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Creative minds wanted...
Nov. 24th, 2003 12:29 amI need a better caption for the displayed user icon. Anyone have ideas? (Or is the current one less dumb than I think it is?)
Nov. 24th, 2003
Theoretical ethical question:
Nov. 24th, 2003 10:36 pmMajor Jones, Special Forces, is back from serving his country and is in the midst of enjoying the holidays with family. One morning, he glances out the window and casually notices kindly old Mr. McGee pull out of the driveway across the street. Suddenly, McGee clutches his chest and slumps over at the wheel. The street being on a hill, the car obediently lets gravity take over and starts rolling forward. At the bottom of the hill, about a block away, is a busy intersection, and if McGee's car goes careening through there, Jones knows there will almost certainly be a major pile-up.
Jones' rapid-in-a-crisis military mind comes up with the following two plans:
- He can run after the car. If he acts quickly, he believes he will be able to catch it and get the door open before it reaches the intersection; the trick will then be moving an unconscious and probably dying (or dead?) McGee out of the way so he can hit the brakes... and maybe manipulate the steering wheel if he winds up having to dodge oncoming traffic. He gives this plan about an 80% chance of success; if he fails, everyone on the cross street is at risk and McGee will probably not survive the impact.
- Jones also happens to have his sidearm handy. Being a crack shot, he is 99% certain that he can not only shoot out the tires, but do it in such a way that the car goes off the road into an empty school parking lot (it's the holidays, remember). McGee and vehicle will then slam into a nice sturdy brick wall at the far side of the lot and come to a complete stop. No one in the intersection will be in danger. McGee, barring a miracle, will be dead... then again, he might be dead or beyond resuscitation already.
[Poll #210118]
Jones' rapid-in-a-crisis military mind comes up with the following two plans:
- He can run after the car. If he acts quickly, he believes he will be able to catch it and get the door open before it reaches the intersection; the trick will then be moving an unconscious and probably dying (or dead?) McGee out of the way so he can hit the brakes... and maybe manipulate the steering wheel if he winds up having to dodge oncoming traffic. He gives this plan about an 80% chance of success; if he fails, everyone on the cross street is at risk and McGee will probably not survive the impact.
- Jones also happens to have his sidearm handy. Being a crack shot, he is 99% certain that he can not only shoot out the tires, but do it in such a way that the car goes off the road into an empty school parking lot (it's the holidays, remember). McGee and vehicle will then slam into a nice sturdy brick wall at the far side of the lot and come to a complete stop. No one in the intersection will be in danger. McGee, barring a miracle, will be dead... then again, he might be dead or beyond resuscitation already.
[Poll #210118]
