The Train Dilemma
My friend sent me this interesting story, here it is:Which one will you choose?
A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use while the other disused. Only one child played on the disused track, the rest on the operational track.
The train came, and you were just beside the track interchange.You could make the train change its course to the disused track andsaved most of the kids.
However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track would be sacrificed. Or would you rather let the train goits way?
Let's take a pause to think what kind of decision we could make............. ..
How do you decide? What is your decision?
..
Most people might choose to divert the course of the train,and sacrifice only one child. You might think the same way, I guess. Exactly, I thought the same way initially because to save most of the children at the expense of only one child was rational decisionmost people would make, morally and emotionally.
But, have you ever thought that the child choosing to play on the disused track had in fact made the right decision to play at asafe place?Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorantf riends who chose to play where the danger was.
This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday. In the office,community, in politics and especially in a democratic society,the minority is often sacrificed for the interest of the majority, nomatter how foolish or ignorant the majority are, and how farsighted and knowledgeable the minority are.The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track was sidelined. And in the case he was sacrificed, no one wouldshed a tear for him.
The friend who forwarded me the story said he would not try to change the course of the train because he believed that the kids playingon the operational track should have known very well that track was still in use and that they should have run away if they heard the train's sirens. If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he never thought the train could come over to that track! Moreover, that track was not in use probably because it was not safe.
If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all passengers on board at stake! And in your attempt to save a few kids by sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundreds of people to save these few kids.
While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to be made,we may not realize that hasty decisions may not alwaysbe the right one.
"Remember that what's right isn't always popular... and what's popular isn't always right."
Everybody makes mistakes; that's why they put erasers on pencils.(..andliquid paper now is getting fancier..)
Some thoughts:
I would choose not to divert the train also for another selfish but realistic reason. I would personally be blamed for causing the death of the lone child, probably being sued by the parents of the child (really asking for trouble right ?!).
On the other hand, I won't be blamed (sued) for doing nothing even if the group of children all die. I am just an ordinary passenger, it should the staff of the train station to do something in order to prevent the accident.
posted by YY at
12:31:00 AM
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