Not long before the global population is tied to the track and there's no one left to pull the switch. The trolley problem has suddenly become an inescapable extinction event.
But nobody's there to pull the switch to run everyone over, so the train barrels on into mathematical impossibility. Does the scenario create people ex nihilo to continue on? Does the simulation crash? We won't know until we find out.
the solution, as always, is multitrack drifting. according to some perverted mathematics, 1+2+4+8+16+... actually just equals -1, so you end up reviving one person
Your inaction is what kills more, statistically. Someone will eventually pull the lever to stop the trolley, but by not doing anything, you doomed more people. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. A trolley problem isn't reality though. You won't find such absolutism and certainty in the outcome.
An alternate solution is to jump on the trolley and kill each lever puller before you get to them, forever protecting the growing masses. I'm not sure what that symbolizes. Some sort of constant cost paid to protect the rest of humanity.
And what lies past the track that kills that one or few people? Maybe something worse that this decision, so killing one seemed the most logical, but actually was far worse than postponing the decision and shrugging the responsibility (which is what this is about really).
Hm, just one quick thought: Wouldn't it be better to look out which track doesn't have people lying there? However, far sight only goes that far, I guess
That does change the answer a lot. As drawn if no one ever does anything, everyone is always safe (tied on a track, but alive). Can anyone at the level count on the next people down the line to not pull? Or it is "not my problem", basically?
I still say what I said in my other reply, we can only see what's given to us and assumed is the only problem, but what if there's worse things down the track that seems the best answer right now? I guess in reality we can only work with what we know, so we have to make some decisions that have blind spots too.
As pictured doing nothing hurts no one... until the next person pulls their level. It passes the responsibility down the line, seemingly, however if someone later pulls their level and kills lots of people, you indirectly could have prevented the scenario from even being played out by just being a killer of one person.
Assuming like I said, if this is all there is and there aren't any unknowns out of the picture frame. Which in real life, there's always something more.
42 replies
If we all keep doubling then no one dies! let's not think too hard on the logistics after a few doublings
Not long before the global population is tied to the track and there's no one left to pull the switch. The trolley problem has suddenly become an inescapable extinction event.
Are we still talking about the trolley problem ?
Aren't we always?
Depends which direction the default is. Was it kill everyone or pass?
Let's look at it this way. Only 34 people have to make this decision at maximum. After that everyone is laying on the track
But nobody's there to pull the switch to run everyone over, so the train barrels on into mathematical impossibility. Does the scenario create people ex nihilo to continue on? Does the simulation crash? We won't know until we find out.
It causes segfault and dumps core which then becomes the second Earth.
This includes OP (original puller).
This also seems like a lesson in procrastination.
So you're saying the prime nonmover exists both at the beginning and the end?
Takes puff and squits eyes.
That's deep bro.
I think you just invented capitalism.
In capitalism we keep doubling them and people still die
And risk someone deciding they want to kill 8 billion people?
Can I choose the person?
You can choose the person, but then you become one of the people on the track in a later trolley problem.
Worth it
Asking the real questions there.
No, but if you double it for the next person you increase the chances that they will be killed.
Going purely by the illustration, pass it to the next person because they have a track with no-one on it
You'll just trust the next person to come along to do the right thing? Yikes.
Let's make the experiment a bit more tangible. Would your answer change if the person pulling the lever got a bar of gold for each person run over.
oooh I like this question. technically it's not your fault...
Is there a way to kill everybody?
Just keep it going until we kill none of the billionaires and literally all life on earth ends, yes.
Technical debt be like this, except you're always the next person.
You should stop being a nob, put the trolley back in the trolley park and retrieve your coin.
the solution, as always, is multitrack drifting. according to some perverted mathematics, 1+2+4+8+16+... actually just equals -1, so you end up reviving one person
Keep doubling it until we get all 8 billion people there.
Your inaction is what kills more, statistically. Someone will eventually pull the lever to stop the trolley, but by not doing anything, you doomed more people. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. A trolley problem isn't reality though. You won't find such absolutism and certainty in the outcome.
An alternate solution is to jump on the trolley and kill each lever puller before you get to them, forever protecting the growing masses. I'm not sure what that symbolizes. Some sort of constant cost paid to protect the rest of humanity.
And what lies past the track that kills that one or few people? Maybe something worse that this decision, so killing one seemed the most logical, but actually was far worse than postponing the decision and shrugging the responsibility (which is what this is about really).
Why
I can think of lots of reasons early on, but if it goes on forever why would you think it wouldn't ever happen?
Hm, just one quick thought: Wouldn't it be better to look out which track doesn't have people lying there? However, far sight only goes that far, I guess
Which is the default track? Cause that will change my answer
That does change the answer a lot. As drawn if no one ever does anything, everyone is always safe (tied on a track, but alive). Can anyone at the level count on the next people down the line to not pull? Or it is "not my problem", basically?
I still say what I said in my other reply, we can only see what's given to us and assumed is the only problem, but what if there's worse things down the track that seems the best answer right now? I guess in reality we can only work with what we know, so we have to make some decisions that have blind spots too.
As pictured doing nothing hurts no one... until the next person pulls their level. It passes the responsibility down the line, seemingly, however if someone later pulls their level and kills lots of people, you indirectly could have prevented the scenario from even being played out by just being a killer of one person.
Assuming like I said, if this is all there is and there aren't any unknowns out of the picture frame. Which in real life, there's always something more.
Id shum over everyone
Is there any way I can get rid of all 4 of them?
Lol
Can I take everyone with me?
I like your can do attitude and outside the box thinking!
I've always liked this one because before long it escalates into a social contract
you always gotta pay it forward