# Taking one for the team **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 6, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-one-for-the-team/618039 "2012-04-06T23:31:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-one-for-the-team/618039/1 "2012-04-06T23:31:17Z")
Space aliens turn up one day on your doorstep with nefarious purpose. They want to test you. They will use their technology to erase an influential human from history (they will be stillborn at birth). They’ll let you choose. Or, they will let you sacrifice yourself to preserve the lives of these men. They swear on the rings of Saturn to abide by your decision, then leave. Do you erase someone else, or take one for the team? ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-one-for-the-team/618039/2 "2012-04-07T00:02:30Z")
Most likely I wouldn’t believe them and would slam the door in their faces. If they were able to convince me, though, I’d ask for my paternal grandfather and maternal great-grandfather to be erased. I’d be very happy if this whole wretched branch of my family tree ceased to exist. And then I’d quickly fade away, since nature abhors a paradox. Sounds like a good day. If this is fighting the hypothetical too much, then yes erase me please. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-one-for-the-team/618039/3 "2012-04-07T00:06:32Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Most likely I wouldn’t believe them and would slam the door in their faces. If they were able to convince me, though, I’d ask for my paternal grandfather and maternal great-grandfather to be erased. I’d be very happy if this whole wretched branch of my family tree ceased to exist. And then I’d quickly fade away, since nature abhors a paradox. > > Sounds like a good day. Swearing on the rings of Saturn is a solemn oath for them, that they would never break. Unless your grandfather & great-grandfather were one of the 5 influential men (which would be pretty damn cool) the aliens allow you to choose then you’re outta luck there. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-one-for-the-team/618039/4 "2012-04-07T00:10:21Z")
I’d point out that it’s a trick question, since if they erase any of those people from history, then the present will be changed and I’ll be erased _anyway_. Hopefully they’ll congratulate me on my insight and reward me with a space cookie rather than zapping me for backtalk. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-one-for-the-team/618039/5 "2012-04-07T00:13:38Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I’d point out that it’s a trick question, since if they erase any of those people from history, then the present will be changed and I’ll be erased _anyway_. Hopefully they’ll congratulate me on my insight and reward me with a space cookie rather than zapping me for backtalk. You are taken to an alien zoo where you are mistaken for a second coming of an alien messiah figure, resulting in a resurgence of theism. Hands up who has mastered intergalactic flight? They won’t allow any harm to come to their favourite puny human, unless you will it. History will change, but you’ll be kept as you are now. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-one-for-the-team/618039/6 "2012-04-07T04:23:32Z")
> [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > You are taken to an alien zoo where you are mistaken for a second coming of an alien messiah figure, resulting in a resurgence of theism. So… **Der Trihs** is in for death, or a fate worse than death? How awkward. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-one-for-the-team/618039/7 "2012-04-07T04:27:15Z")
Bye bye, Darwin. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-one-for-the-team/618039/8 "2012-04-07T05:16:27Z")
> [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > You are taken to an alien zoo where you are mistaken for a second coming of an alien messiah figure, resulting in a resurgence of theism. Which would be a worse fate if I actually liked the aliens in question…as it is, that’s me having the last laugh, in a Twilight Zone sort of way. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-one-for-the-team/618039/9 "2012-04-07T05:39:08Z")
So, how long do I have before the erasing takes place? If I can like my full life before being erased, we won’t have to bother any of those other fine gentlemen… ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-one-for-the-team/618039/10 "2012-04-07T05:43:24Z")
Either Darwin or Newton’s gotta go. Flip a coin. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-one-for-the-team/618039/11 "2012-04-07T14:22:12Z")
Darwin, because we know Wallace was getting there at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-one-for-the-team/618039/12 "2012-04-07T14:27:46Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > So, how long do I have before the erasing takes place? If I can like my full life before being erased, we won’t have to bother any of those other fine gentlemen… The immediate future. If you dither about, well, aliens aren’t famous for their patience and will erase all six of you, dooming humanity to a new dark age! ---
**Author:** ![Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nefarious_chipmunk/32/1045_2.png) [@Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefarious_Chipmunk)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-one-for-the-team/618039/13 "2012-04-07T14:35:24Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Darwin, because we know Wallace was getting there at the same time. You know I initially said erase me, but by the time I had scrolled about three posts down, this had occurred to me. Do aliens take take-backs-sees?