# Would you sacrifice the love of your life to spare 10,000 strangers by cancer? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 4, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504 "2011-10-04T01:26:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/21 "2011-10-04T02:41:34Z")
It’s nothing to do with selfish. There are nearly 9 billion people on this planet, only about 150 will matter to any particular person. It’s just human. If 8.5 billion people disappeared tomorrow most people wouldn’t bat an eye as long as they weren’t inconvenienced. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/22 "2011-10-04T02:57:08Z")
> [@G0sp3l](#): > > It’s nothing to do with selfish. There are nearly 9 billion people on this planet, only about 150 will matter to any particular person. It’s just human. If 8.5 billion people disappeared tomorrow most people wouldn’t bat an eye as long as they weren’t inconvenienced. It is illogical, tribalistic thinking worse than even blind nationalism or racialism. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/23 "2011-10-04T03:00:08Z")
Not a chance. Too fucking bad about everybody else. Sucks to be them. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/24 "2011-10-04T03:07:07Z")
I’ll have to chance it and save the 10.000 lives then try to explain to the loved one and win back the love… not. I guess I’m fine with being neither petty nor great. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/25 "2011-10-04T03:07:49Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > It is illogical, tribalistic thinking worse than even blind nationalism or racialism. I’m glad you feel that way, if more people did the world might be a better place. Doesn’t change the facts. The suffering of a stranger will never effect you the way a loved ones suffering will. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/26 "2011-10-04T03:11:32Z")
I find it amusing that people are saying this even though most people here are bleeding-hearts when it comes to economic views. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/27 "2011-10-04T03:16:45Z")
> [@G0sp3l](#): > > There are nearly 9 billion people on this planet Within an order of magnitude, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/28 "2011-10-04T03:17:38Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > I find it amusing that people are saying this even though most people here are bleeding-hearts when it comes to economic views. Economics isn’t the science of losing your significant other so you can save 10,000 other people. We get that you don’t understand this, it’s nearly impossible at your age to understand. Now get off your horse. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/29 "2011-10-04T03:18:10Z")
Come to think of it I’m not playing… this is lose lose situation. I don’t wanna be haunted by 10.000 ghosts every time I look at my loved one either. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/30 "2011-10-04T03:19:26Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > Economics isn’t the science of having your significant other die so you can save 10,000 other people. We get that you don’t understand this, it’s nearly impossible at your age to understand. Now get off your horse. It isn’t the loved one dying: > [@](#): > > You have to agree to give up your relationship with the one living person whom you most love. Completely different. And it isn’t as I’m a sociopath who doesn’t love anybody ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/31 "2011-10-04T04:18:35Z")
Dude, it’s a deal with The Devil. Like Three Wishes, this has been synonymous with “booby trap” since Time immemorial. No deal, not now, not ever. Even if the cost was the rest of humanity. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/32 "2011-10-04T04:24:15Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Dude, it’s a deal with The Devil. Like Three Wishes, this has been synonymous with “booby trap” since Time immemorial. No deal, not now, not ever. Even if the cost was the rest of humanity. What if the devil reneges on this and kills your loved one anyways? ---
**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:** [October 4, 2011, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/33 "2011-10-04T04:34:16Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > It isn’t the loved one dying: > > Completely different. > > And it isn’t as I’m a sociopath who doesn’t love anybody This isn’t about you being a sociopath. But you’ve never been in love. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/34 "2011-10-04T04:54:54Z")
Nope. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/35 "2011-10-04T04:57:54Z")
No way. > [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > How selfish people are. If this was killing your loved one there might be some reason in this but it is simply they losing your trust in you. Aren’t you the one who starts a Pit thread cheering every time some murderer is executed, and defends it, saying you’re happy because it’s “justice”? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/36 "2011-10-04T05:08:11Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Dude, it’s a deal with The Devil. Like Three Wishes, this has been synonymous with “booby trap” since Time immemorial. No deal, not now, not ever. Even if the cost was the rest of humanity. > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Too bad it’s Mephistopheles. No deal with him ever works out. He’s only making this deal because he knows the apocalypse is on its way, and those 10,000 schmucks who you just saved are, every one of them, going to suffer far worse fates than death by cancer in the coming months, while you try and fail to convince your beloved what just happened. > > There’s a reason why a “deal with the devil” is an idiom. Don’t do it. Meph can do what he wants, but I’m not shaking His hand over anything. > [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > What if the devil reneges on this and kills your loved one anyways? Read the annotations. You believe what the asshole is telling you. If we could play a game of chess to settle it, I’d do that (and cheat, I suck at chess). Ok, here goes, I’d try to kill the bastard and he’d fry me or consign me to hell or an even worse dilemma. But if that couldn’t be done, I’d be too selfish to accept the deal if I had to make the choice, then eventually drink myself to death or something like that from the guilt, even though I have no reason to feel guilty. OTOH, sometimes the love of my life really pisses me off. She better hope she doesn’t do that on the day that psycho shows up. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/37 "2011-10-04T05:35:03Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > How selfish people are. If this was killing your loved one there might be some reason in this but it is simply they losing your trust in you. Yeah, gotta agree with you on this one. I really don’t know what my answer would be in such a situation, but I _think_ I could better cope with losing a loved one’s trust then knowing my choice caused the death of 10,000 people. But I don’t know for certain. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/38 "2011-10-04T05:39:01Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yeah, gotta agree with you on this one. I really don’t know what my answer would be in such a situation, but I _think_ I could better cope with losing a loved one’s trust then knowing my choice caused the death of 10,000 people. But I don’t know for certain. I’m wondering how old you are. I would be giving up a lot to give up the love of my life at my age after all the time we’ve been together. I wouldn’t think I’d have love like that in life again. I’d like to say I’d take the hit, but this one gnaws at me. I’d have an easier time giving up my own life. If there was a way to have the sadistic son of a bitch just take **Skald** , I’d go for that in an instance. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/39 "2011-10-04T05:46:36Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I’m wondering how old you are. 1. I’m also getting married in a month. We’ve been together for five years so, in the scheme of things, it’s not all that much time. But the OP doesn’t specify a romantic love specifically. Let’s say the choice is my parents or my brother, people I’ve known and loved all 36 years of my life. Like I said, it’s not an easy choice, but I think I could live with it. Now, if it involved _their_ death vs the death of 10,000, I’d spare the one. But if it’s just loss of trust or even permanent estrangement…I’ll deal. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504/40 "2011-10-04T06:09:58Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > 1. I’m also getting married in a month. We’ve been together for five years so, in the scheme of things, it’s not all that much time. But the OP doesn’t specify a romantic love specifically. Let’s say the choice is my parents or my brother, people I’ve known and loved all 36 years of my life. Like I said, it’s not an easy choice, but I think I could live with it. Now, if it involved _their_ death vs the death of 10,000, I’d spare the one. But if it’s just loss of trust or even permanent estrangement…I’ll deal. Yeah, I’m seeing this as if she was going to die. Which means I am being selfish, which is why I’m doubting myself this time. Interesting, not much makes me feel this way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-sacrifice-the-love-of-your-life-to-spare-10-000-strangers-by-cancer/598504.md?page=3)