Wednesday, August 27, 2008

End Of Da World

Before we begin, I would like to explain that this is an ethics exercise.

There is no wrong or right answer.

NUCLEAR FALLOUT SHELTER EXERCISE

You are trapped in a fallout shelter with the other Homebloys who visit this blog. The instruments in the shelter indicate that it will not be safe for your group to leave the shelter for six months. Luckily, there is enough food, water, and other facilities to permit your group to remain in the shelter for the required six months.

There is a telephone in your shelter that is linked to a fallout shelter in another city. One member of your group just spoke with a person who is trapped in the other shelter and reports the following information:

"There are nine people in the other shelter. After surveying their provisions, it has become apparent that there is only enough water to keep four members of that group alive the six months before it is safe to leave the shelter."

The other group realizes that five of its members will have to be put out of the shelter so that those remaining will have a chance to live. However, they have been unable to make the necessary decision as to who will be put out of their shelter.

The other group has asked you to make a decision on its behalf. It has agreed to implement your decision immediately and without question.

The group in the other shelter consists of the following people:

1. A male carpenter, 25 years old.
2. A male biologist, 50 years old.
3. A female attorney, 40 years old.
4. A male minister, 40 years old.
5. A pregnant college student, 28 years old.
6. A female college student, 18 years old.
7. A male mental patient, 48 years old.
8. A female child, 6 years old.
9. A male physician, 72 years old.

Which four will you choose to remain in the shelter and why?

(I have written down my own answers for tomorrow's post.)

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40 Comments:

At 27 August, 2008, Anonymous Anonymous said...

oooh, I like this one.

I choose the female child, age 6; the male physician, age 72; the pregnant college student, age 28; and the male carpenter, age 25.

Of course I can think of good reasons to keep each of them, but these jumped out at me.
OH, and I'm hoping the pregnant college student is in her first trimester so she won't have the baby in the shelter. I'm calling that a two-for-one pick.

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger furiousBall said...

A female child, 6 years old.
A female college student, 18 years old.
A pregnant college student, 28 years old.
A male carpenter, 25 years old.

I picked the youngest 4.

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger Jen said...

Male carpenter, 25 years old
Pregnant college student, 28 years old
Male biologist, 50 years old
Female child, 6 years old

You will need to build when able to leave the shelter.
The pregnant college student is beginning to help repopulate the world (2-for-one as well).
You will need to farm for food, medicine and other necessities and can learn some medical techniques.
I couldn't let a child die - they are young enough to live a long life and learn from the others.

2 males and 2 females.

This was not easy, Tink. . .

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger Lisa said...

Male Carpenter, 25
Pregnant College Student, 28
Female Child, 6
Male physician, 72

The carpenter because we would need someone handy, the pregnant student simply because she is pregnant, the child because she is a child and the physician to a)help deliver the baby and b) help with medical issues

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger Jay said...

I say keep the following:

The Biologist
The Carpenter
The Doctor
The Minister

They aren't the only four people who will be left on Earth. All of us will be here too. So, I wouldn't worry so much about equal numbers of males and females or anything like that.


The mental patient, pregnant college student and the 6 year old would be a huge drain on our limited resources. The Attorney would be too argumentative and impossible to deal with. And the 18 year old female college student would probably be a drama queen.

Before anyone emails me to point out that I kept only men, please note that I listed the profession (skills) only. Given the very limited things we know about each of these people I chose the one's that would be most productive and necessary to the survival of the all the people who made it through the nuclear fallout.

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger Alice said...

hmm.... i'd be tempted NOT to pick the pregnant lady just because she's eating/drinking for two, will need lots of resources for the birth, AND will end up with an extra person at the end. i don't think this will be a popular choice, though :-)

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger Michael Knight Rambo said...

You never mentioned their weight and eating habits. Would it be possible to eat the one or two heaviest or hungriest to save the rest?
And, I know we're good for six months, but you never said if I'm allowed to eat people in our shelter?

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger geenalyn said...

Tink this is extremely difficult....I think that i would pick

1. A male physician, 72 yrs od
2. A male carpenter, 25 yrs old
3. A pregnant college student, 28 yrs old
4. a female child, 6 yrs old

The pregnant woman and child...well there is no way i could not pick them...my heart just broke at the thought of them pushed out of the shelter. The doctor can make sure everyone is taken care of and the carpenter will be handy to have around to fix things and build things later,

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger Mary said...

