SHTH's Moral Dilemmas1 The Time-travellerPrev TopicNext Topic

• SHTh

  

  United States
  Member #1,959
  August 1, 2003
  42 Posts
  Offline
  May 16, 2005, 10:49 am

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  Hi Everybody,

  
  
  

  I was doing some unrelated lottery research, and I came across an old story about a stockbroker who increased his initial investment of only $800, to a portfolio valued at over $350 million, in only two weeks. He obviously got busted for insider trading and claimed he was a 'time-traveller'.

  
  
  

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  The funniest bits of the article come from the stocker's interrogation:

  
  
  

  "All he wants is to be allowed to do is return to the future in his time craft."

  
  
  

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  "However, he refuses to reveal the location of the machine or discuss how it works, supposedly out of fear the technology could fall into the wrong hands."

  
  
  

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  "In a bid for leniency, Carlssin  has reportedly offered to divulge "historical facts" such as the whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden and a cure for AIDS."

  
  
  

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  Personally I reckon there's some mental illness going on. $800 to $350 million in two weeks goes beyond greedy, even if you couldn't stop yourself!!! Anyway It got me thinking on a moral dilemma for discussion. Quite appropriate over here since the over-hyped remake of 'Dr. Who' series is being shown at the moment.

  
  
  

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  SHTH's Moral Dilemmas: 1: Immeasurable Wealth vs. Humanity

  
  
  

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  If a time traveller paid you a visit, and gave you two choices:

  
  
  

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  1) He would give you only 1 set of jackpot winning numbers, you would be the sole winner for any future draw in any state or country. This would give you time to make arrangements or travel or reside so that you qualified for the draw of your choosing for example $300 million Powerball. (The pounds stronger than the dollar but not that strong!). Also he tells you that neither you or your immediate family or associates will ever win any significant prize.

  
  
  

  2) Two cures for cystic fibrosis & leukemia. The time-traveller would anonymously transfer these cures to a government non-profit scientific organization. There would be no opportunity for you to obtain fame, recognition, profit from this cures. Also he tells you no cure will ever be found for at least 200 years, since these cures died with their creator.

  The time-traveller puts you under no pressure to make a hasty decision. You can have as much time as you want to consider the consequences. But you must make a choice. And no other person will ever be made this offer.

  SHTH

  9 years hunter, 17 weeks trapper. While the pursuits of hunting and trapping may be contiguous activities the ideology and actions involved are easily distinguishable.
• lottolady24

  

  West Palm Beach, Florida
  United States
  Member #14,811
  May 3, 2005
  17 Posts
  Offline
  May 16, 2005, 2:27 pm

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      This can't really be answered honestly by anyone.  Everyone says they would choose the cures because we don't have a suitcase with $300 million in it.  On the other hand, you could argue that you would choose the jackpot, take care of your family and then use $100 million towards research for the very same cause.  I would say the cure personally because my whole family is riddled with cancer including leukemia.  However, you never know what maddness will result from the big Powerball jackpot.  Some people just go wacky.
• MMGuy

  

  Houston, Tx
  United States
  Member #13,043
  March 28, 2005
  119 Posts
  Offline
  May 16, 2005, 4:56 pm

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  That's just a story somebody made up. I saw it on my internet news.
• SHTh

  

  United States
  Member #1,959
  August 1, 2003
  42 Posts
  Offline
  May 18, 2005, 12:17 pm

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  I would still like to hear what choices everyone would make and why? I'll let you know tomorrow what option I would take.
  
  
  
  SHTH.