# Red or Blue: a variant **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 30, 2026, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658 "2026-04-30T03:34:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/21 "2026-04-30T17:55:58Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > What would you choose in this scenario? That’s not very compelling hypothetical. Do you die instantly or die of disease surrounded by the rotting corpses of the entire human race (or, in the case where the bodies are magically disposed of by the button masters, die of the first untreatable malady you get as a last lonely human being on the planet) ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/22 "2026-04-30T18:02:50Z")
I don’t know how or why I got elected to press the button for them, but I’m always voting for nobody dies. There’s zero chance of ever getting 100% red, so a vote for red is a vote to kill. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/23 "2026-04-30T18:08:55Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > There’s zero chance of ever getting 100% red, so a vote for red is a vote to kill. But that’s not true in this variant. In the extreme case when around 1/2 the world population is in each group, all it would take is two people choosing red (just as it would take 2 people choosing blue). In the 1 billion people-per-group variant it would take just 6 other people deciding not to put a billion people (including themselves) at risk of death, for no one to die. > [@snfaulkner](#): > > but I’m always voting for nobody dies. But you can’t! If you choose blue you are choosing death for everyone in your group. That could be a billion people or 3.5 billion people. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/24 "2026-04-30T18:41:35Z")
It says right there on the button “nobody dies”. I’m pressing that. Any other choice is a vote for killing. I’m not ever voting to kill anyone. If my team gets killed, so be it, but I’m not the one who voted to kill. That’s on red team. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/25 "2026-04-30T18:47:35Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > “nobody dies” Where does it say that? It’s my hypothetical and it doesn’t say that 😉 That’s the choice: - All the groups who pressed blue are dying if you press red and a majority of people also press red. But no one in your group is dying: that’s guaranteed. No matter what else happens the ten, million or billion people in your group survive if you press red - All of your group dying (along with all the other groups who pressed blue) if a majority press red. It might be just your group or almost half the planet, your group’s lives are at risk of you press blue. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/26 "2026-04-30T18:48:19Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > It says right there on the button “nobody dies”. I’m pressing that. No, it doesn’t. It says right there on the button “nobody dies _if this option wins_, you die if it loses”. The red button says right there on the button “you don’t die”. Everyone can push the red button and then everyone does not die. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/27 "2026-04-30T18:53:08Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > One could argue that the only button that kills people is the blue button. If you push the blue button, you might die; if you push the red button, you won’t. This isn’t entirely accurate. If you press the blue button, you aren’t protected from other people killing you and other blue button pushers but that’s not the same thing at all as pressing a button that kills people. > [@Babale](#): > > Everyone can push the red button and then everyone does not die. Same as if everyone pushes blue. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/28 "2026-04-30T18:57:47Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > This isn’t entirely accurate. If you press the blue button, you aren’t protected from other people killing you and other blue button pushers but that’s not the same thing at all as pressing a button that kills people. Pushing the blue button is directly causally connected to potentially dying, so it does seem like a suicide button to me. > [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Same as if everyone pushes blue. Sure! But if I gamble that everyone will push red, and I push red, then I survive. If I gamble that everyone will push blue, and most people don’t, I die. There is only one button I can push that puts my life at risk. It’s the blue suicide button. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/29 "2026-04-30T19:02:33Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > No, it doesn’t. It says right there on the button “nobody dies _if this option wins_, you die if it loses”. Exactly. I’m voting for nobody dying. I want “nobody dies” to win. The only way anyone dies is if people vote for it. I’m not gonna vote to secure my own life knowing I killed anyone else to do so. I’ve got enough demons already. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/30 "2026-04-30T19:02:43Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > It’s the blue suicide button. Not the mass murder red button? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/31 "2026-04-30T19:04:13Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Not the mass murder red button? It’s not a mass murder button because I’m not forcing anyone to choose the blue button by choosing the red button. It’s the red “don’t commit suicide” button vs the blue “maybe commit suicide” button. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/32 "2026-04-30T19:07:18Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Pushing the blue button is directly causally connected to potentially dying, so it does seem like a suicide button to me. Every engagement mission in war is _potentially_ deadly, that doesn’t mean every mission is a suicide mission. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/33 "2026-04-30T19:09:23Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Every engagement mission in war is _potentially_ deadly, that doesn’t mean every mission is a suicide mission Engagement in a war serves some purpose. Even bungee jumping or skydiving serves some purpose, if only entertainment. The only purpose of pressing the blue button is to risk death. Everyone can avoid that risk by just pressing red. The _only_ thing that can kill you is _you_ pressing the blue button. Pressing the red button doesn’t kill blue button pushers, it just doesn’t take part in their self destructive behavior. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/34 "2026-04-30T19:11:26Z")
Ok, so it’s the possible suicide button vs possible mass murderer button…and I’d still much rather possibly die than possibly mass murder. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/35 "2026-04-30T19:11:51Z")
Yup, as would I. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/36 "2026-04-30T19:12:39Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Ok, so it’s the possible suicide button vs possible mass murderer button…and I’d still much rather possibly die than possibly mass murder. How is it a _murder_ button? The only person who can put you at risk of death is _you_. That’s what makes this suicide, not murder. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/37 "2026-04-30T19:14:05Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > The only purpose of pressing the blue button is to risk death. Sorry, as several posts in this thread have demonstrated, this just is not true. Maybe you are framing it as so to justify your fear of dying, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/38 "2026-04-30T19:25:22Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > How is it a _murder_ button? The only person who can put you at risk of death is _you_. That’s what makes this suicide, not murder. Because if you chose blue, nobody dies. Nobody. As in everyone is still alive. Voting against “nobody dies” is a vote FOR killing. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/39 "2026-04-30T19:33:01Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > if you chose blue, nobody dies Again no you don’t. You are deciding to kill you fellow group members. You have no control over what buttons other groups press. So you are pressing blue you are choosing death for your group. If you press red you are guaranteeing they will survive. > [@snfaulkner](#): > > Nobody Nobody aka HALF THE POPULATION OF THE PLANET. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658/40 "2026-04-30T19:33:25Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Because if you chose blue, nobody dies. Nobody. As in everyone is still alive. Voting against “nobody dies” is a vote FOR killing But I don’t _have the power_ to **CHOOSE** blue or red. I only have my own vote. If I was rigging the election, then sure, making red win would be murder. But I’m not rigging the election; I only have one vote. And from the perspective of a person with only one vote, I have two options. Live, or possibly die. I think that in that scenario _everyone_ should choose to live. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-or-blue-a-variant/1029658.md?page=3)