Let's play.
Game Number One
Your 10-year-old son is speaking to you.
He says he has found a way of obtaining
some potatoes to feed your starving family.
If he is caught, he will be killed.
Do you let him go?
I predict you will find we are all bots.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fxirdal.lmu.de%2Fxirdalium%2Fxpix%2Fvoightkampffcloseup.png&hash=e5f6d31501e64ac333310cd80e8606ccdbf527de)
Quote from: Josephus on April 07, 2010, 10:47:02 AM
Let's play.
Game Number One
Your 10-year-old son is speaking to you.
He says he has found a way of obtaining
some potatoes to feed your starving family.
If he is caught, he will be killed.
Do you let him go?
How many sons do I have? :ph34r:
Bee Bee's Choice :cool:
I would rather use my son to steal chickens and pigs.
Quote from: Josephus on April 07, 2010, 10:47:02 AM
Let's play.
Game Number One
Your 10-year-old son is speaking to you.
He says he has found a way of obtaining
some potatoes to feed your starving family.
If he is caught, he will be killed.
Do you let him go?
No. If he's dead anyways if he goes to get the taters it's more economical to kill and eat him instead.
Anyways, if there's one less mouth to feed the family has a better chance of survival. Children can be replaced.
Quote from: Syt on April 07, 2010, 11:34:21 AM
No. If he's dead anyways if he goes to get the taters it's more economical to kill and eat him instead.
Anyways, if there's one less mouth to feed the family has a better chance of survival. Children can be replaced.
He's not guaranteed to be caught though. If he is caught, according to the scenario, he
will be killed, but it doesn't say "He will be caught", just "If he is caught".
Of course I would want to know what the chances are that he will be caught before making this decision. :hmm:
Also, raw potates aren't that great, do I have the means to cook them?
I don't understand this thread. What an odd title. I am confused and this angers me.
Quote from: Caliga on April 07, 2010, 11:36:59 AM
Quote from: Syt on April 07, 2010, 11:34:21 AM
No. If he's dead anyways if he goes to get the taters it's more economical to kill and eat him instead.
Anyways, if there's one less mouth to feed the family has a better chance of survival. Children can be replaced.
He's not guaranteed to be caught though. If he is caught, according to the scenario, he will be killed, but it doesn't say "He will be caught", just "If he is caught".
Of course I would want to know what the chances are that he will be caught before making this decision. :hmm:
Oh, I miseed that. I only read that he'll be killed. I agree that there's too little info to give a meaningful answer. How starved is the family? Is this temporary? Would the situation be ok with one less mouth to feed? How big is the chance to be caught getting the taters? Would it be an option to go in his stead? Etc.
Quote from: Tyr on April 07, 2010, 11:46:46 AM
I don't understand this thread. What an odd title.
Apparently it's the title of the epilogue of Yann "Beatrice and Virgil: A Novel by Yann Martel".
Cut out the middle man and cook and eat the son.
No. A ten year old would have better luck being a street urchin pickpocket rather than trying to haul back enough potatoes to feed everyone.
If he's going to die that means something is going to kill. If that thing is either 1) human or 2) animal. It might a better option to kill & eat the thing.
Like I'd believe that the 10-year old had actually figured out a way to do something that would work. <_<
Quote from: Tyr on April 07, 2010, 11:46:46 AM
I don't understand this thread. What an odd title. I am confused and this angers me.
You must be angry all the time. :console:
Yes. Children are replaceable. If he succeeds, he alleviates the starvation, and if he fails, he makes it less severe. Also, as Syt mentioned, children are replaceable. :contract:
Children can be replaced, yes, but it is very time-consuming (take years to get another 10 year old), and very expensive.
Which is why I asked how many sons I have? If I have only one son, he will carry on the family name, and it makes more sense for me to try and go out to steal the potatos.
If I have many sons, well, then, I already have spares, and will wish the 10 year old good luck in his theft. :ph34r:
If your family is starving and trying to steal a potato maybe your family name doesn't need to be carried on.
for the first time ever, Jaron got the point and the rest of you guys missed it.
YOUR SON CAN NOT BE REPLACED cause you're going to die in a month or two. You're starving. It doesn't matter if you have one son or 50 sons. YOU WILL ALL DIE. Your son is offering a possible way to live for a while longer.
