Most wouldn’t ‘push the button’

Viewpoints

November 17, 2009

Phil Riddle, Democrat Editor

Anonymous The Weatherford Democrat Tue Nov 17, 2009, 03:04 PM CST

The good news is about three-quarters of the voters in this week’s www.weatherforddemocrat.com online poll would not take another’s life for $1 million.

The bad news is, about one in four would.

The poll is not scientific in nature and reflects only the opinions of those who voted.

This week’s question coincides with the recent release of the Movie, “The Box,” in which characters are told they will receive the money if they press a button which would mean someone they do not know would die.

In Friday’s Talk Back section of the Democrat, local residents, without exception, said they would not push the button.

“In all conscientiousness, I couldn’t do it (because of) spiritual convictions,” said Al Warren.

Matt Pesueda agreed, “No. It wouldn’t feel right in the end.”

But, an online post at escapistmagazine.com asking a similar question, only offering just $100 for another’s life, received startlingly different answers.

“I would press that button until my arm fell off,” said one respondent.

“Only a hundred bucks? I’m milking that cow for as much as it’s worth,” said another.

“Now, say it was the original million dollar button, probably 5 pushes would set me for life with proper investing,” said A third.

A fourth was open about his or her intentions, whould the opportunity ever actually arise.

“I would push the button as many times as it takes for me to be the richest (living) person on the planet... or the last if necessary,” they said.

Still another offered a selfish sense of a conscience.

“As long as I didn’t know who I was killing I would push it 40 times,” they said.

The movie, starring Cameron Diaz and Fenk Langella, was praised by critics for its original idea, but panned for its “piecemeal feel.”

Box office response has been lukewarm. The movie, in its third week of widespread release, has fallen from the top ten in weekly ticket sales.

To participate in this week’s poll, visit www.weatherforddemocrat.com and scroll to the bottom of the homepage.

This week’s question - “Should Kay Bailey Hutchison give up her Senate seat while she seeks the GOP gubernatorial candidacy?”

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