# How many innocents would you kill to save the life of the person you love most? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 5, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165 "2012-06-05T15:57:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/21 "2012-06-05T17:43:04Z")
This hypothetical was better when it was plumbers and janitors on the Death Star. ---
**Author:** ![happycamper\_5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cab0a1/32.png) [@happycamper\_5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happycamper_5)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/22 "2012-06-05T17:49:44Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > The mooks are heros. They have been deceived. Their intent is not to harm your beloved, but to save your beloved’s life from the person intending to murder him or her, i.e., you. They do not deserve to die. I didn’t say they deserved to die. In your scenario, what they deserve is to be told the truth of how they’ve been deceived. I can’t give them that truth. The only thing I can give them is a clean and quick death (or as clean and quick as is within my power to give), so that’s what they get. Yes, I will be killing innocents, but I’m also an innocent, as is my loved one. The guilt in your scenario lies with the madman and no one else. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/23 "2012-06-05T17:55:38Z")
Figuring that a dozen good-hearted fighters would have a better chance of rescuing her than I, I would write a note explaining what was really happening and call upon their better nature to _really_ rescue her, then I would pin the note to my own chest…and kill myself to prove that it wasn’t a trick. edited to add: This saves the greatest number of innocents, in my humble opinion. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/24 "2012-06-05T18:01:34Z")
Sure, I’d kill them all and when I got to the cell, I’d shoot my beloved in the face. Then evil villain will know that I am not to be trifled with. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/25 "2012-06-05T18:10:55Z")
You sure do know how to make an entrance. I’m so glad you’re back! > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > The mooks are heros. They have been deceived. Their intent is not to harm your beloved, but to save your beloved’s life from the person intending to murder him or her, i.e., you. They do not deserve to die. When I read the thread title I assumed the innocents would be more along the lines of **Scumpup** orphanage full of infants. Presumably at Mook training or recruitment or however one assembles Mooks, they were told of the possibility of their own death. They knew the risk when they signed up. What exactly did they do to be declared heroes? I’m takin’ 'em out. Of course I’m pretty sure to acheive that level of badassery I would have had to avoid personal entanglements. How come all your badasses are white guys? MacGyver’s first name is Angus? That’s hot! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/26 "2012-06-05T18:15:55Z")
I’m just in a bad mood today, so they all die. Even ones who aren’t in the way. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/27 "2012-06-05T18:27:30Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > But would your beloved be willing for you to kill 10 innocent on her or his behalf? He likes to mow things down a LOT more than I do, but when it comes to soldiering, then yep. Occupational risk, etc. If it were babies, he’d WANT me to, but he wouldn’t expect me to; he’d die ‘honorably’ to save the babies, so it would be a good death for him. And then I’d take all the babies home and raise them to be fighting Mooks with BRAINS that don’t listen to evil overlords. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/28 "2012-06-05T18:27:49Z")
Skaaaaaaaallllllld! Missed you man. You know my answer. Won’t wipe anyone unnecessarily, but in the end, they are warriors, Celtling is the only true innocent here. I’ll take 'em all out if needed. Seriously though, I don’t need language to say “That’s my baby in there.” A simple rocking of my arms and the look on my face will do it. They’ll be coming along as my honor guard, and then we’ll all go after Laughing Boy together. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/29 "2012-06-05T18:35:20Z")
> [@gwendee](#): > > MacGyver’s first name is Angus? That’s hot! Revealed in the seventh season two-parter, “Good Knight MacGyver”. ---
**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:** [June 5, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/30 "2012-06-05T18:39:06Z")
> [@gwendee](#): > > You sure do know how to make an entrance. I’m so glad you’re back! > > When I read the thread title I assumed the innocents would be more along the lines of **Scumpup** orphanage full of infants. You’ll have to have somebody else write that one. > [@](#): > > Presumably at Mook training or recruitment or however one assembles Mooks, they were told of the possibility of their own death. They knew the risk when they signed up. What exactly did they do to be declared heroes? I’m takin’ 'em out. I shouldn’t have called them mooks; unfortunate connotations there. I blame **silenus**. Anyway, these guys are all heroes, because that’s where the madman is getting his yuks. If they were mercenaries or storm troopers or whatnot there’d be no conflict. They agreed to protect your beloved because they’re good