of a loving mother, of a responsible father, a caring brother or a sister, or a much loved son or a daughter. I wouldn't let anyone go through pain for my own sake. I'm not trying to be perfect here, I'm just doing what could make me happy.
Of course a million dollar could make anyone happy. But if I have to be a criminal just to get that money, no thanks. I'll be happy with just the little money I have in my savings account, the loving family waiting for me at home, the special someone I have who truly cares for, for my friends who'll support me all the way, the cats who cheers me up, and the strangers I happen to bump into each day of my life.
| Asker's Rating: |
• Great insight into why you would NOT push the button. I too agree with exactly what you are saying and would never want someone to be killed for my own pleasure. Money is meant to be worked for anyways, not won.
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Other Answers (19)
October 27, 2009 12:10 AM
I saw the preview to this and so guessed what the plot was. They press it, the person is their son. I instantly went "OMG, that is sooo mean" which prompted a long conversation with my husband. At first I said of course I'd push it. One person in our hugely over-population planet doesn't matter to me in the least.
However I think the reason many people's first instinct is to say yes is they assume the person will be someone they don't know. Some far away random stranger who means nothing to them.
When put into the perspective that the person dying could be your son, your mate, your father, anyone, it changes things.
Based on this I wouldn't press the button. I'd kill the person asking me to and steal his money. lol All they want is a body right?
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rishiku
October 27, 2009 01:43 PM
Are you sure, because it says it is someone you dont know, a stranger.
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October 27, 2009 12:26 AM
Personally I wouldn’t push the button, no amount of money could be worth taking someone else’s life. Why must I be given wealth at the expense of someone else’s life. I know that life isn’t fair, but I am not being fair to that individual. Then technically I am a murderer, I am the one who is responsible for someone else’s death. Just supposed that the person being killed is someone I know and love. I wouldn’t be able to come to terms with the fact that I got 1 million dollars and I killed my own child. Would the money bring me happiness or would it bring me pain.
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October 27, 2009 12:35 AM
I second roc's opinion. No amount of money would be enough to make me a killer. But if my significant other's life is in danger, then it's another matter. (if i need the money to ransom or to pay for critical surgery of my significant other).
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October 27, 2009 02:26 AM
A human life is a unique being. There is not another like it anywhere. It is irreplaceable. Other people would suffer at their loss too. Money is just money. We may need it to function and exist, but we don't need it to live. It has no inherent value, only the value we give it as a society. It is totally replaceable.
A human being has a heart and soul, which has no price tag.
No, I would not trade a "thing" that filled my bank account in exchange for a living person's life.
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October 27, 2009 02:53 AM
That person killed by me pressing the button could be the person that finds the cure for a disease, ends world hunger, or finds if the chicken or the egg came first. It could be a friend or family member.
Or it could be just some random person walking down the street.
In any case, I'd say no. We were all put here for a reason and I'm sure it wasn't so some heartless fool could get rich. Just my $0.02 :)
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October 27, 2009 03:37 AM
We kill people every day. We kill people by voting for unnecessary wars. We kill people by voting against providing health care in this country to the poor. We kill people by not sending our money for famine relief in poor countries.
Each one of use could have saved a life today by writing a check for some group somewhere in the world feeding starving people.
So, I don't see what difference another dead person will make.
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October 27, 2009 03:52 AM
This is a difficult decision to make. I would certainly not push the button to use the million dollars for selfish reasons. But on the other hand I might consider pushing the button if I am presented with a circumstance that the million dollars could save a thousand other lives or someone who could save a million lives.
Since I am presented with a responsibility to make a choice I should consider the consequences of the actions that I take and also the consequences of the actions that I failed to take.
If I decide to push the button I would pray that the stranger who dies is a evil person who has killed a lot of people.
Tags: money, decision, morality, responsibility, choice
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October 27, 2009 05:57 AM
Absolutely not. Stranger or not, I don't think there is any amount of money that could fix the guilt that would be felt from knowing that you got that money because you chose to kill another human being. I would put that along the same vein of thought as being a hired hitman and say that if you chose to take the money, you should be charged with murder.
