SnoopJJan 30
thinking about how there's a true solution to the trolley problem and union workers were the ones to point it out
Show threadSpace Catitude 🚀Jan 30

@SnoopJ

What I particularly love about this is that it completely works as a metaphor as well:

The true solution when you face a "trolley problem" in real life is to study more detail to find additional options. Because no real world situation is ever this binary.

Show threadGraham DownsJan 30

@TerryHancock @SnoopJ I think that's why the hypothetical thought experiment has such urgency built into it. Decide now! Flip the switch or not. Push the fat man or not. Tick tock. Tick tock.

A similar tactic to that used by phishers. And the response is the same: "Nothing is that urgent. Stop. Breathe. Think."

Show threadRoger Moore
@GrahamDowns @TerryHancock @SnoopJ
Of course sometimes people really do have to make snap decisions. One of the ways we can improve our quick decision making is to consider possible cases in detail in advance so we're ready when they come up. That said, we should be more generous judging people forced to make quick decisions.
Jan 30 at 5:47pmWeb
Show threadGraham DownsJan 30

@TerryHancock @SnoopJ @VATVSLPR that's true.

I had a minister once who used to say, "There as nothing so prepared as an off the cuff response."

Obviously he was talking about something else, but I guess that translates here: "There is nothing so prepared as a snap decision."

It makes sense to at least give some thought to what you might do if you were ever so unlucky as to find yourself in a position like this, so that if it were to happen, you at least have some idea on which to base your decision. Even if you can never FULLY prepare yourself for something like this.

Show threadRoger MooreJan 30
@GrahamDowns @TerryHancock @SnoopJ
It's more about being able to make decisions effortlessly than quickly. The idea is to know what to do in a plausible but unfamiliar situation so we don't get overwhelmed by the moment. It's used for all kinds of training, not just ethical questions. It's why people like firefighters and soldiers train so much; they want to be able to respond correctly even when they're under enormous stress.
Show threadGraham DownsJan 31
@TerryHancock @SnoopJ @VATVSLPR yeah, I also thought about something like learning to use a firearm and preparing yourself for the possibility of having to point it at another human being and pull the trigger. All sorts of things like that. Preparing yourself for situations that you hope will never come up, and if you're lucky will never come up, but if they DO come up, you need to be able to react... Effortlessly, as you say. :-)