The Magic Button

[drscott]

One of the conventional types of science fiction story has the hero discover some "magic" device -- a time-traveling watch, invisibility, teleportation. Usually this leads to trouble -- rarely does the hero act cautiously in exploring the parameters of this new power.

So here's my question: suppose you came into possession of a magic button that allowed you to painlessly remove from existence any person or persons of your choice at the moment you pushed it. Would you use it? And on who?

Comments

[cowboygreg.livejournal.com]

Hell, no, I'm not pushing that button. Despite the existence of many, many annoying (and worse than annoying) people on this planet, some of whom I'm forced to interact with and others who just enrage or nauseate me from a distance, the responsible use of god-like powers requires god-like omniscience; and the last time I looked, I was anything but omniscient.

If I've learned anything in life, it's that the Law Of Unintended Consequences has a nasty habit of biting you in the ass when you're least expecting it. So, despite the existence of nouveu riche assholes in luxury cars who think they're exempt from the rules of the road, Gateway Computer Company and their customer disservice 'droids, and my brother... the button will remain firmly un-pushed while in my posession.

[apparentparadox]

I basically agree. I wouldn't use the button. It's like the whole "if you could go back in time, would you kill Hitler as a baby?" thing. You don't know what the world would be like if Hitler hadn't been born or died at an early age. Things might be better, or they might be worse.

I certainly didn't like some aspects of my growing up, and sometimes wish that certain things had been different, but those things all helped to make me the person that I am today -- and I'm getting to the point where I really like that person. Who knows what kind of person I would be if even those minor events in my own life hadn't happened. Trying to change something major that affects lots of people? No way would I risk that.