Would you sacrifice a life to save ten?

[trashleg]

Kantor said:

trashleg said:
people can say whatever they want when they've had time to consider the possibility of the situation, but i think if it was happening in real-time in front of you a lot of you would react differently to how you think you might.

my instant reaction to seeing this thread was "i'd definitely risk/sacrifice my own life for those 10" so even though i've had time to mull it over while i write this, i know that in the immediate situation i would go with my first thoughts.

That's partly true. However, saying "I would save them" while sitting in a comfortable chair in front of a computer on an internet forum is VERY different from actually seeing the burning building, hearing the screams, and wanting to go in.

It's like that Conundrums thread we had a while ago, with the year's reprieve from eternal torment.

i know, but picturing the scene in my head just makes me more resolute that i would want to help. if i knew there was a good chance i could save someone, and not just be one more body for the firemen to have to search for, then hell yes i'd be in there.

however, being a small young woman who lacks any substantial strength, i reckon i'd probably be prevented from entering a burning building by whoever i was with at the time. but regardless of that fact, of course i'd have to try. would you rather die saving the lives of 10 people, or be haunted the rest of your life with the knowledge that you could have but didn't?

(im atually sitting on my bed at my laptop, very uncomfortable >.<)