What Would You Do?
Alright, obviously I don’t know everything about this movie (or the book for that matter), but this whole plot seems a bit silly.
First of all, I want to go on record as saying that I would hit the button AS SOON AS THE WORDS left the man’s mouth. Second, this arbitrary form of control seems predictable as well as fictional.
Taking away any and all mystical aspects of this film, which it may or may not contain, I would accept no responsibility for the subsequent death of any or all individuals that may have died while I was pressing or after I pressed said button.
First off, how is it my fault that a man has decided to attach some fictitious value that connects a life and some button in some box somewhere. I could just as easily say that if you flip some light switch in your living room someone will die. While this may inhibit some from illuminating the room, the need for light may eventually rule out the idea that you will be responsible for someone’s ultimate demise if utilized.
Moreover, the very fact that there is a cause and effect situation put in place does not necessarily bring responsibility to your actions. If I weren’t to believe this guy and flipped the switch am I criminally liable for the death of that executed human being? I would say that I am not. It is the person that executed the individual.
That brings us to my third point. How is this execution going to take place? A bullet, a virus, maybe even old age or natural causes. Again, how am I responsible for someone else’s action of pulling a trigger or whatever needs to happen? I am not their boss and they are acting of their own accord. The best they can say is that the box/button told them to carry out the murder.
Now let’s take this one step further. Even if I did believe that the pressure I apply to that button would kill someone, why would I be held responsible? I’m not suggesting that action would be taken out of malice or knowledge that you wouldn’t get caught. On the contrary, I am stating a corollary: My actions on or about the button/light switch do not have any bearing on the free will of the executioner.
There could be an argument that I, myself, am the executioner however. My answer to this is that I flip on that light every single day. I did not rig it to kill, nor do I have any knowledge or as basis to believe that it could in fact do what the man said.
For those of you who may scoff at this and think that it would be my moral responsibility to not press that button, what would you do if you told the man no, so he said that he was going to give it to a kid and tell him NOT to press it. Or put a sign out that said, free candy if you press this. Or if he put it on the floor of an old woman’s house that had lost her glasses and would inadvertently press it while searching for her dropped glasses. Would it be your responsibility then?
Would it be your responsibility to protect that button no matter what the cost, no matter how long it took, no matter how it affected you or your family?
The answer is simply “no.”
It is not your responsibility. It is the responsibility of the maker/proposer of the situation to do the right thing and not kill someone.
Now, back to my original statement. Would I press it? YES! IMMEDIATELY!!!
I refuse to be troubled by someone else’s game of morality. The object of this game is to make me question my ethics to the point where I would sell them for (it doesn’t matter how much) money. I would simply refuse to give them the satisfaction. I know that that targeted individual would a. die anyway and b. not die unless mandated by God/destiny (whatever you believe).
I refuse to be manipulated in a game where some arrogant man believes he can solve all my problems with money and an ethical dilemma. I would press the button and not take the money. The blood is on his head and he would suffer the consequences. Not only that, but I believe the powers that be would see it my way too.
There is no way that a murder suspect would not be found guilty if his testimony was, “the only reason I shot the person was because he pressed the button. It’s not my fault he pressed it. I had to do it.”
In short, this movie looks dumb.
