NationStates Jolt Archive

Okay, not trying to bash anybody here. Imagine an old couple is trapped in a burning building. Two women are passing by, and, at great personal risk, they rush into the building and extract the couple seconds before the entire structure collapses. All barely survive.

When asked why they did what they did, the women respond respectively:

Abigail: My religion teaches self-sacrifice and love for your neighbor, so a supernatural being dictated this was the correct act. Besides, had I died, my Saved soul would have ascended to heaven and eternal bliss, as my sins have been paid for via blood sacrifice by another.

Betty: I saw the people in danger, but at first I was scared. I knew I would probably perish and have my existence end, but I just couldn't live with myself if I had stood and watched those people die. I don't know if God would have wanted me to do it or not, but it doesn't matter. I had to, because I can't watch somebody suffer when I can stop it.

Who do you sympathize with? I think both women are moral in their own way, but whose motivation do you indentify with more? Or both? Or neither?

betty.

i think one acts on instinct in a situation like that. if you thought it through, you wouldnt do it. so you act in a desperate gamble that you will be able to do the deed and survive it.

betty.

i think one acts on instinct in a situation like that. if you thought it through, you wouldnt do it. so you act in a desperate gamble that you will be able to do the deed and survive it.

You make a point. I won't even pretend that I could do it after lengthy deliberation. Then again, I can't convince myself I'd do it at all...

I've got a friend whose husband it a fire captain, with two young kids at home. I can't imagine what kind of zen-like state he must put himself in to go in every day and not be paralyzed by the image of his kids looking at his casket slowly lowered into the earth.

I couldn't relate to Abigail. I'm not sure what I WOULD do in that situation, and I hope I never have to face it, but Betty's motivation is easier for me to relate to.

I'd have to say Betty - her motives are clear and without a price.

Seems to be a consensus thus far. Thanks for the responses. :) I'm headed to bed, wherever in the world you all are, maybe your day be pleasant and your buildings unlit.

Okay, not trying to bash anybody here. Imagine an old couple is trapped in a burning building. Two women are passing by, and, at great personal risk, they rush into the building and extract the couple seconds before the entire structure collapses. All barely survive.

When asked why they did what they did, the women respond respectively:

Abigail: My religion teaches self-sacrifice and love for your neighbor, so a supernatural being dictated this was the correct act. Besides, had I died, my Saved soul would have ascended to heaven and eternal bliss, as my sins have been paid for via blood sacrifice by another.

Betty: I saw the people in danger, but at first I was scared. I knew I would probably perish and have my existence end, but I just couldn't live with myself if I had stood and watched those people die. I don't know if God would have wanted me to do it or not, but it doesn't matter. I had to, because I can't watch somebody suffer when I can stop it.

Who do you sympathize with? I think both women are moral in their own way, but whose motivation do you indentify with more? Or both? Or neither?


Neither. I do things because of that bitch "duty".

Neither. I would keep walking. If I knew the fire was started by their own foolish actions, I would stay and laugh at them.

Why wasn't there a third choice of just walking away?

My reason: Because my religion teaches me that I don't have to help anyone besides myself, unless I truly want to or I'm getting paid for my help.

Posted by the Satanic Priest, Lord Medivh

Neither. I do things because of that bitch "duty".

You seem to dislike her, unless I'm misreading. Did you choose what your duty is, or was it imposed on you? I've been told that some countries have a compulsory term of service for some civil or military functions.

Or are you talking about some kind of ethical duty? I read somewhere once that Dharma has something to do with one's duty of social station. Is this a kind of Noblesse Oblige sort of thing?

You make a point. I won't even pretend that I could do it after lengthy deliberation. Then again, I can't convince myself I'd do it at all...

I've got a friend whose husband it a fire captain, with two young kids at home. I can't imagine what kind of zen-like state he must put himself in to go in every day and not be paralyzed by the image of his kids looking at his casket slowly lowered into the earth.
Betty ... the whole reason I am on the fire department (though have moved to S&R right now but yeah)

Neither, both did it based on their own personal morality. I am not sure what I would do in that situation, but rushing into burning building is not the reasonable thing to do.

Neither, both did it based on their own personal morality. I am not sure what I would do in that situation, but rushing into burning building is not the reasonable thing to do.

well, for the purposes of exploring the idea, we can substitute any situation that conveys the idea acting to protect another while putting oneself at risk.

Also, for those others who wanted a third choice, I you can always choose both or neither like Vittos Ordination, and choosing neither opens up the idea of any alternate response. I