# Choose which of these mass-murder victims to save. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 15, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563 "2014-09-15T15:24:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/21 "2014-09-15T19:27:21Z")
What are the rules for what the revived people remember? The linked thread simply states that “they do not remember dying or being dead”… but do they remember the shooting? More importantly, would Hugh remember leaving his kid behind? That’s the sort of thing that might make him question his own goodness, even if his kid lives. Or it might make no effect, and he just goes back to saving lives as usual. I’m stuck between Hugh and Heather, for the reasons others have posited. We don’t know how Heather will react to us choosing her instead of her daughter. I admit I kind of want to fight the hypothetical as well for the idea that ONLY Hugh could’ve saved those hundreds of people. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/22 "2014-09-15T19:41:54Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’m uncertain what you mean here. Are the others you refer to Heather’s three older children, or the other three prospects for resurrection? I thought it was pretty clear that the three getting short shrift are the three that stay dead. Anyway, I see **Elendil’s Heir** ’s point about not fighting the hypothetical, but I felt Skald’s description of Hugh ability to save lives to be usual Skaldian poetry, not a peek through the techno-crystal ball. Even if he were the hypothetical equivalent of Dr. House, I seriously doubt he saves that many lives over his peers. Regardless, the other patients will have other doctors. While Heather may be devasted by the loss of her daughter, she now as the time and resources (since her income presumably doesn’t change, she now doesn’t have the money drain that Holly was) to raise her other three kids, who don’t deserve to be destroyed by this tragedy anymore than anyone else. I think Heather will have a rough time of it and pull herself together to be a good mom ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/23 "2014-09-15T19:49:41Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > I thought it was pretty clear that the three getting short shrift are the three that stay dead. > > Anyway, I see **Elendil’s Heir** ’s point about not fighting the hypothetical, but I felt Skald’s description of Hugh ability to save lives to be usual Skaldian poetry, It was, to the loose extent that I’m a poet. Think of Hugh as being a non-crippled, heterosexual version of Greg House. The above sentence exists primarily to piss off women in love with Hugh Laurie. ---
**Author:** ![Sanity\_Challenged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Sanity\_Challenged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sanity_Challenged)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/24 "2014-09-15T19:49:51Z")
Looks like I’m the only one who picked Harry, and from reading the responses, that’s probably because I’m looking at it from the completely opposite direction from everyone else. I didn’t choose a person to resurrect based on what the zombie could/would/did do for us, but for what resurrection would mean for the zombie: Holly - congratulations! Now you have the opportunity to experience the later stages of your uncurable disease, only this time without your mother. Heather - bring her back just to experience the early death of her daughter, and the fun of financial ruin. Hugh - bringing him back only sets up him for his big fall from grace, from the big hero who saved dozens of lives to the coward who abandoned his own family in danger. He’ll probably be blowing his own brains out within the year. Harry - didn’t lose anyone he loves in the attack. Didn’t shame himself. At worst, he’ll come back to a dull, useless existence. But he’ll also have the opportunity to be treated like a hero, and maybe get his act together. He’s really the only one for whom resurrection will likely be a positive experience. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/25 "2014-09-15T19:57:07Z")
I’m a utilitarian at heart. Hugh will, as far as we know, do more good for more people if he is brought back to life. He still gets my vote. ---
**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/26 "2014-09-15T20:02:17Z")
I’m with **yellowjacketcoder** : Resurrect Heather. Her children need her; heck, they’ve already lost their dad. Yeah, she might wish that her daughter was saved but Holly is going to die anyway and I don’t want to send her other children into foster care. Hugh, in spite of his medical wizardry, loses because he abandoned his own son. Morally bankrupt bastard! I’m glad Harry rose to the occasion here but I’m preditcing that, if he was resurrected, he’d become a minor celebrity and make some money on the talk-show circuit, but soon his 15 minutes of fame would end. Ultimately, he’d spend even more time drunk and/or stoned, offering further proof that he was a waste of etcoplasm. Can I get an extra side of marinara with my calzone. please? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/27 "2014-09-15T20:08:06Z")
> [@jayrey](#): > > I’m with **yellowjacketcoder** : Resurrect Heather. Her children need her; heck, they’ve already lost their dad. Yeah, she might wish that her daughter was saved but Holly is going to die anyway and I don’t want to send her other children into foster care. > > Hugh, in spite of his medical wizardry, loses because he abandoned his own son. Morally bankrupt bastard! > > I’m glad Harry rose to the occasion here but I’m preditcing that, if he was resurrected, he’d become a minor celebrity and make some money on the talk-show circuit, but soon his 15 minutes of fame would end. Ultimately, he’d spend even more time drunk and/or stoned, offering further proof that he was a waste of etcoplasm. > > Can I get an extra side of marinara with my calzone. please? It’s already in your teleport pad buffer, along with all the other possible sides and thirteen hypotheticals worth of booze, lemonade, chocolate milk, and booze. If you don’t clear the buffer soon the whole system will go all crypto-schizoid and will have to be blanked and reprogrammed. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/28 "2014-09-15T21:33:19Z")
I chose Heather, but it was a toss-up between her and Hugh. In the end, unless Hugh is really, unimaginably, unbelievably talented, I doubt the lives he saves are lost in anyone elses hands, and the three kids don’t deserve to be orphans. The point upthread about him potentially committing suicide for abandoning his son is also interesting (although Heather could also kill herself, judging from her personality I hope she’s stay alive, if only for her remaining kids). And Heather wouldn’t be bankrupt if she keeps her job - the money spent on Holly is now freed up. Silver linings, people! ---
