# One of these people have to die. Who do you choose? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 29, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569 "2014-05-29T16:37:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/21 "2014-05-29T19:15:28Z")
I die. If I choose one of them then probably one of the two remaining would whine to me about my bad decision skills and I’d have to kill them making the whole dilemma ironic. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/22 "2014-05-29T19:21:53Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > How do you give two things to three people? Survival of the fittest. So it’s looking good for the 42 year old, at least, unless he’s a fatso with emphysema. Although I suppose grandpa and cancer kid could take him if they ganged up on him. If Smokey does grab one, and the other two have to slog it out for the last one, I don’t know who my money is on. But I know I’m bringing popcorn, because it’ll be hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/23 "2014-05-29T19:25:40Z")
I’d certainly ask the kid first since cancer treatments and cancer itself is awful and I wouldn’t want to keep the kid from an early escape from that if they wanted it. My default choice is the old man, though. Hell if I was the oldest one there I’d choose myself. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/24 "2014-05-29T19:33:09Z")
Another vote for old man. He had his time. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/25 "2014-05-29T19:46:35Z")
Ask for volunteers. If nobody steps forward I’d let them fight it out - nobody gets the antidote (except me) until they make the choice. I’m thinking the 9 year old could take the old man. Then I’d hunt the evil genius down. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2014, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/26 "2014-05-29T20:01:57Z")
Ask for volunteers, and if no one does they all get the antidote. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/27 "2014-05-29T20:17:28Z")
Is the car on fire? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/28 "2014-05-29T20:22:41Z")
One dose for me, then it’s auction time. Sorry, but I love the tension and drama of an auction. _Gavel_ SOLD! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/29 "2014-05-29T21:46:18Z")
Kid lives. Draw lots for the rest. Unless the Smoker is female Then, Ladies first, & the Old Guy and I toss a coin. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/30 "2014-05-29T22:16:26Z")
What is really interesting is the reasoning behind the choices, so I’ll share mine: 89 year old man has had a long full life. And would therefore have a LOT of people he might want to say “good bye” to, or perhaps forgive, or say “f\*ck you” to. 9 year old cancer boy, conversely, hasn’t experienced much. So let him experience as much as he can with those remaining 12 months. Me - just selfish. Still have a lot of things to do/see on my list. Which leaves the 42 year old smoker, who, of the group, is the only one of the group (from the info provided) choosing to risk losing his life with a nasty habit anyway - that is, he doesn’t value his life much to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/31 "2014-05-29T22:28:13Z")
> [@partypooper](#): > > I wanna say the old man, but you might actually be doing the kid a favor by letting him die. Suffering through a year of cancer treatments until you die doesn’t seem like much of a life. Having recently been through it with an 8-yr-old godson, I can say that year of life would be of gigantic benefit to the child and parents. The chemo can suck, but there are a lot of amazing memories you can make with someone who you know you only have 12 months with. Old man, and it isn’t even a difficult decision. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/32 "2014-05-29T22:38:43Z")
I’d say “If anyone needs a smoke break, take it now, then we have something important to discuss.” While Smokey is out of the room, the kid, the old man, and I take the antidotes, after I have first sworn them to secrecy. When Smokey comes back, I tell him we’ve all been poisoned and there are no antidotes. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/33 "2014-05-29T22:40:35Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > I’d say “If anyone needs a smoke break, take it now, then we have something important to discuss.” > > While Smokey is out of the room, the kid, the old man, and I take the antidotes, after I have first sworn them to secrecy. When Smokey comes back, I tell him we’ve all been poisoned and there are no antidotes. You win. ETA: Wait, you could do the same thing with an Andy Griffith Show break, and off the old man. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/34 "2014-05-29T22:41:48Z")
Duplicate ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/35 "2014-05-29T23:11:11Z")
Old people have no value, I guess. :rolleyes: It’s highly unlikely that you need exactly the amount of cure given to live. I get a full dose (because it’s my plan, suckaaaaaaaaaaa). The kid probably needs less, hell, a full dose might even harm him as much as the poison, so he gets a half dose. The old guy and the smoker each get 3 quarters of a dose. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/36 "2014-05-29T23:23:05Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Old people have no value, I guess. :rolleyes: > > It’s highly unlikely that you need exactly the amount of cure given to live. I get a full dose (because it’s my plan, suckaaaaaaaaaaa). The kid probably needs less, hell, a full dose might even harm him as much as the poison, so he gets a half dose. The old guy and the smoker each get 3 quarters of a dose. This is probably the best real-life plan, especially as even if it doesn’t cure them, it may buy them time to get to a hospital where they can be treated further. Just as a note, though: kids are smaller, but have faster metabolisms; older people have slower metabolisms. Smokers heal more slowly, so he may be doomed even with a full dose. Give them each 2/3, then, as the healthiest person, run for a phone and call 911. I don’t think that’s a solution to the problem as presented, though. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/37 "2014-05-29T23:24:21Z")
I decline to give my medical consent to using the antidote on me, problem solved. The OP is a murderer and my life insurance pays off, double indemnity! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/38 "2014-05-29T23:25:39Z")
As soon as I saw this thread title, I guessed who the OP was. Huh, turns out I guessed wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/39 "2014-05-29T23:26:19Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > This is probably the best real-life plan, especially as even if it doesn’t cure them, it may buy them time to get to a hospital where they can be treated further. > > Just as a note, though: kids are smaller, but have faster metabolisms; older people have slower metabolisms. Smokers heal more slowly, so he may be doomed even with a full dose. Give them each 2/3, then, as the healthiest person, run for a phone and call 911. > > I don’t think that’s a solution to the problem as presented, though. I should have added “Stepping outside the hypothetical causes immediate death” in my OP. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569/40 "2014-05-29T23:33:12Z")
I’d probably talk about it with them and see if we could come to an agreement. If the old man volunteers, it’s all good. If not, it’s probably bad for me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-people-have-to-die-who-do-you-choose/689569.md?page=3)