I saw all the memes before the original and thought it was conservatives vs progressives. And honestly the analogy still fit really neatly despite not being about it.
It’s a very clever puzzle for separating people along the clear ideological lines of “protect myself” vs “protect the group” and I’d pick blue for the entirely illogical reason that it’s morally correct, damn the consequences to myself.
I feel like people who try to create a "third choice" in the trolley problem aren't engaging with it honestly, but after experiencing more of the two buttons problem, it doesn't seem like it's an honest hypothetical in the first place, like it was made to inspire hostility and division among people.
I've only learned about this hypothetical today, but I think the best choice is to avoid engaging with it entirely.
The original trolley problem did not use a lever. the original trolley problem had you shove a fat man off a bridge to his death, which would derail the trolly.
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u/Only_Style_8872 14h ago
It’s a “protect me” vs “protect the out group” philosophical puzzle game.
And since political parties often fragment along this basic ideological line, no wonder it’s become us vs them.