Well if Jay is picking by profession, wouldn't a baby mama be a good person to have to repopulte if there isn't anyone else near by?

I tend to side with the others...

male carpenter chosen for age and profession

pregnant college student chosen for the ability to have kids, and age

female child because I like kids...

And the last would be a toss up between the biologist and the physician with the determining factor being the kind of biologist and the kind of physician. I'm betting because of age the doctor, he's family practice or general surgeon...so he'd be good to keep. if he's a plastic surgeon who's only done boob jobs for the last 20 years, get rid of him...lol

did I put too much thought in to it??

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger fiwa said...

Male carpenter, 25 years old
Pregnant college student, 28 years old
Male biologist, 50 years old
Female child, 6 years old

I couldn't turn out the kid or the pregnant woman. I think the two men have the most useful skills balanced with their age.

Damn, this was hard. Makin' me think & stuff.

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger Allison said...

Child, 6 ---> Hope for the future

Pregnant College Student, 28 ---> Another baby for the future, and she's young enough to have more.

Male Carpenter, 25 ---> To help make more babies.

Male Biologist, 50 ---> Also to help make more babies, but because he probably has the smarts and wisdom to help the rest of them out.

 
At 27 August, 2008, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'll take

Male Carpenter
Pregnant Woman ( 2 for 1 )
Female College Student
Male Physician

It's a proven fact women are "heartier" than men. You will need the doctor to help with delivery of the baby and the carpenter to build shelter and college student to procreate. When we think of disaster we have to think in terms of the necessities needed to prolong the life of human existence.

Attorney is out as well as the biologist. A doctor knows way more than both.

And Alice ... you are hard core killing the pregnant woman. That's a double homicide in Texas.

Knot

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger meno said...

Is the pregnant woman smart or stupid? If she's dumb, out she goes.

The minister goes, unless he has a useful skill.

The attourney goes for obvious reasons. :)

Probably the mental patient goes, unless he's just depressed or something. But if he thinks he's Elvis, he's out.

I realize i did this backwards and picked the people who would go, rather than the ones who would stay, and that i'm short one person. I just can't kick any of the rest out. Maybe if they conserved....

I NEED MORE INFORMATION!!!!

 
At 27 August, 2008, Anonymous Anonymous said...

If the doctor dies I want the 6 year old as an alternate.

Knot

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger the planet of janet said...

the pregnant woman, the child, the carpenter and the doctor.

and then i would hate myself forever for dooming the others.

except maybe the attorney. (j/k)

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger HalfAsstic.com said...

The child, because, well, she's a child. And the women because I am incredibly sexist that way...

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger Karen said...

I say kick out the 5 oldest, they have lived the longest lives so far. I suppose that makes me an ageist huh?
Very interesting. Can't wait to see your answer.
Will now go back and read other comments.

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger Chris said...

Ethics makes my head hurt.

The carpenter's a given. Pregnant college student is, too - although if she has to give birth in the shelter, will that strain the shelter's resources?? Will the crying baby drive the survivors crazy?? Darn, no psychiatrist to save - that would be a twofer (doctor of body and brain!).

Um, yeah, and I'm totally off track and heading for the cliff...

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger mamatulip said...

I'm with Chris. My head hurts, and it's not just because I smashed it good n' plenty getting in to the car today.

Male carpenter - to rebuild.

Pregnant college student - to repopulate.

Male biologist - I think he'd be good to have around after the fallout.

Male physician - doctors would most likely be needed.

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger CRUSTY MOM-E said...

1. a male mental patient because he'll have days where he won't want to eat therefore giving you more food.

2. a male physician to tend to those that are ill

3. a male carpenter to rebuild the world

4. a male biologist to test everything when it's okay to leave.

why not any women?
Because there are some in the other shelter so those can procreate with these guys.

me

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger CRUSTY MOM-E said...

