A big red button

[annwfyn]

This is a random pondering

Comments

[adze]

Firstly, I don't agree that it wouldn't be your fault - you'd still be making it happen.

But either way, I couldn't do it, probably not even if I could pick who it was. If anything, not controlling who it effects makes me even less likely to, as on any given day, the list of people I dislike changes!

[madwitch]

I was, many years ago, offered access to the big red button (not actually a button, you know what I mean), with reference to a specific person. I said no.

[andrewducker]

I would be very, very tempted.

I'd like to hope I'd resist.

[lanfykins]

No, I think I wouldn't.

I'd want to. I'd be very tempted. I'd start lifting a hand a few times. But:

a) Those people I want dead? I want to do it up close and personal, so they damn well know who's killed them and why, and so that I can feel it.
b) I worry what that act would do to me as a person. Would I start to turn into someone I wouldn't like very much? Or would I feel guilt and regret over it for the rest of my life? How would I feel, knowing I had done a thing that my friends would turn away from me if they knew about it? Would I feel like I was living a lie every time I hung out with them, knowing it was only possible because I was keeping something big and fundamental a secret from them?

So... two very contradictory reasons there, but then that's me all over :)

[nickys]

Trouble is things like evil regimes are a bit like hydras.
Cutting off the head can make the problem worse.