Why yes, it IS a silly hypothetical discussion with optional poll. And, yes, the subject IS a sadistic choice. Seriously, did you just meet me?
A malevolent and vastly powerful godlike being* – let’s get down to brass tacks and call him Mephistopheles, okay? – appears to you. After establishing his bona fides in a spectactular and terrifying fashion that leaves no room for doubt[sup]†[/sup], Mephisto tells you that he’s gotten bored while while for the Apocalypse and has decided to spend the afternoon fucking with you[sup]‡[/sup].
Mephistopheles grabs you by the scruff of the neck and drags you to a convenient magic mountaintop, from which you can see all sorts of interesting things. In paritcular, he draws your attention to 1000 cancer wards. In each of these wards there are several patients-- ten, on average – who will die within a year of one neoplasm or another. Some of the patients are elderly; some are in the prime of their lives; and some are children. All will die in agony.
Of course, Mephistopheles says with a laugh, none of these people have to die. The Carpenter could save them without even bothering to wave his hand, but, of course, He won’t, because that’s not how he rolls. But while it won’t be that easy for Mephistopheles, it’s still within his power to restore them all to perfect health; in fact he does so to one of them just to make his point. He’s willing to heal the rest for a price – one only you can pay. You have to agree to give up your relationship with the one living person whom you most love.
Say the word, and Old Scratch will not only cure the 10,000 dying patients, but also restore their bodies, minds, and hearts to the fullness of health. But he’ll also arrange things so that your beloved (be it spouse, parent, child, or friend) believes that you have consciously and deliberately betrayed them in such an egregious fashion that they’ll never trust you again; in fact, they’ll probably hate you forever. If you refuse, Mephistopheles will shrug and bid you adieu – except that he’ll also send you 10,000 death notices as the people you declined to save perish, and he might well drag you to a few of the most pathetic funerals, as he finds things like that entertaining.
Do you give up your relationship with your beloved, or let the 10,000** die?
Oh, and don’t wait for the poll. I changed my mind about including one.
- I don’t want to hear any crap about it being Athena, either. Athena is kind and loving. Well, not loving. And not kind either, when you get down to it. But She’s not EVIL. See also: Thor.
[sup]†[/sup] In fact, let’s say that Phisto just rewrites your neural wiring to MAKE you believe he’s what he says he is, without otherwise changing your personality, morals, and so forth.
[sup]‡[/sup] No real reason; you just piss him off.
** Okay, I guess it’s technically nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine.
