Brainwavez
14hr ago
I think adding a (those who are incompetent or underage will have their button pushed by their parent/guardian) parenthetical would change it even more.
Then I agree with you, but also, I’d say anyone “competent” in this situation (and not suicidal) would press red
This has resurfaced and been trending for a while
Everyone in the world has to take a private vote by pressing a red or blue button. If more than 50% of people press the blue button, everyone survives. If less than 50% of people press the blue button, only people who pressed the red button survive. Which button would you press?
Currently at 42.1% red and 57.9% blue.
What would you choose? (See also r/slatestarcodex discussion)
I was motivated to post because I have a convincing argument for blue:
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Stupid people will choose blue. You may not care about the disabled, elderly, generally moronic, etc. but this includes children and people who are "too generous": nice, but emotional, and devote their lives to charity
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Thanos snapping a decent amount of the population (including random children, and biased towards selflessness) will probably overall negatively affect society
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I probably won't die because most people choose blue, as evidenced by the poll. Even if I do, it may be preferable to living with the survivors (point #2)
I disagree that simply persuading people to choose blue is unethical. Ultimately it’s their decision, and it’s not obviously wrong.
But
A way to lose in real life is to get worked up over a silly hypothetical.
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