If you were dying, and had the opportunity to live at the cost of another's life, would you?

At first glance I would like to claim to be a noble humanitarian and claim that my life is worth no more than anyone else, and that I would be willing to give my life for another but then I thought again. I wouldn't take the life of my wife or my children, beyond that, I can't say for certain that I would not choose to live at another's expense. The will to survive runs deep in the human psyche, and there are times when our instinct seemingly takes over.

Having been in life threatening situations more than once, I can tell you that it is impossible to predict how you will react. It seemed as if my conscious mind shut down and my subconscious carried out what was necessary to survive. So theoretically, sitting around the campfire, we can all talk about and plan for exactly how we would react in many situations.

When we are faced with them in real life, it may be surprising how differently we may react.

Well I would do anything to keep living while I still have kids at home so yes I would like to remain living even at the cost of an innocent life. My ex has nothing to do with our kids, so I need to all the parenting stuff (encouragement, discipline, and well everything). It may sound odd to some but I need to be here for them, and my kids are what keeps me here on earth.

I could not imagine thrusting him into that role now that they are older.. but few times during those awful teenage years I would have given them to him gladly ,, I am joking of course .. the teen yrs are tough for those of you who have not been there.

If I were dying and will be given an opportunity to live at the cost of another's life, I think I will be tempted to accept the offer but up to that point only. It is a very tempting offer because I don't want to leave my children and my family behind. I am only human and I think it is natural for us to have that survival instinct to protect life or prolong life.

But on second thought, I know how it feels to be left behind. I thought it would take me forever when my father left us. I was really devastated at that time.

If I am going to live at the expense of another person's life, then I will forever feel guilty and will not be at peace with myself for grabbing that chance because the person that gave me this life will leave his/her family behind and I know that is very painful for them. I cannot be happy completely for my "extended" at the expense of others unhappiness. I know that if I am dying, that is God's plan for me and He will not take care of my family for me.

That is my assurance and I will no longer hold on to dear life especially at the cost of another one's life.

Maybe. Depending on the circumstances and only if it were legal.

It depends. Right now I can say no. But I'm not dying.

I've never felt the fear of death with death directly in front of my face. I might change my mind when I know that I'm really about to die and that I can have a chance to live again. People do all sort of things out of desperation.

I just hope that when it came to that, I could make a fair decision. I wouldn't sacrifice an innocent life for my own, but I would do it in a heartbeat if the other person was a criminal.

Can I pick them. My children-of course not. A bum who sleeps on the street-maybe?

A mass murderer-definately.

It would depend upon who it was. I honestly don't believe all people were "created" or are equal. Not everyone contributes as much, is as valuable, etc.I would not inherently say I'd take a criminal's life for my own, because maybe that criminal is actually a decent person, who will do good (yes, I have known good criminals).

But if I knew the person was socially useless, predatory towards others, or doing harm to the world, I would trade to keep alive. I wouldn't feel bad about it.No has a "right" to anything. I would feel a moral obligation to let someone as good or better than me live, but that's only my own value system.

I would also feel obligated to live a good life and help others, though I believe that's an obligation all should have anyway.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.