P.s. Or days when he thought he may have ate but didn't--regardless providing more food for the rest of the group and hopefully entertainment too.

and again, they can shack up with the broads in our shelter for sex..
even the physician, I'm sure he's got himself some V and the biologist figured out a way for 70something year old men to father children..
(HUGH HEFFNER!) ::)

my head hurts too now.
thanks aLOT:)

me

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger Reb said...

They can all stay in the shelter. The only thing they are low on is water, the Dr & biologist can rig up something to catch condensation. As well, male urine is sterile, so it can also be drunk. (So is female urine, but it has a different route to the outside which has potential for contamination)

The food itself should be canned, which will provide liquid as well.

If that is not satisfactory, keep the Dr, the Biologist and the two college students. As we don't know what the students are studying, it may be something very important to the survival of the race.

The 40 year old attorney is getting to be too old to procreate, the 6 year old won't be ready for a minimum of 6 years, would be better if it were 10 years. One man can impregnate many women, but women of childbearing age will be important.

The Dr & Biologist are needed to keep the gene pools straight, so that the next generation isn't too closely related. Not to mention the knowledge they have and can pass on. Anyone can hammer a nail, it may not be pretty to start with, but eventually it will be a sound shelter.

As for the mental patient, not knowing what his disorder is, we don't know what he can or can't contribute except bad genes. The minister is not much good, except to keep the "faith" unless he has some other useful skills, he's gone. People that have faith will keep it with or without him.

Oh, I didn't mean for it to get that long - sorry! ;)

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger Mike said...

Course, the male biologist and the doctor probably know that you can drink your own pee quite a few times in survival situations.

So, my answer is drink your own pee.

Nobody has to die if you drink your own pee.

What would you rather do, drink your own pee or die?

Dumbasses.

Otherwise, just tell em to fight it out.

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger Janet said...

1. A male carpenter, 25 years old.
5. A pregnant college student, 28 years old.
6. A female college student, 18 years old.
8. A female child, 6 years old.

gotta be able to reproduce!

 
At 27 August, 2008, Blogger Woman in a Window said...

Keep the carpenter, the biologist, the pregnant student and the kid.

The carpenter is handy and probably hot. I'm married to a carpenter...ok, so maybe not hot, but perhaps virile and after that student pops her baby she'll get all soft in the head and want another. I did. (See, I've got two.)

The biologist is all science-y, real important for restructuring food stocks (farmer would be better.)

And the child 'cause I'm a mom and you ALWAYS have to save the children. Plus, poetically it just works, the whole redemption, starting fresh, and yet holding history thing.

OH, before you send the doctor out to die have him brief the biologist about delivery, K?

Geez, you're pretty much evil to ask this right before bed. This is too much fun.

 
At 28 August, 2008, Anonymous Anonymous said...

1. A male carpenter, 25 years old.
5. A pregnant college student, 28 years old.
8. A female child, 6 years old.
9. A male physician, 72 years old.

There were a few tough calls for me.
Since there would be a pregnant woman and a young child I would have to keep the doctor. I would keep the carpenter to build and fix stuff after the six months is over. I could NOT have anything to do with the death of a pregnant woman nor a young child! Its just not in me.

 
At 28 August, 2008, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tink, you just made my brain hurt AND my conscience hurt.

I can't kick anyone out. I mean, it's not my shelter, so I don't have to WATCH it happen, but I Just. Can't. Do. It.

Make them drink their own pee. It's sterile. Gross, but sterile.

 
At 28 August, 2008, Blogger gary rith said...

This is easy. First, kick out the mental patient, minister, attorney and old doctor, and the hell with the biologist.
That leaves:
carpenter, 6 year old child, the 18 year old and 28 year old female students. And ppphhhlllbbbbtttt to the 5 taking the koolaid.
Of course, I would prefer to be the 25 year old carpenter dude myself....

 
At 28 August, 2008, Blogger Fortune Cookies said...

I'm gonna say keep the male biologist, you need his brain and his sperm. Keep the male carpenter,you need his talents and again, his sperm :) the pregnant 28 year old college student - she's a two-for and she's still young enough that she can have more after this one...and of course keep the 6 year old child so she can grow up to teach a new generation what she learned in that shelter about humanity and working together, those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

 
At 28 August, 2008, Blogger LL said...

I say we just encourage more people to comment here, and we'll have plenty in our shelter! :P

 
At 28 August, 2008, Blogger moo said...

