031. [Text]

[explosivecombat]

You know, I've realized that whenever I address the network nowadays, I always include some sort of apology for the morbidity of the subject matter; the subject matter is never any better the next time around, which I think just draws the validity of the apology into question by now. Ah, but that's neither here nor there - the subject today is still, however, not any better, so consider the apology this afternoon as genuine as it always is.

[In other words, sorry-not-sorry. Kimblee...]

I would like to discuss morality today, actually - perhaps befittingly, since there are so many morally dubious individuals around as of late.

Assume for a moment that you come across someone in peril; you're in a secluded area, and no one else is around to help this individual but you. The specific sort of peril they're in doesn't matter, but for the sake of argument, assume that it's something that you can handle easily - assume that assisting them won't kill you, and even if the situation you envision is dangerous you can call the authorities for help and that would be considered "assisting" for the sake of this experiment. For whatever reason, the person in peril cannot save themselves; if you don't do anything, the situation will prove fatal for the person you've come across.

No one will know if you help the person or not. You won't be punished or penalized in any way for not helping them - in other words, you have no legal obligation to do so - but if you don't, the person in peril is going to die. You've never met the person before this moment; there's nothing about their appearance or situation that implies that you should consider them an enemy, but they aren't explicitly a friend or an ally either. Just a random stranger that you are given the option of rescuing.

Most would probably agree that rescuing a person in peril like that is the "right" thing to do; I'm sure some would disagree, either because their beliefs are a bit unorthodox or because they want to feel edgy. So my question isn't necessarily what you believe - my question is why. Can you justify it, or are you just operating under "what feels right"?

Answer me anonymously if you'd like; as usual, your identity doesn't necessarily interest me, but your answer does.

Comments

[dead philosophers indeed]

[explosivecombat]

It would worry you if I ever did get tired of it, I think.

[doitrockapella]

You picked a strong hypothetical this time. Debating the duty to rescue ought to net you a fair amount of response.

You'll forgive me if I don't join in, won't you?

[explosivecombat]

I might be able to do that, yes - it's not as though we haven't argued morality on a regular basis for years, anyway.

[doitrockapella]

At this point you can probably recite for yourself exactly how both sides of our debate would go, anyway.

But if you'd like to have it out for the sake of entertainment, I'll humor you — but only over dinner.

[explosivecombat]

I don't see why not.

Did you have anything in particular in mind, or are you surprising me?

[doitrockapella]

I'm going to hide a menu somewhere in the city and leave you a series of interconnected clues to track it down.

The deadline you're running against is the time of our table reservations.

[explosivecombat]

...You're terrible.

And yet I'm honestly not putting it past you.

[doitrockapella]

It's an homage to a well-executed birthday present.

[explosivecombat]

Well, you did say you enjoy things like that.

I imagined you might like it better without any harm befalling any cargo holds or particularly poorly-dressed individuals.

[doitrockapella]

The shame is that I doubt you enjoy arranging the game as much as I enjoy playing it, or I'd say we'd just found a way to kill two birds with one stone.

Figuratively speaking.

[explosivecombat]

Well, if I disliked it, I wouldn't have done it. You know that.

...It's something to do once in a while, at any rate. I don't mind it.

[doitrockapella]

Hence why that came qualified with "as much as". Because I do know that.

Have I ever done anything for you, that's entertained you that much in return?

[explosivecombat]

It's difficult to say, really; I tend to enjoy things a bit differently than you do.

[doitrockapella]

Color me arrogant for the presumption, but I can't imagine you really enjoying it if I up and decided to raze a city in fire one day.

[explosivecombat]

The confusion caused by something like that would put a bit of a damper on the enjoyment, I'll admit.

[doitrockapella]

And disappointment? I was anticipating disappointment on a deep and unforgivable level.

[explosivecombat]

Your reason for doing it would influence whether I was disappointed or not.

[doitrockapella]

All right, now I'm curious. Under what circumstances would I be able to pull something like that but escape your disappointment?

[explosivecombat]

It would have to be a city containing Mason Dixon, from which you had just escaped after a good amount of time of being held there against your will. At which point I would still be disappointed, but it wouldn't be on an unforgivable level.

[doitrockapella]

You really do have it out for the man, don't you.

[explosivecombat]

I'm a bit displeased with him, yes.

[doitrockapella]

...So you might not be unforgivably disappointed in me for razing the city, but what about for failing to contact you while being held against my will by Mason Dixon? That's a separate offense entirely.

[explosivecombat]

...If he was managing to hold you against your will, somehow I doubt that however he was doing it would allow you to contact anyone.

[doitrockapella]

Flatterer.

Would you turn up to rescue me?

[explosivecombat]

I would turn up to end Mason Dixon, at the very least.