As soon as I saw the ads for the movie, the concept horrified me. But it makes me wonder about its terms, and how many people would actually bite on it. So, in the spirit of the classic game show Card Sharks, I pose the following poll question to the masses:
In the movie "The Box", a financially-strapped couple is offered $1,000,000 at the push of a button, but if they do it, someone who the couple doesn't know will die. The question we pose to you is: If someone offered you $1,000,000, but at the cost of a stranger's life, would you take the money?
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Card Sharks poll: "The Box"
Started by Whammy, Nov 03 2009 08:10 AM
17 replies to this topic
#1
Whammy
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Posted 03 November 2009 - 08:10 AM
Stay Way Past Cool!
Brian "Sonic Whammy" Sapinski
Sonic Whammy Enterprises (Take our Card Sharks survey!)
Host of Anime Game Show Super Show
Brian "Sonic Whammy" Sapinski
Sonic Whammy Enterprises (Take our Card Sharks survey!)
Host of Anime Game Show Super Show
#2
Vlad Yvhv
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Posted 03 November 2009 - 05:08 PM
Wasn't this movie an episode of Tales from the Darkside or one of those type of shows?
Projection: If Intruder Organsim reaches civilized areas...
Entire world population infected 2,7000 hours from first contact.
#3
Kaotix
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Posted 04 November 2009 - 06:41 AM
I seem to remember a youtube video or soemthing someone created that was this premise a coupel years ago. It had the button and everything.
"He who is strong conquers others. He who is mighty conquers himself."
#4
chalcara
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Oh the stupidity!
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Posted 04 November 2009 - 07:04 AM
No. I wouldn't. Under no circumstances.
Goes straight against my ethics.
Goes straight against my ethics.
Read my comic Traces of Chaos - currently updating Thursdays
Visit my blog Imaginary Skies - Happily building Cloud-Castles since 1981.
"Ivanova is always right. I will listen to Ivanova. I will not ignore Ivanova's recommendations. Ivanova is God. And if this ever happens again, Ivanova will personally rip your lungs out!"
Susan Ivanova, Babylon 5
Visit my blog Imaginary Skies - Happily building Cloud-Castles since 1981.
"Ivanova is always right. I will listen to Ivanova. I will not ignore Ivanova's recommendations. Ivanova is God. And if this ever happens again, Ivanova will personally rip your lungs out!"
Susan Ivanova, Babylon 5
#5
salamander
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Posted 04 November 2009 - 01:39 PM
I wouldn't. I don't want sudden wealth anyhow, and I don't think I could live with myself knowing I was selfish enough to take someone else's life for my own profit.
#6
John Roberts
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Posted 04 November 2009 - 02:53 PM
Quite the dilemma. A million dollars can secure you and your loved ones for the rest of your life. In doing so you are denying someone else the rest of their life. No thanks. I already kind of have blood on my hands with my last deployment (and I was paid well for it). Really can't do that again.
6620
9:06
9:06
#7
Morgan
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Posted 04 November 2009 - 03:52 PM
A million dollars at the price of someone else's life? No. And I like earning my own money, so even if it was freely offered without someone having to die for it, I'd still turn it down.
#8
furrykef
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Posted 04 November 2009 - 04:49 PM
Quite a dilemma for me. Not because I value both money and human life, but in fact because I have contempt for both money and human life. 
If I got the box, I'd probably do nothing out of sheer apathy. But I'd probably keep the box where nobody else can use it, 'cause, well, it is easy to value human life more than $1,000,000 if you're not the guy who's gonna get the $1,000,000.
- Kef
If I got the box, I'd probably do nothing out of sheer apathy. But I'd probably keep the box where nobody else can use it, 'cause, well, it is easy to value human life more than $1,000,000 if you're not the guy who's gonna get the $1,000,000.
- Kef
#9
John Roberts
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It's a nativity scene, except nobody here is wise
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Posted 04 November 2009 - 08:40 PM
QUOTE (Morgan @ Nov 5 2009, 09:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
And I like earning my own money, so even if it was freely offered without someone having to die for it, I'd still turn it down.
What are you, nuts? I like earning money too, but if someone wanted to hand me a million dollars without any strings attached there would be no fucking hesitation accepting.
