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.
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.
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.
Another vote for old man. He had his time.
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.
Ask for volunteers, and if no one does they all get the antidote.
Is the car on fire?
One dose for me, then it’s auction time. Sorry, but I love the tension and drama of an auction. Gavel SOLD!
Kid lives.
Draw lots for the rest.
Unless the Smoker is female
Then, Ladies first, & the Old Guy and I toss a coin.
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.
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.
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.
Duplicate
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.
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!
As soon as I saw this thread title, I guessed who the OP was.
Huh, turns out I guessed wrong.
I should have added “Stepping outside the hypothetical causes immediate death” in my OP.
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.