# What percentage of people would choose to exterminate humanity? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 3, 2019, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624 "2019-09-03T13:57:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/21 "2019-09-04T03:55:55Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Now this I disagree with. Depression is marked by poor judgement: that kind of “I will do this so that some other thing will happen” thinking is markedly weaker in depressed people. That’s why, among other things, suicidal people are often making mistakes like trying to commit suicide by some wholly ineffective means, or having stupid fatal accidents. > > Further more, when suicidal people take out other people, it’s often clearly with the intention of helping the other people. Because being dead is better than being alive. > > I’m sure a good number of murderous people would probably push the button too. Especially if they think that by doing so they can avoid the consequences of their action. > > But if suicidal people can get their act together enough to push the button, they’re more likely to be motivated by the desire to help the rest of us. Suicidal people have all kinds of motives. Some, sure -maybe most - aren’t malicious. But some others definitely are. Look at Elliot Rodger’s manifesto, for instance. He talked about hating others for having good things he didn’t (“if I can’t have it then nobody else can have it”), about how he would carry out revenge that “would shake the very foundations of the world.” He’d probably slap that red button in a heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/22 "2019-09-04T05:32:46Z")
Eh, depends on my mood. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/23 "2019-09-04T15:45:42Z")
Knowingly and on purpose? Probably not many. About the same amount that would shoot up a public place and then commit suicide probably. Enough that it would definitely happen in probably less than a day. ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/24 "2019-09-04T18:33:03Z")
Why does the person have to be suicidal? If the removal of humanity did not harm anything else on the planet, I’d be very tempted to push the button. We’ve done more than our share of damage to the planet and it would be better off without us. I might consider sacrificing every human on Earth for the better of every other living thing. For the record, I am quite happy and not the least bit suicidal. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/25 "2019-09-04T19:12:19Z")
I don’t think I can ascertain a % of the population that would throw the switch, but assuming that every town square globally has one of these switches, the time after it’s announced that the switches exist till someone actually flips it, is approximately 2-3 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/26 "2019-09-04T19:13:52Z")
> [@RedSwinglineOne](#): > > We’ve done more than our share of damage to the planet and it would be better off without us. I might consider sacrificing every human on Earth for the better of every other living thing. This planet will continue on well after we’re all extinct. We haven’t really damaged the planet, we’ve just made it less inhabitable for ourselves. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/27 "2019-09-04T19:17:59Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > This planet will continue on well after we’re all extinct. We haven’t really damaged the planet, we’ve just made it less inhabitable for ourselves. and the Whales. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/28 "2019-09-04T19:23:50Z")
The method of extinction matters. “Kill just the humans” likely has more takers than “slag the planet.” ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/29 "2019-09-04T19:25:01Z")
Some people believe they will go to Heaven if they die, and many of those believe that all their co-religionists will too, and that all the others (who follow false gods, or no god at all) won’t. In that world view, throwing the switch actually gives one’s group infinite privileges and punishes everybody else. ---
**Author:** ![Calavera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calavera/32/70_2.png) [@Calavera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calavera)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/30 "2019-09-04T19:31:48Z")
Certainly enough that even if there’s only 1 switch in the world, regardless of its location, if it’s in an urban area with good transport links I would put the over/under on it being pressed at about 20 minutes. In a population dense area like Times Square in New York it wouldn’t last 5 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/31 "2019-09-04T20:04:29Z")
If it was only Humanity, I imagine quite a few Eco-nuts would pull it. Otherwise, you’d have to be a sociopath and suicidal. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/32 "2019-09-04T20:08:25Z")
With one project I worked on, there was a big red button on the wall (fire suppressor trigger). As part of the acceptance test, that button was pushed - during acceptance testing, it didn’t actually release the fire retardant, but was wired into the system to do … something (notify someone? turn off the computer? I don’t remember anymore) People were fighting to get to be the person to push the button. > [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > \>95% of the world’s population is within 250km of the nearest switch. Throwing any of the switches will trigger the genocidal event. First redneck to see it will press the button before reading anything. I give us 30 minutes. Hope it doesn’t slag the earth. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/33 "2019-09-04T21:07:06Z")
> [@RedSwinglineOne](#): > > Why does the person have to be suicidal? If the removal of humanity did not harm anything else on the planet, I’d be very tempted to push the button. > > \ > > For the record, I am quite happy and not the least bit suicidal. Then why would you choose to kill yourself? Depression isnt an actual necessity for suicide. Only killing yourself is. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/34 "2019-09-04T22:39:32Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > Some people believe they will go to Heaven if they die, and many of those believe that all their co-religionists will too, and that all the others (who follow false gods, or no god at all) won’t. In that world view, throwing the switch actually gives one’s group infinite privileges and punishes everybody else. But alas, the almighty hath fixed his canon against self-slaughter. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2019, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/35 "2019-09-05T09:08:32Z")
I’m going to thumb-suck and say 5%. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/36 "2019-09-05T09:40:40Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > But alas, the almighty hath fixed his canon against self-slaughter. Though, who yet is unintrigued by the undiscovered country from who’s borne no traveler returns? ---
**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:** [September 5, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/37 "2019-09-05T19:40:09Z")
Is it Monday? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/38 "2019-09-05T20:13:40Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > You know, your stereotypical “see red button, hit red button” kind of moron. The shiny, CANDY-LIKE button! ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/39 "2019-09-05T20:23:00Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > Imagine that in the public town square, there is a platform. On the platform, there is a small pedestal, and on the pedestal, there is a large red switch. It’s common knowledge that anyone can walk up to the pedestal and throw the switch at any time. If the switch is thrown, all of humanity, everywhere, will die. The specific mechanism of our death isn’t known. Maybe throwing the switch releases a universally lethal global pandemic. Maybe it detonates all nuclear weapons. Maybe it’s something more exotic, it’s an unknown. The extermination may occur instantly or it may happen over hours, weeks or even decades. It may be _homo sapiens_ species specific or it may take the entire biosphere with us. There’s no way for you to know. > > What you do know is that if that switch is thrown, all of humanity including the thrower of the switch is doomed. No argument, no debate, our time is done. You also know that you are not permitted to use any degree of force to prevent anyone else from throwing the switch because ‘reasons’. You can talk, beg, cajole and bribe someone considering throwing the switch to the best of your ability. At the end of the day though, if someone wants to throw the switch, they can and there’s not a thing you can do to stop them. (Again, because ‘reasons’. Please just go with it for this hypothetical.) > > Are there any legitimate psychological studies that suggest what percentage of people would throw the switch? I would wager we all know a couple of potential switch throwers and most of us probably have our moments. I’d wager it wouldn’t last a day. Just too many “Heh. The fuckicare? LOLZ.” out there. ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624/40 "2019-09-05T20:28:56Z")
A pilot did just that: On October 31, 1999, the Boeing 767 operating the route crashed into the Atlantic Ocean about 60 miles (100 km) south of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, killing all 217 passengers and crew on board. [https://en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org) › wiki › EgyptAir\_Flight\_990 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-people-would-choose-to-exterminate-humanity/839624.md?page=3)