thinking about how there's a true solution to the trolley problem and union workers were the ones to point it out
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@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.
@ZenHeathen @SnoopJ right - that decision isn't a vacuum, there's infrastructure (a whole damn railway) built up before this moment.
maybe you face harsh consequences for slipping the switch, maybe you don't have a union and your risk tolerance that day with your kids means you can't - either way, if you see a trolley switch being built into someone else's /future/, do something about it before they're forced to make that choice.
get them the support to change the infrastructure around them :)
@SnoopJ "There is one person on board the trolly" the question giver says, grinning ear-to-ear.
@scottmichaud they might get a bruise, but I'll take it!
Relatedly, in looking this image up again, I saw someone frame the trolley problem as "you are ON a trolley..." which is an impressive level of misunderstanding of both the problem and how switches work
@SnoopJ Or they played Star Fox 64.
@scottmichaud a level well loved by score runners for its many shootable objects!
@SnoopJ Oh hey it turns 29 in a couple months. Neat.