Are you a bad person if you choose not to save someone?

[mufa23]

You are given the opportunity to save someone from death.

Are you a bad person for not saving them? Are you a good person for saving them?

[Bitcoin Oz]

The question is would you kill yourself to save someone else.

[mufa23]

The question is would you kill yourself to save someone else.

If they can out preform the good I would do in my lifetime, then yes. It would be logical decision. However, knowing if they would, or wouldn't, outperform myself is pure speculation.

So I would.

Does this pertain to my previous question?

[thebaron]

You are whatever you think you are.

[Snapman]

Depends, if the person is stupid as shit, id just let him die.

You'd be a bad person for re-releasing that tard back into gen pop.

[SgtSpike]

In general, not knowing the circumstances, I'd say yes.  But there are obvious exceptions to the rule, as Snapman points out.

[bitlane]

It also needs to be put into perspective a bit and the risk has to be worth the rewards.
I am not saying that certain human lives have more value than others, but I would most likely risk far more to save a child or young adult, than I would an elderly person.

[chmod755]

It also needs to be put into perspective a bit and the risk has to be worth the rewards.
I am not saying that certain human lives have more value than others, but I would most likely risk far more to save a child or young adult, than I would an elderly person.

Exactly. Many old people don't want to live anymore due to several health issues and loneliness - IMHO saving their lives is not what we're supposed to do (death > painful shitty life).

[Endgame]

You're not a bad person for choosing not to save someone, you're just joe average. On the other hand if you choose to save someone, particularly if it involves some risk to yourself, you're a good person.

[AndrewBUD]

Depends on the situation, If someone slipped and was hanging from a bridge I wouldn't drive by and say Hey look at that! I would help...


Just like a few weeks ago.. some poor old man's brand new Oldsmobile died in the middle of an intersection..... Lost all power nothing would happen... Well I pushed it like 2 blocks in to a parking like my self..... left my car in the middle of the intersection and pushed him to safety

[organofcorti]

Depends on the situation, If someone slipped and was hanging from a bridge I wouldn't drive by and say Hey look at that! I would help...


Just like a few weeks ago.. some poor old man's brand new Oldsmobile died in the middle of an intersection..... Lost all power nothing would happen... Well I pushed it like 2 blocks in to a parking like my self..... left my car in the middle of the intersection and pushed him to safety

You saved an elderly man? chmod755 isn't going to like that.

[AndrewBUD]

Depends on the situation, If someone slipped and was hanging from a bridge I wouldn't drive by and say Hey look at that! I would help...


Just like a few weeks ago.. some poor old man's brand new Oldsmobile died in the middle of an intersection..... Lost all power nothing would happen... Well I pushed it like 2 blocks in to a parking like my self..... left my car in the middle of the intersection and pushed him to safety

You saved an elderly man? chmod755 isn't going to like that.

Well, I had to.... It's not something I would think twice about.... I believe in Karma

[organofcorti]

... It's not something I would think twice about..

I think that most people would have no idea whether or not they'd do what they think they'd do until they were put in your position. Regardless of ideology, you wont find out what seems "right" to you until you face a similar situation to AndrewBUD. I hope most people would respond similarly.

[AndrewBUD]

... It's not something I would think twice about..

I think that most people would have no idea whether or not they'd do what they think they'd do until they were put in your position. Regardless of ideology, you wont find out what seems "right" to you until you face a similar situation to AndrewBUD. I hope most people would respond similarly.

Sad part about the whole situation is that probably 20+ cars passed the guy and all they did was honk and get pissed off because he was in their way......

[chmod755]

You saved an elderly man? chmod755 isn't going to like that.

I just meant that you should let them die, when they don't want to live anymore.

[AndrewBUD]

You saved an elderly man? chmod755 isn't going to like that.

I just meant that you should let them die, when they don't want to live anymore.

Well if they have lived a full life and are very sick and they want to be left alone, that should be an elderly persons choice......

[organofcorti]

You saved an elderly man? chmod755 isn't going to like that.

I just meant that you should let them die, when they don't want to live anymore.

The OP didn't mention anything about them not wanting to live anymore. You might want to amend your post to mention that before taking any action (or lack thereof) you might ask them if they would prefer to be saved or just left to die, and agree to be bound by their preference.

If they were unable to express their preference (for whatever reason, for example because you're only able to watch them from a monitor and save them remotely), what unilateral action would you take for an elderly person?