# You must save your loved ones from grisly death one at a time. Do you know who's first? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 26, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243 "2011-08-26T23:41:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/21 "2011-08-27T05:15:39Z")
I have two daughters so a single choice would be terrible. However, it would obviously be them as choice 1 and 2. Every other one after that is a mere shadow of the responsibility you have to your kids. I don’t fully trust any parent that would choose otherwise. As to the others. I have some general preferences but it would be mostly based on age and procreation status. I think Darwin would approve. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/22 "2011-08-27T05:16:07Z")
My cat is dead and I have no wife or kids. So mom is obviously first. Then grandparents. Then there’s extended family, but I’m not sure how the hell they’d end up in the same house overnight. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/23 "2011-08-27T07:59:42Z")
If I chose my wife over our son she’d kill me, and then herself. So it’s a no-brainer. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/24 "2011-08-27T08:23:50Z")
I would try to work something out on the fly. Not sure of hesitation would be involved. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/25 "2011-08-27T08:26:20Z")
My nephew, everyone else is older than me and has to take their chances. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/26 "2011-08-27T08:49:37Z")
I’d save my daughter first and wouldn’t bat an eye. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/27 "2011-08-27T09:26:14Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I also think removing the sharks via transporter is ill thought. Obviously they’re going to be big suckers, and you have a primitive transporter. Beaming one onto your pad means you then have to clear the pad to make room for the next. You don’t need to teleport the whole shark. ---
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/28 "2011-08-27T12:27:10Z")
I had a friend whose minivan was swept off a bridge by flash flood. Luckily the creek it was swept into did not instantly submerge the van, but the van was filling up fast. She had to unbuckle and fish out each of her three children and carry them to the bank (ages 5 and under) one at a time. So she really had to do this thing. I think she got the baby first, oldest second because he was next to the baby and middle child in the third row last. He had water up to his neck by the time she got to him. I would not hesitate, but follow my instincts in the moment. There is one I like best but he is so sweet, kind and loving (why do you think I like him best?) that he would probably PREFER others to be saved before him. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/29 "2011-08-27T14:16:58Z")
**Skald** , you are terrible for doing this to us. Yes, my husband would be first, no question. I also know beyond a shadow of a doubt who I would save next, with no hesitation, but it would leave me with crippling guilt probably for the rest of my life. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/30 "2011-08-27T14:19:55Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The people who would be my first, second, and third choice (and yes, I have an order in mind) don’t actually technically fall into any of the categories you’ve defined as vulnerable. I’m not entirely sure about 4 and 5, though (or 1 and 2, in the categories as precisely so defined). Don’t they just count as friends? My third & fourth choices are no relation to me. (They’re also the ones who would give me the most trouble choosing between.) > [@](#): > > On the other hand, a transporter could probably operate a lot more quickly if you don’t care about bringing the subject in alive. That’s not the problem. Clearing the pad is the problem. > [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > **Skald** , you are terrible for doing this to us. Why is it that every time I do something ghastly and cruel, y’all act surprised as if it’s the first time rather than the five hundred ninety-seventh? > [@Alessan](#): > > If I chose my wife over our son she’d kill me, and then herself. So it’s a no-brainer. I doubt that’s uncommon. If my mother were living she’d be my number two, but she’d also be furious at me for not saving my younger sisters first. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/31 "2011-08-27T14:44:29Z")
Most of my decision would be based on the age of the people involved. Younger - higher priority. ---
**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:** [August 27, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/32 "2011-08-27T14:56:28Z")
My son, then the youngest to the oldest (brothers are 10, 22, and 32 and parents are 51 and 57). How is this even a hard question? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/33 "2011-08-27T14:59:53Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > My son, then the youngest to the oldest (brothers are 10, 22, and 32 and parents are 51 and 57). > > How is this even a hard question? If one has both spouse and young child, or more than one young child, it can be a _very_ hard question. As I wrote upthread I’d have no problem with the first two choice (first the wife, then my baby sister). But if they were absent, and two of the persons in jeopardy were my best friends from high school and college, I might well be paralyzed with indecision. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/34 "2011-08-27T15:31:43Z")
Let me put it this way. Granny really should have put more than a single dollar bill in all those birthday cards. ---
**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:** [August 27, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/35 "2011-08-27T15:35:37Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > If one has both spouse and young child, or more than one young child, it can be a _very_ hard question. > > As I wrote upthread I’d have no problem with the first two choice (first the wife, then my baby sister). But if they were absent, and two of the persons in jeopardy were my best friends from high school and college, I might well be paralyzed with indecision. I suppose I only considered family. If it were two friends, then I pick who ever looks closest. Hell, I’d be worried about getting them out of there as quickly as possible - no time to debate. I can’t imagine marrying the kind of character who’d ‘let’ (as if you can stop yourself from being teleported) me pick him over my child. I just feel like the youngest always goes first (unless everyone is older and there’s someone who can’t swim or is disabled). And I know my brothers would always try to put the younger before themselves (hell, my 22 year old brother would insist he go last), but if I were doing the decision-making, they’d agree with my decisions. If my older bro’s wife were there, he’d insist she go before him. If I had lots of time to consider it all, I _may_ briefly consider saving people in this order: Son (six, but even if he were 22, he comes first) Brother One (10) Mom Brother Two etc only because brother One is so young and needs his mother. **BUT** there are other people who could care for him, so Brothers Two and Three get the teleporter/sponder/thinger first. That being said, of course I’d feel bad! Not guilty, but _bad._ > [@billfish678](#): > > Let me put it this way. > > Granny really should have put more than a single dollar bill in all those birthday cards. +1 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/36 "2011-08-27T15:46:30Z")
You’re a sick, sick man, **Skald** , but we love you anyway. I’d hesitate but probably be able to choose, agonizing though it would be. Then I’d kill the bad guy, throw a pie at you-know-who and share the second pie with the survivors. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/37 "2011-08-27T16:00:35Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > You’re a sick, sick man, **Skald** , but we love you anyway. While that first clause is undoubtedly true, I feel obliged to admit that I did not in fact devise this hypothetical; my baby sister did. We actually had an argument about it. She agreed that I should pick my wife before her, but she also felt that I should rescue our nieces next rather than save her second, on account of the age thing. ETA: Anyway, **Evil!Skald** would never present a hero with such a dilemma. It’s a poor use of resources, it guarantees that the hero will be at her or his most ruthlessly effective when storming the lair, and if any of the captives get eaten – well, even Peter Parker’s going to kill you for that. ---
**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:** [August 27, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/38 "2011-08-27T16:13:26Z")
Plus we just finished up shark week and there’s no way they wouldn’t have been eaten in three seconds. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/39 "2011-08-27T16:14:08Z")
This is where being a single parent of an only child makes life simple. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243/40 "2011-08-29T01:50:01Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > This is where being a single parent of an only child makes life simple. AFAIK, no one has yet to order multiple children in the order they’d save them, have they…? Now THAT’S a truth telling moment right there! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-save-your-loved-ones-from-grisly-death-one-at-a-time-do-you-know-whos-first/594243.md?page=3)