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nov04libride
big brother <3
Member since 5/05 14672 total posts
Name:
Me
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A hypothetical...
An alien craft lands in your back yard, and you go out to see what has caused all the ruckus. As you approach the craft, an alien being appears. He speaks to you through unconventional means, and you are instantly able to comprehend the meaning of his thoughts without any effort.
He explains to you that he has a gift, but that he wants something in return. He says that he can give you the knowledge to cure every disease known and unknown to man. In return, he wants you to give him an innocent child, who will die a slow and painful death. The child is not allowed to know why he has been given over to the alien being. The alien gets to choose the child, not you. For the purposes of this discussion, it is assumed that the child he chooses is perfectly healthy and would otherwise lead a full life.
Could you do it? Could you give the alien an innocent child, knowing the fate the child would suffer, and knowing as well that you would then have both the knowledge and means to cure all of the ills of human kind?
For the purposes of this argument, it is assumed that this is not a trick. You WILL be given both the knowledge and means as promised, and the child WILL be put to death slowly and painfully by the alien being. Once you are given this knowledge, you are free to pass it on to your fellow man, or do with as you please. Let's not play any semantics with the way this question is posed. Instead, let us focus on the decision that you must make.
Yes or no, could you have a small innocent child slowly and painfully put to death in exchange for the knowledge and means to cure all known diseases and medical ills of the human race?
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Posted 5/15/06 3:03 PM  |
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MsG
Should be working
Member since 5/05 2824 total posts
Name:
G
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Re: A hypothetical...
I would probably let the alien have the child and then I'd want to die.
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:07 PM |
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Shorty
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Member since 5/05 30390 total posts
Name:
really
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Re: A hypothetical...
hmmm I couldn't give up the child.
Even with the knowledge of the cures, I don't know if our government will "allow" the use of them. Not to mention the cost of the supplies, etc.
Plus, I couldn't live with myself knowing that a child was being painfully tortured.
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:09 PM |
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LadyMaravilla
Fall Is Here
Member since 5/05 12023 total posts
Name:
Sonia
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Re: A hypothetical...
I would not give the child!
That could have been my child... 
Message edited 5/15/2006 3:10:32 PM.
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:09 PM |
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Tany
Becoming a different woman
Member since 5/05 24460 total posts
Name:
Tania
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Re: A hypothetical...
I would not give the life of an innocent child, what if they choose my Alia? no way in hell.
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:10 PM |
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Ambersmom
Straight up nasty
Member since 5/05 7740 total posts
Name:
Sharon
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Re: A hypothetical...
I'd give him a crash dummy and tell him it was a child...
Otherwise, I'd tell him to blow it out his alien a$$.
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:12 PM |
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baghag
:P
Member since 5/05 10278 total posts
Name:
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Re: A hypothetical...
Where did you find this question? 
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:19 PM |
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capricorn75
J-E-T-S
Member since 5/05 1645 total posts
Name:
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Re: A hypothetical...
No, I couldn't do it. What if it was one of my babies? No way.
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:19 PM |
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nov04libride
big brother <3
Member since 5/05 14672 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: A hypothetical...
Posted by baghag
Where did you find this question?
 it was on another website I am on. Surprisingly, almost everyone there said they would give up the child!
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:21 PM |
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ChristineR
New Year, New Beginnings!
Member since 5/05 2083 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: A hypothetical...
No, I wouldn't be able to... knowing a child would suffer 
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:23 PM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: A hypothetical...
My initial reaction was that I could give up one life to save millions more. But the more I thought about it, the more I thought about what Shorty said....that I might not be heard or given the resources to actually put my knowledge to good use, so I am not sure if I would.
I will also add that I am not a mother and I think that affects my opinion a great deal.
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:27 PM |
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leighla
Support Cancer Research
Member since 5/05 16353 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: A hypothetical...
Wow, I can't even answer this hypothetically...
Initially I thought - absolutely, give up the child. One life for millions of people's health.
My sister had MS and my dad has diabetes and there are so many people in my family with cancer that it's scary. So it would make sense to give up the baby.
However, knowing the struggles I've been going through with TTC and the women who've lost children on this board, it makes it hard to say one child's life is expendable, no matter what the reward.
So I guess I would say no - I wouldn't give up the child, but from then on I would dedicate my life helping find cures.
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:28 PM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: A hypothetical...
There are no guarantees and I wouldn't believe an alien. Also there are natural life cycles and although it's sad to see a loved one suffer and ultimately die, this is life and it's cycles.
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:32 PM |
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JennZ
MY LIFE!!
Member since 8/05 25463 total posts
Name:
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Re: A hypothetical...
NO I have no kids and couldnt imagine my niece (for the sake of argument) going thru that. Sorry for the good of all is not worth the hurt or sadness on some kids face.
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:36 PM |
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IluvBo
NICKY & EVIE
Member since 6/05 3321 total posts
Name:
Rose
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Re: A hypothetical...
I'm afraid my answer would be no. No way.
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:37 PM |
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justme1
Proud SAHM
Member since 5/05 1955 total posts
Name:
Jodi
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Re: A hypothetical...
Gosh, this is a tuff one.
Im thinking of all the millions of OTHER children in the world that suffer incredible pain everyday from different illness's.
From that perspective, it would be one child dying for the sake of all others..
So by not giving the child, you are letting all these millions of other children and all other humans suffer and die anyway.
Message edited 5/15/2006 3:39:05 PM.
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:38 PM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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Re: A hypothetical...
I would need to know more about the slow painful death part. Slow death, as in how long? decades? I can't even imagine what kind of issues of overpopulation we'd have.
I would give my life for both of my children. I would want to do permanent, severe harm to anyone who ever harmed them. But as a mother, if I knew my actions would save millions of lives so that other mothers wouldn't have to suffer, I would probably give up a child -- and then like MrsG I would probably want to die the minute I imparted all of that knowledge to others.
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:46 PM |
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Kate
*****
Member since 5/05 7557 total posts
Name:
Kate
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Re: A hypothetical...
I would not give up the child. I might consider it if the child didn't have to suffer... So you cure every disease, then what? Everyone lives forever??
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:51 PM |
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nov04libride
big brother <3
Member since 5/05 14672 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: A hypothetical...
Posted by Kate
I would not give up the child. I might consider it if the child didn't have to suffer... So you cure every disease, then what? Everyone lives forever??
Even without disease our bodies would just wear out...
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| Posted 5/15/06 3:52 PM |
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Redhead
You Live, You Learn
Member since 5/05 31871 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: A hypothetical...
NO i could not....
I think i would leave the discovery of cures to man...
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| Posted 5/15/06 4:24 PM |
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