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October 27, 2009 02:36 PM
There is one thing I believe in, and that is karma.
What would be the point to pushing the button, only to have the box passed on to someone I don't know who would also push the button?
Believing in karma, I wouldn't really have much time to roll naked in my paper money. Some other bloke would be greedily pushing that button on me!
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What would be the point to pushing the button, only to have the box passed on to someone I don't know who would also push the button?
Believing in karma, I wouldn't really have much time to roll naked in my paper money. Some other bloke would be greedily pushing that button on me!
October 27, 2009 12:16 PM
I would honestly say NO.I would not push the button The reason why is because I have 3 children,a husband,2 parents,a brother and 2 nieces that I would miss dearly if it was one of them to die.
Although it would be wonderful to have the money,Life would not be worth living without my family.
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October 27, 2009 12:42 PM
No. And I think that the only people who would be tempted would be people who believe that they deserve the money or have some sort of chip on their shoulders. It's not money your earned, and therefore not money you deserve, so why would you kill someone to get it? It reminds of the recent store riot in Ohio that started because people thought they would get clothes for free and then didn't. They didn't deserve the clothes, and they should not riot over not getting something they didn't earn.
Source(s):
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,566503,00.html
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October 27, 2009 02:42 PM
I am going to take a different direction with this and say "yes". In the United States alone, there are 810.4 deaths for every 100,000 people (2006 figures).
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/deaths.htm
Calculate that around the world and realize that thousands of strangers die every single day. This question does not say that someone will "be killed". It states that someone "will die". The actual question here does not present a moral dilemma.
The movie "The Box" DOES present the moral battle.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362478/plotsummary
"But, pressing this button will simultaneously CAUSE the death of another human being somewhere in the world; someone they don't know." (emphasis mine)
Even if the box were a one-time button that self-destructed upon use so that it could never be used again, I wouldn't press it. I live my life in a way to not intentionally cause harm to another either through words or actions. Sometimes people are hurt, but not because I intended it.
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October 27, 2009 04:14 PM
Money doesn't bring happiness especially when it would cause someone else to die, stranger or not you would have to live with the fact you are indeed a murderer and caused this person's death just by pushing a button. The guilt alone would kill ya. No amount of money is worth taking someone elses life. Whoever came up with the story of the movie has quite the imagination but people have killed for alot less and I can see this movie being very popular just to see what happens
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October 27, 2009 05:56 PM
I'm also going to say "Yes" I will let a stranger give me a Million Dollars so he can kill a stranger.
First of all, there are thousands of murders everyday, if I can bank a million for one of these random murders, why not!
Second of all, a million dollars will solve a lot of my financial problems, pay bills, buy a house, buy a car, take a much needed vacation, put some in savings for my children. I work just as hard as other millionaires out there, I wouldn't mind a pay day.
Third of all, I would turn the moral argument on it's head and use most of the Million towards life saving charities. Sure my million would cause 1 death, but afterwords it would be responsible for saving many lives. If I didn't take that million somebody else would have, i need to protect that money from getting into the hands of irresponsible people.
:D
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October 27, 2009 06:12 PM
Man Jeff, that's kinda harsh. I'm gonna try a lot harder to be nice to you!!
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October 27, 2009 06:41 PM
lol, just mixing it up, with all that said if anybody wants to send me a Million bucks pre-empting the button decision that might be the safest route for everybody.
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October 27, 2009 06:53 PM
"First of all, there are thousands of murders everyday, if I can bank a million for one of these random murders, why not! "
Ah, but the question is not whether you would opt to profit from a murder that was going to happen anyway, but whether you would actually choose to cause another death in order to get a big paycheck.
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Ah, but the question is not whether you would opt to profit from a murder that was going to happen anyway, but whether you would actually choose to cause another death in order to get a big paycheck.
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