guys. Probably not even charging. (You think Boromir would charge for this? Natty Bumpo? Dick Grayson?) Yes, they’ve been deceived, but that doesn’t mean that they didn’t try to do due diligence; just that the villain is a better liar than they are investigators. > [@](#): > > Of course I’m pretty sure to acheive that level of badassery I would have had to avoid personal entanglements. The notion that the badasses must avoid personal entanglements is a sick lie put about by the Watcher’s Council. Note that the badasses named in the OP all had plenty. Badasses without personal entanglements are not to be trusted. > [@](#): > > How come all your badasses are white guys? I was going to mention Hawk from Robert B. Parker’s _Spenser_ novels, but I don’t know how to spell his name or what the name of the author is. > [@](#): > > MacGyver’s first name is Angus? That’s hot! I’m going to pretend I didn’t read that, Paris. > [@TruCelt](#): > > Skaaaaaaaallllllld! Missed you man. Gracie. > [@](#): > > You know my answer. Won’t wipe anyone unnecessarily, but in the end, they are warriors, I think that bit about unnecessarily is irresponsible. You’ve only got a 15 minute cushion, remember? You got about a minute and a half to deal with each defender. No time for dicking around. Either go for the kill in every encounter, or skip ahead to the roaring rampage of revenge. ---
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/31 "2012-06-05T18:46:28Z")
Welcome back **Skald**! First I agree, deserves got nothing to do with it. They die. You left out, “I make a deal with the writer to be “Batman Prepared”, thus I save my loved one and the Mooks only get bruised and tied up. Then I go after the SOB that dared lay hands on my loved one.” ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/32 "2012-06-05T18:58:29Z")
You’re all monsters. It’s all well and good to say you’d kill the mooks in the heat of battle. I hope the evil mastermind then makes you give the bad news to each and every mooks’ children and spouses. I’d walk in unarmed and do the best I could, but I’m not taking out any mooks, because for all I know I could _be_ a mook someday. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/33 "2012-06-05T19:16:14Z")
We _all_ could be mooks one day. Such are the vagaries of Life. Besides, they’ll still have a place in Valhalla. Dying in a Lost Cause trying to do what you think is Right is a time-honored tradition. Rather than be thought of as simpletons who didn’t vet their employer, the troubadors will probably make them out to be the reincarnations of Roland. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/34 "2012-06-05T19:21:25Z")
“Sorry little Johnny, I had to slaughter your father because of the vagaries of life. But rest assured, he’s honoring tradition.” Nope, not gonna work for me. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/35 "2012-06-05T19:33:48Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > “Sorry little Johnny, I had to slaughter your father because of the vagaries of life. But rest assured, he’s honoring tradition.” > > Nope, not gonna work for me. So how are you explaining to your loved one’s family that you let them die??? ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/36 "2012-06-05T19:36:58Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > So how are you explaining to your loved one’s family that you let them die??? Well, to be fair, one could lie about it and just say one was overpowered and COULDNT save them. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/37 "2012-06-05T19:38:29Z")
You won’t kill people but you’d let your loved one die and then LIE ABOUT IT??? Infidel! ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/38 "2012-06-05T19:41:14Z")
All of them. My other half would wholeheartedly approve. Just FTR, there’s not a single other person in the world I would do this for! And welcome back! ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/39 "2012-06-05T19:42:40Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > So how are you explaining to your loved one’s family that you let them die??? I’d rather break the news to one family instead of dozens. ---
**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:** [June 5, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165/40 "2012-06-05T20:10:14Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > You’re all monsters. > > It’s all well and good to say you’d kill the mooks in the heat of battle. I hope the evil mastermind then makes you give the bad news to each and every mooks’ children and spouses. > > I’d walk in unarmed and do the best I could, but I’m not taking out any mooks, because for all I know I could _be_ a mook someday. Continuing the Rhymer policy of arguing both sides… The mooks signed on to keep your loved one alive, knowing they might get killed doing it. They’re the sort of lads & lasses who would not be able to countenance doing nothing while an inarguable innocent was decapitated, shot, strangled, incinerated, dismembered, and fed to the rats. They’re willing to sacrifice their lives. Why, exactly, should you make their nobility pointless by not killing them, AND let your wife/husband/platonic soulmate die?\* \*I’ve just decided that the captive is not a child. Anyone who says different can bite me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-innocents-would-you-kill-to-save-the-life-of-the-person-you-love-most/624165.md?page=3)