Jesus Christ. Wait till we get to games 2-13.
And yes, this game is taken from the coda to Yann Martel's latest novel.
Quote from: Josephus on April 07, 2010, 04:46:26 PM
for the first time ever, Jaron got the point and the rest of you guys missed it.
YOUR SON CAN NOT BE REPLACED cause you're going to die in a month or two. You're starving. It doesn't matter if you have one son or 50 sons. YOU WILL ALL DIE. Your son is offering a possible way to live for a while longer.
Jesus Christ. Wait till we get to games 2-13.
And yes, this game is taken from the coda to Yann Martel's latest novel.
:rolleyes:
Look at my answer:
QuoteWhich is why I asked how many sons I have? If I have only one son, he will carry on the family name, and it makes more sense for me to try and go out to steal the potatos.
If I have many sons, well, then, I already have spares, and will wish the 10 year old good luck in his theft.
The debate was whether my son goes out to steal potatos, or me.
Quote from: Jaron on April 07, 2010, 04:28:49 PM
If your family is starving and trying to steal a potato maybe your family name doesn't need to be carried on.
Zinger :D
Jaron wins! ^_^
I guess BB got his law degree from Scipio U.
Quote from: Barrister on April 07, 2010, 04:58:41 PM
Quote from: Josephus on April 07, 2010, 04:46:26 PM
for the first time ever, Jaron got the point and the rest of you guys missed it.
YOUR SON CAN NOT BE REPLACED cause you're going to die in a month or two. You're starving. It doesn't matter if you have one son or 50 sons. YOU WILL ALL DIE. Your son is offering a possible way to live for a while longer.
Jesus Christ. Wait till we get to games 2-13.
And yes, this game is taken from the coda to Yann Martel's latest novel.
:rolleyes:
Look at my answer:
QuoteWhich is why I asked how many sons I have? If I have only one son, he will carry on the family name, and it makes more sense for me to try and go out to steal the potatos.
If I have many sons, well, then, I already have spares, and will wish the 10 year old good luck in his theft.
The debate was whether my son goes out to steal potatos, or me.
You missed the point - whether you risk your sons life or not, stealing some potatoes only postpones your death from starvation and does not resolve the problem in the long run. So the choice is irrelevant.
It is possible that some things are more important than survival.
I still don't get it. Not enough data but it seems to let him do it is the answer; everyone will die anyway if he doesn't so who cares if he's killed.
Quote from: Martinus on April 07, 2010, 05:04:17 PM
You missed the point - whether you risk your sons life or not, stealing some potatoes only postpones your death from starvation and does not resolve the problem in the long run. So the choice is irrelevant.
Isn't that all we're doing every time we eat though?
I launch a peasant's rebellion. Using my 18 CHA, I set the countryside aflame in revolt. KILL THE RICH. POTATOES FOR ALL.
Quote from: Martinus on April 07, 2010, 05:04:17 PM
You missed the point - whether you risk your sons life or not, stealing some potatoes only postpones your death from starvation and does not resolve the problem in the long run. So the choice is irrelevant.
True. But imagine that getting a couple potatoes a day through such a risky venture might keep you alive till the event, whatever it is, that is making you starve, be it natural or man-made, is over.
Give a man a hot potato, and he'll be warm for an hour
Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for life.
Quote from: Josephus on April 07, 2010, 10:47:02 AM
Let's play.
Game Number One
Your 10-year-old son is speaking to you.
He says he has found a way of obtaining
some potatoes to feed your starving family.
If he is caught, he will be killed.
Do you let him go?
How 'bout you be a fucking man and steal the potatoes yourself. Seriously, what the hells wrong with you?
:mad: Absoletely dispicable!
Maybe a grown up is unable to get potatoes cause he lacks the dexterity to squeeze through tight places (Martinus excepted).
Anyways...maybe it's time for another one. I win.
I disagree, I still think trying to out-kill the killer is a better idea.
Quote from: Josephus on April 08, 2010, 07:10:48 AM
Maybe a grown up is unable to get potatoes cause he lacks the dexterity to squeeze through tight places (Martinus excepted).
Martinus is too fat.
At any rate, I'd let the kid attempt his theft.
unless he can also steal me some butter and sour cream, I say no dice.