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thinking about how there's a true solution to the trolley problem and union workers were the ones to point it out
in reply to 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.

in reply to SnoopJ

The real solution to the trolley problem is to understand that it's not a problem, in the sense that it's presented.

You are given two options, both of which suck. But *you* didn't set this situation up. This situation is *the system*, and you are being told you're responsible for the outcome. You are not. Since only your hand is close enough to the lever, you can make a difference, but the fact that the problem exists in the first place, and therefore any outcome, is the responsibility of The System, not you. The System tries to make you think it's about you, that it's your fault this is happening, that whoever dies, it's on you. It is not. Don't believe what The System is telling you. You may be forced to live within it, but its evil outcomes are not truly your responsibility. The right answer is that, whatever you choose to do with that lever, proceed to work to dismantle The System that put those people on the track and sent the trolley toward them in the first place.

in reply to SnoopJ

I love this. Lateral thinking, in this case by very practically minded people who understand the real world mechanics, allows for the rejection of a problem set up by someone who has some hidden agenda.

If presented with two bad choices, pick the third.

in reply to SnoopJ

And we know it works, too, because this is how old-timey train robbers got it done in the steam era
in reply to SnoopJ

Isn't that the same thing all of the "drift the trolley across both tracks to hit everyone" are suggesting?
in reply to Klaus Frank

@agowa338 an ideal solution if it takes out people who pose trolley problems

@SnoopJ

in reply to Becca

@bweller
As if the people proposing it would be chained to the track.

They're standing where the picture is being taken from...

in reply to SnoopJ

what i love most about this is the smile and the thumbs up on the guy operating the switch
in reply to crouton

@crouton their union card says "don't panic" on the back, I bet
in reply to SnoopJ

this does work and unless it's a high-speed trolley or the switch prevents changes unless the train cleared it (as it the standard in Germany), this will block the trolley in it.