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Permalink Reply by Derek on July 25, 2011 at 9:02pm

It depends on the situation. What is the criterion? Would you kill an ex friend whom you had a mild falling out with? Or what about an ex friend who stole a lover from you? Even so, killing an innocent human is not worth any amount of money to me.

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Permalink Reply by Bobby Rutgers on July 25, 2011 at 9:47pm

I would come up with a way to fake his death and then give him 50 million to move away somewhere :)

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Permalink Reply by Jess Schonberg on July 25, 2011 at 10:42pm

In general, I have no idea because I'm not in that position.

But, it's possible. Mostly because he's the sort that would find something beautiful in that. Especially if I donated most of the money to some grassroots democractic party (like the Green Party of Washington). He's never been the sort of person who's respected his own life much, or found it particularly important to continue it. So, honestly, it would probably be the best for both of us.

He's dead to me already anyway. That would give me the ability to say goodbye, at least.

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Permalink Reply by Kairan Nierde on July 26, 2011 at 12:55am

Ugh.  Hell.  This is an awful question.  The idea of doing it outright is repulsive--justifying it requires that you measure the value of a life.  Is one life worth the benefit of $200 million to X other lives...???  How do you do that 'math?'  I could write an inequality formula for that but I would never be able to solve it.       

 

I suppose I would explain the situation to the old friend (not sure which ex-friend) and let them choose if I should kill them or not and also what would be done with the money...but I would only participate if they weren't coerced, under duress, were of sound mind, and made a charitable donation with most of the money (aside from money for their family).  I would hope they'd tell me and our wealthy benefactor to fuck off.

 

If, however, all these terms were agreed upon, I'm not even sure if I could do it...it's blood money...the means aren't always justified by the ends.  And then, the idea of actually doing the killing is pretty horrific.  Ok, I've unconvinced myself, I couldn't do it.

 

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Permalink Reply by Rick on July 26, 2011 at 8:07am

This sounds like one of those twisted questions from a creationist that tries to prove atheists have no morals.

Either way, my answer is no.

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Permalink Reply by Alan Goldstein on July 26, 2011 at 8:20am

Ok, I’ve got my account information ready. I’d like to spread this over a number of financial institutions. Will this be a “wire transfer”?

Also, I have a number of ex-best friends (amazing how fast people turn on you for sleeping with their wives/daughters/pets, or sh**ing their couch because you passed out ON THEIR BOOZE), so could I get the same offer for each one. Maybe a package deal, say 6 for a billion dollars (you’d be getting one free).

 

Have you thought of offering a bonus for style points, for novel, or inventive ways of offing the ex-friend? I have a number of ideas. One involves hamsters and duct-tape. I even have a half finished device in the basement, I call it “The Tube”. Maybe I could get a cash advance to finish it. If you’d like to see a photo of it let me know.

 

That’s all for now. If I think of anything else, I’ll be in touch.

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Permalink Reply by Boatman on July 26, 2011 at 8:25am

There are three people in my world for whom I would kill, should someone harm them.

 

Anyone else, let the bastard live.  Sooner or later, he (or she - let's not restrict ourselves) will come across someone with lower morals than I, who probably has a greater knowledge of how to do the deed.

 

I tend to view the universe as a self-correcting entity.

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Permalink Reply by Kairan Nierde on July 26, 2011 at 9:47pm

So you believe in Karma...that reminds me of the *nasty* Christian who gleefully imagines their enemies burning for all eternity.

 

I tend to view the universe as random.  Horrible people will suffer, prosper, and come out even.

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Permalink Reply by Derek on July 26, 2011 at 11:01pm

I'm amazed at the number of seemingly rational people who buy into karma and other assorted new age mumbo jumbo. Just like religion, they haven't really thought it through critically. So if someone brings up karma around me, I mention a disabled person and say the following: "so you are telling me this person did something bad in a previous life and now must pay through their disability? What a disgusting belief" I've converted a few to a-karma with that one.

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Permalink Reply by Matthew Walker on July 26, 2011 at 11:06pm

Somewhat along the same lines as, "Why wont your god heal amputees".  Not to mention that 50 Billion dead children in the history of humanity says a thing or two about any system of karma or benevolent gods.

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Permalink Reply by Alan Goldstein on July 27, 2011 at 11:19am

Yeah. Never understod an Atheist believing in karma. There has to be some sort of mechanism to insert karma into the equation. Unless it’s some sort of external intelligence, what could it be. It requires a guiding force. 

 

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Permalink Reply by Alan Goldstein on July 27, 2011 at 11:23am

The notion of karma, is just people trying to inject reason and fairness into a random and uncaring  process. It may make them feel better, but it ain’t real.

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