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Comment by c3534l | Hacker News Reader

The fact that its so low is kind of disturbing, and the fact that you're so cynical about it being so high means maybe you should reassess your values.

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Values don't mean anything if you're dead. Five complete strangers? Knowing how terrible people are, they would probably save themselves too if they could. Every man for himself.

That's such a sad perspective. I hope you have the chance to have the life experience in the future to make you think otherwise.

Life experience that would make me want to want to die if I was in this scenario? I sincerely hope I don't experience anything like that.

But I'm glad that innocent-minded people like you exist. Here's a question, if you had the choice between killing me or yourself, who would you choose?

I would not let myself die to save one person, but I certainly might to save two people. (There are lots of assumptions that go into this, of course.)

"you" are not the thoughts and emotions that happens to reside in some sack of meat. Or at least that's not a complete picture. In some sense "ask not for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee" should be taken literally. 100% individualism is not the only mode of being a person, and not the default or "best" mode.

These are mostly gut feelings and unfinished thoughts. I'm not sure about any parts of it except "it's not a complete picture". I'd love to hear any thoughts on this and reading recommendations are welcomed.

> Knowing how terrible people are,...

I am probably just as terrible in their eyes.

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