6620
9:06
9:06
#10
CTM
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Posted 06 November 2009 - 08:15 AM
QUOTE (VladYvhv @ Nov 3 2009, 07:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Wasn't this movie an episode of Tales from the Darkside or one of those type of shows?
It was an episode of the 80s Twilight Zone, as well as a short story. It's been adapted a few times.
Now being a full-fledged Hollywood movie, though, I'm sure its moral message won't have nearly as much relevance to it. They tend to screw those things up for things like "action" and "excitement".
There's only one CTM.
#11
chief
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Posted 06 November 2009 - 07:09 PM
A million dollars for the death of a stranger... Yep. Id do it. Set my daughter up for good school, good life..
But if it was a million dollars and could be anyone, including someone in my family... then no.
But if it was a million dollars and could be anyone, including someone in my family... then no.
#12
Vlad Yvhv
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Posted 06 November 2009 - 07:11 PM
I don't know about the movie, but old episode version, it was someone they assure you will never know. And once it's done, the box is given to someone they assure you that doesn't know you.
Projection: If Intruder Organsim reaches civilized areas...
Entire world population infected 2,7000 hours from first contact.
#13
salamander
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Posted 06 November 2009 - 07:24 PM
Wasn't there a sneaky twist in one of the versions where I'm not sure if that really happened, but you've always got to be careful of semantics, especially if you're in a twilight zone episode..
Spoiler:
#14
Vlad Yvhv
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Posted 06 November 2009 - 07:38 PM
Hmm... That wasn't in the version that I saw, but it could be in another version...
Projection: If Intruder Organsim reaches civilized areas...
Entire world population infected 2,7000 hours from first contact.
#15
chalcara
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Oh the stupidity!
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Posted 09 November 2009 - 04:16 AM
QUOTE (VladYvhv @ Nov 7 2009, 04:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hmm... That wasn't in the version that I saw, but it could be in another version...
The twist *I*'d add is that the person that'll die is the guy/gal who used the damn box last. Easy enough to do under constraints outlayed by VladYvhv.
Fair's fair.
Read my comic Traces of Chaos - currently updating Thursdays
Visit my blog Imaginary Skies - Happily building Cloud-Castles since 1981.
"Ivanova is always right. I will listen to Ivanova. I will not ignore Ivanova's recommendations. Ivanova is God. And if this ever happens again, Ivanova will personally rip your lungs out!"
Susan Ivanova, Babylon 5
Visit my blog Imaginary Skies - Happily building Cloud-Castles since 1981.
"Ivanova is always right. I will listen to Ivanova. I will not ignore Ivanova's recommendations. Ivanova is God. And if this ever happens again, Ivanova will personally rip your lungs out!"
Susan Ivanova, Babylon 5
#16
Vlad Yvhv
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Posted 09 November 2009 - 05:37 PM
QUOTE (chalcara @ Nov 9 2009, 06:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The twist *I*'d add is that the person that'll die is the guy/gal who used the damn box last. Easy enough to do under constraints outlayed by VladYvhv.
Fair's fair.
Fair's fair.
I belive that's what they were implying... Or at least attempting to imply...
Projection: If Intruder Organsim reaches civilized areas...
Entire world population infected 2,7000 hours from first contact.
#17
CTM
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Posted 09 November 2009 - 07:18 PM
That is the implication, without stating it outright. The uncertainty the former user has to live with for the rest of her life is what drives the point home when the episode ends. The original short story was a bit different, taking the route salamander was thoughtful to include in spoiler tags (a route that was far less inspiring or thought-provoking, in my opinion). As for the film...well, it's feature-length, so Hollywood will need to find ways to pad it out.
Has anyone actually seen it yet?
Has anyone actually seen it yet?
There's only one CTM.
#18
Misk
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Posted 09 November 2009 - 07:23 PM
It would all depend.
1. If it truly was someone I did not know even existed.
2. If I would be held accountable for the death or not.
3. If am rendered immune to another users use of it and/or the box is only available to me and me alone,
4. And if the above conditions are met, then the final condition will depend on a coin toss.
1. If it truly was someone I did not know even existed.
2. If I would be held accountable for the death or not.
3. If am rendered immune to another users use of it and/or the box is only available to me and me alone,
4. And if the above conditions are met, then the final condition will depend on a coin toss.
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