The Box movie: Would you do it?

[Phishfan]

Here is something I don't see anyone considering, does everyone have access to this button? Think about how many people would travel to get to the button. Are there limitations on how many people can push the button? I really need more ground rules to this game because if you think about it really the button would be very popular, but the more people with access to it the more likely it is you yourself ends up a victim, someone you know, etc. That may start getting people to reconsider if they really want to push the button.

[Dave Gray]

Here is something I don't see anyone considering, does everyone have access to this button? Think about how many people would travel to get to the button. Are there limitations on how many people can push the button? I really need more ground rules to this game because if you think about it really the button would be very popular, but the more people with access to it the more likely it is you yourself ends up a victim, someone you know, etc. That may start getting people to reconsider if they really want to push the button.

I assumed it was a one-time thing, which was a personal morality lesson.

[StL FinFan]

That's some really bad karma.

[Brian Fein]

What if there are thousands of buttons, all around the world, and each one gets one push PER MONTH.

Then the likelihood of someone you know being killed by the button seems a lot higher.

Does that change your mind at all?

[bsfins]

What if there are thousands of buttons, all around the world, and each one gets one push PER MONTH.

Then the likelihood of someone you know being killed by the button seems a lot higher.

Does that change your mind at all?

Someone is a really greedy bastard......

[Dave Gray]

What if there are thousands of buttons, all around the world, and each one gets one push PER MONTH.

Then the likelihood of someone you know being killed by the button seems a lot higher.

Does that change your mind at all?

No.  Even at once per month, the chances are still extremely minuscule.  It's still only like 1000 people over the course of a lifetime, which is still really a small number when compared to the population of the Earth over that same lifespan.

[Sunstroke]

If you're trying to feel out people's "moral plateaus" and "spinal density" using The Box as the testing ground, then a few decent breakdown questions to ask would be...

1) Would you push the button for $1m if it were someone in your city? Your county? Your state?
2) Would you push the button for $1m if the person who would die is under 20 years old?
3) Would you push the button for $1m if your name was advertised as the button-pusher?

[bsfins]

1) Would you push the button for $1m if it were someone in your city? Your county? Your state?
2) Would you push the button for $1m if the person who would die is under 20 years old?
3) Would you push the button for $1m if your name was advertised as the button-pusher?

1.) Yep...Probably
2.) Yes..Thinning the herd (I'm joking!)
3.) Hmm I'm very low key, shy away from attention..Public hummilitaion....Just might make me think twice...Knowing today's society, I'd probably get picketed!

[JVides]

Never.  I cannot conceive of a sum large enough to make me kill someone.  I live well enough already.  I don't need a million bucks to improve my life.  More importantly, this would go against every moral I hold dear.

[Phishfan]

I find it extremely odd the Dave who is antideath penalty and doesn't think the government should have the right to determine who lives and dies would kill someone for his own personal gain. While I who am pro death penalty would not push the button.

[Dave Gray]

^^ It seems to me that using that comparison just shows why you don't understand my stance on the death penalty.  I am not against it because of a moral protection of life.

[JVides]

^^^But by saying you'd push the button, you say the life of someone you don't know is worth a price.  So does this mean you're OK with the death penalty as long as Uncle Sam cuts you a check afterwards?  I find it hard to correlate "don't kill an inmate just in case he's innocent" with "I'll kill a complete innocent as long as I get mine".

Phish, I found it odd as well that several of the people who rail against corporate greed, militarism, and, well, all things allegedly right-wing would have no problem executing someone for a cool mil, which I would imagine most people would consider a very right wing thing to do. 

[Phishfan]

^^ It seems to me that using that comparison just shows why you don't understand my stance on the death penalty.  I am not against it because of a moral protection of life.

Then your stance is all over the place because when discussing the death penalty one of your points was the ethical problems it creates. By definition, morals are part of ethics.

[Sunstroke]

Phish, I found it odd as well that several of the people who rail against corporate greed, militarism, and, well, all things allegedly right-wing would have no problem executing someone for a cool mil, which I would imagine most people would consider a very right wing thing to do.

I think I've got a pair of right wings...which would help explain why I fly around in circles all day long like a buzzard.

[Dave Gray]

I would do lots of things for enough money (legal or otherwise) that I don't think the government should have the legality to do.

For a million bucks, I'd throw a cat off a bridge.  I don't think that the government should be able to do it, though.