# Who would you save? A baby or a panda **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 17, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253 "2012-12-17T01:55:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/1 "2012-12-17T01:55:42Z")
[Inspired by this thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=203942) If you only have time to save one of them, whom would you save? A baby human (if it matters, they are disability-free, with two loving parents) A baby giant panda (it is very healthy and non-inbred) You do not have any prior relationship with either of them. ---
**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:** [December 17, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/2 "2012-12-17T02:12:42Z")
I’d rather not say. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/3 "2012-12-17T02:25:56Z")
Is the baby ugly or cute? And what’s the status of that diaper? ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/4 "2012-12-17T02:36:34Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Is the baby ugly or cute? > > And what’s the status of that diaper? The baby is cute, but not cute enough to front an ad campaign. The panda is not wearing a nappy, the baby is wearing an empty one. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/5 "2012-12-17T02:47:13Z")
I’d save the baby panda because it would be more difficult to raise and train a human to carry me into battle. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/6 "2012-12-17T02:59:15Z")
You say the panda’s not inbred. How about the baby? ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/7 "2012-12-17T03:00:56Z")
Is this a “cook both for dinner tonight, or save one for tomorrow” scenario? 'Cause that will change my answer. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/8 "2012-12-17T03:07:57Z")
The one that we don’t save, is it trapped in a burning car and we have to shoot it with a pistol? ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/9 "2012-12-17T03:09:44Z")
Baby, not even a shred of a doubt ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/10 "2012-12-17T03:22:53Z")
I’d save the baby. Ninety percent of that reason is because I value the baby more than the panda, and ten percent is because I’d be too scared to get close to the panda. I read somewhere that they can be very mean. Also, claws. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/11 "2012-12-17T03:50:52Z")
“Babies” ain’t no endangered species. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/12 "2012-12-17T04:04:44Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > “Babies” ain’t no endangered species. That was pretty much my thought - there’s plenty more humans where that one came from. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/13 "2012-12-17T04:12:21Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > You say the panda’s not inbred. How about the baby? We don’t know, but the baby is definitely healthy > [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > I’d save the baby panda because it would be more difficult to raise and train a human to carry me into battle. But on the other hand, you can’t chuck a panda > [@Battle\_Pope](#): > > Is this a “cook both for dinner tonight, or save one for tomorrow” scenario? No, the young’un will be safe from any immediate danger > [@lieu](#): > > The one that we don’t save, is it trapped in a burning car and we have to shoot it with a pistol? No, you will not be directly responsible for the others death ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/14 "2012-12-17T05:02:17Z")
The panda - _Ailuropoda melanoleuca_ or _Ailurus fulgens_? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/15 "2012-12-17T05:16:03Z")
The people voting for panda are kidding, right? ---
**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:** [December 17, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/16 "2012-12-17T05:28:40Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The people voting for panda are kidding, right? I’d rather not say. ---
**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:** [December 17, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/17 "2012-12-17T05:28:59Z")
I’d save the baby even if it were the entire panda species at risk. Nature’s F student. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/18 "2012-12-17T05:32:01Z")
The baby, cuz he’s on my team. _Homo sapiens_ for lyfe! ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/19 "2012-12-17T07:30:53Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > The panda - _Ailuropoda melanoleuca_ or _Ailurus fulgens_? As I wrote in the OP, it’s a giant panda (ailuropoda melanoleuca) > [@RickJay](#): > > The people voting for panda are kidding, right? I voted for the panda, they are far harder to replace and far more precious for biodiversity than the baby human, even if it would devastate the baby’s parents ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253/20 "2012-12-17T10:40:31Z")
Human, no contest. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-you-save-a-baby-or-a-panda/644253.md?page=2)