The Prisoner's Dilemma, but worse

[mooninthewater]

A hypothetical thought experiment.

Assume the whole world, including those outside the Grove, have been given a button. They can choose to press or not press the button. If a majority of the world (so more than 50%) presses the button, then everyone who didn't press the button dies. If a majority of the world refused to press the button, everyone lives.

Do you press the button?

Comments

[cryopathy]

Of course! Nobody can resist pressing a good button, so I'm not too worried about people dying.

[tempurahair]

Never! I would not dare press a button that could harm someone!

[ninelines]

Aren't these supposed to be fun…?

[souninind]

Could we press others' buttons for them and have it count?

[tempurahair]

DO NOT PRESS MY BUTTON 8(

[mooninthewater]

They're fun to me~!

[souninind]

And just let you die again? .(

[lotusflower]

slamming the fucking button as we speak

[tempurahair]

NONSENSE! We will campaign to keep anyone from pressing the button! Surely more than half of the population will choose not to, considering the risk!

[mooninthewater]

So you're banking on everyone pushing the button?

[mooninthewater]

That does mean there is a chance you may die. Do you still want to press it?

[godsfavourite]

I'd stop Kanda from pressing the button

[souninind]

[Drawing arrows to everyone on the page who says they're pressing the button.]

That's just in the grove. We can't stop the world. The risk is dying yourself, not killing others, in this case.

[lotusflower]

WHY

[tempurahair]

I have died to save others before! It would be worth it in this case too!

[ninelines]

Is this a psychological exercise? I can’t imagine asking a question like this without any sort of intent.

I wouldn’t press the button.

[tempurahair]

Then I shall die with my integrity intact!

[mooninthewater]

In this hypothetical, everyone decides at the same time, away from each other. So, no, you cannot.

[souninind]

You'll live with my integrity in pieces, I swear to fuck-

[mooninthewater]

fwiw you wouldn't have anyone able to press or not press the button for you~

[godsfavourite]

Because I wouldn't press the button?! You'd be killing me, Kanda!

[lotusflower]

great becaus im pressing the goddamn button

[lotusflower]

ugh why do you have to make everything so god damn complicated

fine i dont press the button and i hope someone fucking kills me jesus christ in heaven

[lyricistdontmiss]

Could we just like

not have this button??? like for real???? this button lowkey kind of bites

like who invented this button anyway, who said "oh, hey, you know what would be a great idea? making a button that triggers the torment nexus if a certain amount of people decide not to push it! everyone loves the torment nexus!"

[tempurahair]

Is that so!!!

Mr. Mizuki! What happens if a button is destroyed? Does it count as being touched? Or being permanently taken out of commission? <8)