Male carpenter, 25 years old
Pregnant college student, 28 years old
Male biologist, 50 years old
Female child, 6 years old

I'm kicking out the doctor so he can take care of everyone else who gets kicked out ;) Good luck surviving THAT one, grandpa!

 
At 28 August, 2008, Blogger Karen said...

Pregnant College student, 28
Female child, 6
Male carpenter, 25
Male biologist, 50

Two males and two females. The pregnant lady sort of counts as 2 people.

 
At 28 August, 2008, Blogger Tawcan said...

Interesting stuff....

Male carpenter, 25
Male physician, 72
Pregnant college student, 28
Female college student, 18

Since you said there's enough food & water it shouldn't be a concern for the pregnant woman. Physician b/c everyone needs one. Carpenter b/c he'd come in handy. 18 year old student just to equal out the ratio.

 
At 28 August, 2008, Blogger Pamer said...

i don't think it matters which 4 stay in the other shelter...i would just invite the other 5 to come stay in our HomeBloy shelter. it doesn't say that our shelter only has enough food etc for us

Come on in peeps and wait out the apocalypse with us!!

 
At 28 August, 2008, Blogger Foo said...

Assuming all are healthy and heterosexual:

1. A male carpenter, 25 years old. - young, breeder, useful skills

5. A pregnant college student, 28 years old. - young, breeder, and a two-fer (unless she and her baby actually count as two people for purposes of the exercise)

6. A female college student, 18 years old. - young, breeder. And even without the age bias, who really wants to save the lawyer?

9. A male physician, 72 years old. useful skills. Unless he shakes or coughs, in which case choose the 50-year-old biologist and hope his biology background makes him a quick study when it comes to medical needs.

I considered keeping the minister but a) he should be prepared to meet his Maker and b) everyone else has most likely found God about the time the bombs started dropping.

 
At 28 August, 2008, Blogger Foo said...

Dammit. I forgot about the 6-year-old. Worthless and a pain in the arse as kids are, I still couldn't kick out a sprog.

So out goes the 18-year old college student.

 
At 28 August, 2008, Blogger Farmer*swife a/k/a Glass_Half_Full said...

Holy Bleepville! First I was all for funny, but then, I was serious, and THEN? I read almost everyone else and got down to gary who surprised me, Seriously gr? Come on?.....

Then, I got a craptastic phone call full of bleepin' bull biskets and the 'shit-scent' that goes with it and NOW I can't even concentrate on my bleepin cooltastic bloggie world cuz' of some pie-hole suckville of a woman who want to raise cain in my Farmville!

SO, angrily? Ummmm. Save the child; save the preggie; save the carpenter (and only, if he's hot, and polite), and, ummmmm..."eeny-miny-moe" the rest for the last spot.

But, play it like a "reality" game. Where, the eeny-miny-moe ends each time with "my mother told me to pick the very best one and you are NOT it. Just to hold the suspense of the hole thing.

[I know. I suck, craptastic with this decision...but, I'm a Glass Half Full Gal and someone just "feced" in my glass.

 
At 29 August, 2008, Blogger Eileen said...

I know I'm late, but...

The pregnant student - a twofer, plus she knows how to do research and one assumes she's reasonably intelligent.

The 6-year old, for obvious reasons.

The female college student - again, assuming she's healthy and reasonably intelligent.

And the physician, because he's the only one who has useful information/skills that can't reasonably be acquired with a little ingenuity and access to a library (we're assuming that where there are college students, there are libraries). I would take the biologist as an alternate in a pinch, for the same reasons...

 
At 29 August, 2008, Blogger Knight said...

All I can do is start with crossing off the obvious people. The mental patient is out and the old man is out.
I think we need the biologist for his knowledge.
We don't need an attorney, she is out.
We don't need a minister he is out.
So now I'm a little ticked we don't know what the college students are studying and what benefit they will be. Let's kill the 18 year old and keep the kids.

 
At 03 September, 2008, Blogger the Bag Lady said...

I'd just make 'em draw straws...wouldn't have that on my conscience.... and I'm not sure I want to stay in our shelter -- michael knight rambo sounds far too eager to start cannibalizing... :)

Must go now and see what your choices were.

 

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