Next poll: have you ever had to dig your own grave.
Aren’t there some people that believe one’s soul won’t rest without burial? I’d think they’d prefer to do the diggin’…
Agreed with “dig” just for the sake of having a weapon in my hands. I’d rather go out swinging.
Of course, I’m so out of shape that I would probably have a stroke before I finish digging.
Other than that, refusing to dig will ensure that your last moments will probably include either a worst-case scenario ass-kicking or a bullet somewhere you don’t want it.
I’ve had my ass kicked before. I didn’t like it much. I’d rather take the bullet or take out my attackers, but not exactly in that order.
I’m shocked and dismayed no one has posted it yet.
*You see, in this world there’s two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig. *–Blondie
This exact situation came up in a novel I just read.
During the Spanish Civil War, three guys were marched out to the countryside to be executed and one refused to dig. So the killers got some banderillas and baited the guy to death.
I think it goes without saying that if you refuse to dig, your demise is going to be painful, if they don’t just shoot your kneecaps out and bury you alive. I’d rather dig than go out like that.
This. The more likely scenario is ‘dig and you get a clean shot to the back of the head, refuse and you get one in each knee and the stones, writhe around while we dig, and then we throw you in the pit still alive.’
I’d likely dig and try to watch for an opening.
If I were convinced that I was going to be killed anyway, I’d take a shot at him with the shovel.
I’d get a bullet to the head, but he’d get a spade to the nutsack.
mmm
I may also submit a polite-but-firm request for a backhoe.
I always sort of assumed I would be the guy with the gun.
I once worked for a company that merged with another, and I was allowed two weeks of continued employment as I trained my replacedment (the son of one of the new owners). Now that I read this thread, I do wish I’d hit him with a shovel.
“msmith537 was the kind of guy that rooted for bad guys in the movies.”
Stranger
Perhaps if they gave me the option between a shot in the head and one in the gut (or the arse, which is worse apparently) I might go quietly. But then how do I know that the easy option would be the one they choose after I’ve dug.
Fight I guess, more chance of success than knuckling under. Either that or yell “Treasure!” when I’m a few spadefuls in, that might distract them a little.
Yep, that’ was my first thought.
I’d start digging and then, after a while, pretend that I’d struck something hard. It’s treasure! We’re rich! And then when he comes over to look, I’d explain that the Earth is truly our greatest treasure.
He’d either shoot me in the head quickly or let me go.
Okay, he’d probably just shoot me in the head.
Actually if that scene played out exactly as you mentioned… in real life he would get in a shitload of trouble for a bad shoot. Once the bad guy put the gun down and Reid recovered it… the bad guy was no longer a eminent threat…
Its like a question I ask my rookies… if someone confronted you with a knife and threw it at you… what would you do… they usually all say they would shoot. I point out that once the knife is thrown the bad guy no longer is a threat you can use deadly force on…
If ever a thread cried out for a “need answer fast” in the op … 
I’d dig. and the whole time I was digging I’d be talking. If it seemed like talking wouldn’t get me anywhere then eventually I’d throw some dirt and run. That ought to get me enough of a head start to have an even chance of avoidign a bullet. No telling how far I could run htough - I’m really out of shape.
Bottom line, time is precious and more so as you move on. An hour of digging for one more hour of time? You got it!
I’d agree to dig. Then, I’d tell the guy that if he promises not to kill me, I’ll even stick around and help him shovel the dirt over my corpse.
I couldn’t help thinking of this punchline:
Of course I would agree to dig my own grave, to buy time to figure a way out. It’s exactly the same as the parable of the man who promised to teach a horse to sing.