# You're the new Emperor of Earth...how many people would you kill? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 1, 2010, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198 "2010-02-01T03:21:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [February 1, 2010, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/21 "2010-02-01T09:58:53Z")
Only those who oppose my will. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/22 "2010-02-01T10:25:24Z")
> [@](#): > > anyone who violently rapes someone, or any type of rape of children, would be put to death I can think of a good reason not to. If rape already carries the death sentence, what stops our would-be rapist from killing his/her victim? If they’re dead, they are very unlikely to give out information about the rapist. Such policies would actually encourage murder. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/23 "2010-02-01T10:41:31Z")
I would kill absolutely no one. If I felt anyone needed punishing, the worst they could get was to think they were dead for a bit. And that would only apply to people who killed people. The idea would be that you would feel whatever the victim felt. I’m pretty sure that would wind up stopping all violence, without directly circumventing free will. I’d also outlaw benzodiazepines. The hell I’ve been through lately I would not wish on my worst enemy. As it would pretty much be exactly that: HELL. I’m not that cruel. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2010, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/24 "2010-02-01T11:06:45Z")
It is **not possible** to be the leader of a vast empire, or a small one, & keep clean hands. That said, this planet is overpopulated, & I’ve worked out a lovely packaging design for Soylent. The wrapper comes in a lovely shade of green. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/25 "2010-02-01T11:15:00Z")
> [@MostlyClueless](#): > > I can think of a good reason not to. If rape already carries the death sentence, what stops our would-be rapist from killing his/her victim? Two methods for dealing with this; 1. Different _kinds_ of death penalty, depending on the crime. 2. No executions for murders during the commission/coverup of another crime. In fact, you _guarantee_ that they won’t be put to _death_. Think about it. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![ColdPhoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@ColdPhoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdPhoenix)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/26 "2010-02-01T11:42:57Z")
We need an option between 10,000,000+ and burn the world. But I’ll vote 10,000,000+ for now. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/27 "2010-02-01T12:59:02Z")
Me, too. Trust me on this one. The world doesn’t want ME to reorganize it to be more efficient. In playing SimEarth I always placed my little sims always lived at the ‘hellish’ setting. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/28 "2010-02-01T13:24:18Z")
> [@Tethered\_Kite](#): > > I find even necessary deaths an unpleasant aspect of life and, as such, wouldn’t care to participate in one. > > However I’d send out an Emperor’s poll and it would ask a single question: > > “Is violence ever the solution?” > > Everyone who answered “yes” would receive a one-way ticket to a private island where they would be provided, by taxpayer’s wise benevolence, sufficient resources to develop their own special, violent society. And if they didn’t want to go, would you use violence to force them? ---
**Author:** ![Umbriel2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/4af34b/32.png) [@Umbriel2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbriel2)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/29 "2010-02-01T13:35:06Z")
I think you could have used a couple more upper tiers, to distinguish those who have categorical targets in mind from those who want to significantly thin the global population with “sustainability” in mind. Not that either would include _me_… ---
**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:** [February 1, 2010, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/30 "2010-02-01T13:36:38Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Only those who oppose my will. So…pretty much everybody, then? ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/31 "2010-02-01T13:51:10Z")
Everyone. All life. Only then can true peace be achieved. ---
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/32 "2010-02-01T14:46:28Z")
> [@MostlyClueless](#): > > I can think of a good reason not to. If rape already carries the death sentence, what stops our would-be rapist from killing his/her victim? If they’re dead, they are very unlikely to give out information about the rapist. Such policies would actually encourage murder. Maybe, possibly, but I’m the Emperor of Earth! Why do my policies have to make sense? The whole point of being Emperor is that what I want happens, damn the consequences! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/33 "2010-02-01T15:33:33Z")
[commences little simpering dance] Aaaaaaaand they’ll none of 'em bemissed; THEEEEYYYYYY’LLLLL [none of 'em be missed!](http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/mikado/webopera/mk105a.html) ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/34 "2010-02-01T16:16:56Z")
Not very many people voting in the middle, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/35 "2010-02-01T16:26:44Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > **Book:** “If you take sexual advantage of her, you’re going to burn in a very special level of hell. A level they reserve for child molesters and people who talk at the theater.” I’ll change my vote to just one if you keep quoting that crap, so help me Og. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/36 "2010-02-01T17:12:25Z")
I’d kill everyone who was below average. Now since there are lots of different ways to decided average I figure it would probably end up eliminating 5 odd billion people. I chose let the world burn since that’s a lot closer then 10 mil+. I figure if we’re going to start over, which I would want to, then we should start with the best and improve from there. The benefit of being god emperor is I’m automatically #1 in every category so I get to survive my own slaughter. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/37 "2010-02-01T17:38:55Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > I’d kill everyone who was below average… How often would you reassess “average”? ---
**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:** [February 1, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/38 "2010-02-01T17:44:41Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > So…pretty much everybody, then? The notepad is open and the hand is writing. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/39 "2010-02-01T18:06:12Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > I’ll change my vote to just one if you keep quoting that crap, so help me Og. _ **Mal:** “We’re not gonna die. We can’t die, Bendis. You know why? Because we are so…very…pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die.”_ 😛 ---
**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:** [February 1, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198/40 "2010-02-01T18:50:54Z")
Beyond people who piss me off personally, I think I’d open punishment for criminals up to voting by the general public via internet. Things could get really creative. I also like the idea of everyone who can’t play nice in society getting shipped off to an island where they can all be assholes to each other. ETA: With regard to the Asshole Island system, I’d issue paint guns and a limited number of paintballs with each car registration renewal. Get a certain number of asshole splashes on your car, and off to Asshole Island you go! There may be a way of redeeming yourself off the Island; I haven’t worked that part out yet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-the-new-emperor-of-earth-how-many-people-would-you-kill/527198.md?page=3)