Abracadabra

Comprehend · Mar 2, 2007

An individual breaks into your house, ties up you and your family including your two small children (if you live alone, imagine you don't). The individual tells you that he/she is going to kill you all and pulls out a plastic spork (this could take a while).

It is apparent you are all about to die.

You (only) happen to have the amazing ability to kill any living thing by looking at it and saying "abracadabra." (the story of how you came to know this is long and unnecessary but know that you have never killed another human; also the irony of the kill word is not lost on you).

You ask yourself, "what would Jesus do?" (or reference what/who ever informs your morality) and then you......

1. Do what?

2. Why? What is your reasoning?

James the Persian · Mar 2, 2007

comprehend said:
An individual breaks into your house, ties up you and your family including your two small children (if you live alone, imagine you don't). The individual tells you that he/she is going to kill you all and pulls out a plastic spork (this could take a while).

It is apparent you are all about to die.

You (only) happen to have the amazing ability to kill any living thing by looking at it and saying "abracadabra." (the story of how you came to know this is long and unnecessary but know that you have never killed another human; also the irony of the kill word is not lost on you).

You ask yourself, "what would Jesus do?" (or reference what/who ever informs your morality) and then you......

1. Do what?

Kill him. No doubt about it.

2. Why? What is your reasoning?

If it was just me, it would be better to sacrifice myself but I have no right to sacrifice somebody else because of the dictates of my faith and conscience. In this instance, taking the life of the assailant and saving the three lives of your spouse and children is the only moral thing to do. Killing might be an evil but in this case it is a necessary one as allowing the avoidable deaths of three people would be a greater evil. I would kill, repent and be ready to accept any consequences, trusting in the mercy of God.

My only question is, why the bizarre scenario? Wouldn't it have been possible to couch the same dilemma in a way which might have at least some slight chance of occurring in real life rather than a fever dream?

James

Comprehend · Mar 2, 2007

JamesThePersian said:
My only question is, why the bizarre scenario? Wouldn't it have been possible to couch the same dilemma in a way which might have at least some slight chance of occurring in real life rather than a fever dream?

James

I thought the bizarre scenario would add a bit of levity to a darker question. I thought adding a little humor and sillyness might help some people consider the situation without being disturbed so much by it. It also might give some people a laugh as they read it.

The way I wrote the question also eliminates guns and many of the emotion that goes with them.

Shadow Wolf · Mar 2, 2007

I'm agreeing with James. Are you sure you're ok? These situations are odd.

I would kill him, and then go back to bed.

I thought adding a little humor and sillyness might help some people consider the situation without being disturbed so much by it.

I'm more disturbed by a goat cheese on the moon, and someone going to kill with a plastic spork.:cover:

Pardus · Mar 2, 2007

Survival trumps all.

autonomous1one1 · Mar 2, 2007

comprehend said:
An individual breaks into your house, ties up you and your family including your two small children (if you live alone, imagine you don't). The individual tells you that he/she is going to kill you all and pulls out a plastic spork (this could take a while).

It is apparent you are all about to die.

You (only) happen to have the amazing ability to kill any living thing by looking at it and saying "abracadabra." (the story of how you came to know this is long and unnecessary but know that you have never killed another human; also the irony of the kill word is not lost on you).

You ask yourself, "what would Jesus do?" (or reference what/who ever informs your morality) and then you......

1. Do what?

2. Why? What is your reasoning?

Greetings. Jesus would not kill. After all, he said 'love your enemies!' Therefore, I would use my other magic power, babracadabra, which immediately immobilizes a person. Then I would demonstrate my abracadabra power by killing a plant in the back yard that I was going to remove anyway to show the would-be killer how lucky he/she was. Then send him/her on their way - converted to Christianity.

jamaesi · Mar 2, 2007

I'd kill them, even if it was just to save my loved ones. I have a right to defend myself.