**Author:** ![jayrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/29 "2014-09-15T23:47:03Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > It’s already in your teleport pad buffer, along with all the other possible sides and thirteen hypotheticals worth of booze, lemonade, chocolate milk, and booze. If you don’t clear the buffer soon the whole system will go all crypto-schizoid and will have to be blanked and reprogrammed. :mad: Sorry, I’ve been out of town earning a living! Sheesh, keep your jetpack on. Okay, buffer cleared. That chocolate milk was perfect for this thirsty afternoon. Really hit the spot! ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2014, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/30 "2014-09-15T23:54:47Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > I chose Heather, but it was a toss-up between her and Hugh. In the end, unless Hugh is really, unimaginably, unbelievably talented, I doubt the lives he saves are lost in anyone elses hands, and the three kids don’t deserve to be orphans. I understand this choice, but I have to go with Hugh. Three kids being orphans is tragic, but I think Hugh does more good for society as a whole. Good doctors are a treasure. Bad doctors are a dime a dozen. You would not believe the number of morons who made it through medical school. > [@](#): > > He has personally saved hundreds of lives no other doctor could have saved, and if restored to life would presumably continue to do so ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/31 "2014-09-16T03:15:00Z")
Heather. I’d have to let Hugh stay dead for abandoning his son. Had he failed to put himself in danger for a complete adult stranger: I could forgive that. If he abandoned a child that was thrust into his care at that moment… I don’t know. Maybe his potential good could make up for that. I’m honestly not sure. I could never look at him with any semblance of respect. But his own son? There’s no excuse, or redemption, from that. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/32 "2014-09-16T04:05:56Z")
Harry. I’m all for rewarding merit, and besides he presumably has more time to live, being younger than the two other adults, and not having a terminal disease like the little girl. Although I noticed after voting that Hugh saved hundreds of people _that no other doctor could have saved_ (I didn’t pay attention, and thought he just saved hundreds of people like any doctor). So, maybe I should have saved him instead. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/33 "2014-09-16T04:21:39Z")
Heather - her kids deserve better than being orphaned. I like to think the public frenzy will result in good things and even financial support for the family. Hugh - dickwad. Deserted his own son. Go stand before Hades and get judged. Not quite sure how saving strangers balances against nearly getting your son killed. He’s not worthy of reincarnation though. So there. Pbbbbt. Can I have chocolate milk too? Long day. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/34 "2014-09-16T11:00:19Z")
“That’s an exaggeration, but the Lazarus Engine is still murder and should never be used.” At least, that’s the answer to the facts as set out in the OP. BUT Should the PPA somehow have a change of heart and willingly _volunteer_ to go into the machine, I’d vote for Heather, just so you know. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/35 "2014-09-16T17:23:00Z")
> [@ddsun](#): > > Heather - her kids deserve better than being orphaned. I like to think the public frenzy will result in good things and even financial support for the family. > > Hugh - dickwad. Deserted his own son. Go stand before Hades and get judged. Not quite sure how saving strangers balances against nearly getting your son killed. He’s not worthy of reincarnation though. Hades is not the judge of the dead. You’re thinking Minos and Aikos and that other guy whose name I’m not even going to try to spell. Rhadamanthys. > [@](#): > > Can I have chocolate milk too? Long day. Sure. Turn your teleport pad back on, Go to “Input queue,” “Poll rewards,” “Sides,” “Beverages,” and finally “Non-alcoholic.” > [@MrDibble](#): > > “That’s an exaggeration, but the Lazarus Engine is still murder and should never be used.” > > At least, that’s the answer to the facts as set out in the OP. > > BUT > > Should the PPA somehow have a change of heart and willingly _volunteer_ to go into the machine, I’d vote for Heather, just so you know. Since Suzy’s Lazarus Engine has a hard 24-hour limit (and she refuses for good reason to build either of the other two kind), that won’t work. Also, murdering assholes don’t have changes of heart. And, anyway, he committed this crime in Texas. He’s gonna get executed anyway – just too late to do anyone any good. Also, who cares whether he’s willing? The people he killed weren’t willing to die. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/36 "2014-09-16T17:34:21Z")
I say we publicly hang the killer and leave the dead in their graves. Re-animated corpses going about believing themselves to actually be the dead come back are A Bad Thing. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/37 "2014-09-17T14:39:46Z")
As a mother who recently freaked out and hid behind her nine year old when a wasp was flying too close, I pick Hugh. His son survived so he has plenty of time to make it up to him AND save more lives than any of the others might. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/38 "2014-09-17T20:15:17Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Since Suzy’s Lazarus Engine has a hard 24-hour limit (and she refuses for good reason to build either of the other two kind), that won’t work. Also, murdering assholes don’t have changes of heart. Then no-one gets resurrected > [@](#): > > And, anyway, he committed this crime in Texas. He’s gonna get executed anyway – just too late to do anyone any good. That’s on the State, not me. > [@](#): > > Also, who cares whether he’s willing? Obviously, _I_ care. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/39 "2014-09-17T22:03:32Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Hades is not the judge of the dead. You’re thinking Minos and Aikos and that other guy whose name I’m not even going to try to spell. Rhadamanthys. Ya know, that’s what I get for reading my kids YA novels. Grrrrrrr. Ignorance fought. Thank you for the chocolate milk. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563/40 "2014-09-17T22:24:36Z")
I’m a pragmatist. The four are all dead and a far as I’m concerned, their backstory is irrelevant. Does the device even resurrect the same person or is it just a good copy? We can’t know. So I say the device is exactly equivalent to one that can just conjure a person out of thin air, and has four templates to work with: a girl that will suffer for two years and die, a stand-in caretaker for three orphans, a talented asshole doctor, and a deadbeat that only rarely does the right thing. Hugh by a mile. I’d punch the button as rapidly as I could if I thought I’d get more copies out of it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choose-which-of-these-mass-murder-victims-to-save/698563.md?page=3)