FatMan · Mar 2, 2007

I would whisper to my kids to say abracadabra after I was killed and let them patent this magical spork that doesn't snap in two when eating a Nachos Grande from Taco Bell.

Real Sorceror · Mar 2, 2007

also the irony of the kill word is not lost on you.

Man, why couldn't I have heat vision or something?

BruceDLimber · Mar 2, 2007

I'm reminded of a story about some guy taking a standardized test who had NO IDEA about the topic being tested!

So since he didn't know the answers, anyway, he just kept repeating the applicable letters in "abracadabra, abacadabra" and wound up receiving some ridiculously high score! :-S

(Yes, I'm well aware such tests are specifically designed so they tend to penalize guessing.)

Cheers!

Bruce

Nanda · Mar 2, 2007

Kill him. I wouldn't even hesitate. I've often been frustrated by movies/plays/stories where a child is being threatened by a killer and the parent hesitates, unsure if they can actually bring themselves to kill another person. If that were my child, the guy would be dog food.

SoyLeche · Mar 2, 2007

BruceDLimber said:
I'm reminded of a story about some guy taking a standardized test who had NO IDEA about the topic being tested!

So since he didn't know the answers, anyway, he just kept repeating the applicable letters in "abracadabra, abacadabra" and wound up receiving some ridiculously high score! :-S

(Yes, I'm well aware such tests are specifically designed so they tend to penalize guessing.)

Cheers!

Bruce

*note to self - if I ever need to make a multiple choice test, put the answers in this order, but start the pattern on the 2nd question. That'll get 'em*

Comprehend · Mar 2, 2007

autonomous1one1 said:
Greetings. Jesus would not kill. After all, he said 'love your enemies!' Therefore, I would use my other magic power, babracadabra, which immediately immobilizes a person. Then I would demonstrate my abracadabra power by killing a plant in the back yard that I was going to remove anyway to show the would-be killer how lucky he/she was. Then send him/her on their way - converted to Christianity.

you don't get to pick that one. sheesh.

here are your choices:

1. you and family are killed slowly by spork.

2. you say abracadabra and kill the perp.

1 or 2 ?

Shadow Wolf · Mar 2, 2007

Man, why couldn't I have heat vision or something?

I could get into a lot of trouble with that. :devil:

Lug · Mar 2, 2007

Seriously, if I was that inclined towards non-violence, I suppose I would just wait for him to tire himself out, or wait for someone else to come along and help, being that I have severe doubts as to the killing ability of a plastic spork.

However pressuming it was a somewhat more lethal weapon, I wouldn't hesitate to use my killing power on him. Not for 1 second.

Steve

Katzpur · Mar 2, 2007

Luke Wolf said:
I would kill him, and then go back to bed.

Oh, man! That cracked me up, Luke. :biglaugh:

autonomous1one1 · Mar 3, 2007

comprehend said:
you don't get to pick that one. sheesh.

here are your choices:

1. you and family are killed slowly by spork.
2. you say abracadabra and kill the perp.
1 or 2 ?

Sheesh is right! Given your imaginary hypothetical situation I should be allowed an imaginary hypothetical answer.

But since you will not abide by my rules,

I will make it black and white and go with #1 - teach the criminal a moral lesson by getting everybody killed.

Do not kill. However, my previous post was making the point that in real life one has the responsibility to prepare to avoid being put into the situation of necessity to kill if possible; take precautions to have other options. Have the babracadabra option to immobilize.

Zephyr · Mar 3, 2007

Kill him. Then kill the corpse. Then kill whatever of him is left. Lather, rinse, repeat.

There is no place for weakness or mercy to this sort of enemy.

angellous_evangellous · Mar 3, 2007

I keep a loaded 12-gauge by the bed just for times like this.

Saying "abracadabra" would only make things a little less messy.

angellous_evangellous · Mar 3, 2007

Jesus would not kill. After all, he said 'love your enemies!'

The earliest Christian tradition would disagree...

2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.

An epistle of Paul written up to 15 years before any of the Gospels.

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