Would you kill children to become smarter?

[Senkaku]

These threads are solid proof that drugs are bad.

NSG seems to be getting stranger. "Here's a ridiculous situation, what would you do?" threads are getting more common.

And the hypothetical situations are becoming increasingly trollish.

[Ancient Magmia]

Dafuq...

Absolutely not.

[Gorgashia]

What do you think, OP? Can we have your opinion on this?

My opinion: No. Read a book or something of you want to be more intelligent.

[Esternial]

I'd become an abortion doctor.

That would be a surefire way to both make money and gain infinite intelligence.

People would be offering their children to me and I wouldn't feel bad about it.

I outwitted the system.

[Constaniana]

1. Smart enough to be considered the smartest person in history.
2. In every way and in every aspect of your life, you would be mentally superior to every peer.
3. No, but you would never forget it.
4. A random child from {insert the name of a local grocery store here}.

Would you do it?

Still a resounding "hell no" from me.

These threads are solid proof that drugs are bad.

NSG seems to be getting stranger. "Here's a ridiculous situation, what would you do?" threads are getting more common.

I suspect by the end of the month there will be threads like "Would you tickle a potato Miley Cyrus threw at Santa if you received vintage bubble wrap from Tupac as compensation?".

[Senkaku]

That would be a surefire way to both make money and gain infinite intelligence.

People would be offering their children to me and I wouldn't feel bad about it.

I outwitted the system.

....


That's actually quite brilliant.

[Benuty]

Dafuq...

Absolutely not.

The number of Nelson Mandela's on this forum are too damn high!

[God Kefka]

1. How much smarter?

2. Smarter in what way and with respect to which skills?

3. Would I get caught?

4. Which children?

1. Smart enough to be considered the smartest person in history.
2. In every way and in every aspect of your life, you would be mentally superior to every peer.
3. No, but you would never forget it.
4. A random child from {insert the name of a local grocery store here}.

Would you do it?

Sure...

I expect with that kind of intelligence (''in every way and in every aspect... mentally superior to every peer) I would be unstoppable.

I think the good I would accomplish for myself, my friends, my country, my family would far far far outweigh the life just ONE kid (see no. 4, it's just one kid).

Besides, what happens when we die? No one knows. Maybe I've just sent the kid to a better place, in all likelihood he simply ceased to exist (something that happens to all of us inevitably right?). It's not really that evil and unforgivable in the grand scheme of history...

I haven't really changed the pattern of history DIRECTLY in any way except by massively augmenting my own intelligence. The kid's life process was speeded up that's all...

And I wouldn't get caught... so what's the problem?

[Pyre Raiders2]

1. How much smarter?

2. Smarter in what way and with respect to which skills?

3. Would I get caught?

4. Which children?

1. Smart enough to be considered the smartest person in history.
2. In every way and in every aspect of your life, you would be mentally superior to every peer.
3. No, but you would never forget it.
4. A random child from {insert the name of a local grocery store here}.

Would you do it?

Yes, I would. If I were able to use that knowledge for the betterment of society and the human population as a whole, I would do so with little hesitation. I would be willing to carry the burden of also knowing that I am a monster who killed an innocent child. But, I would repent in a way that makes it so no other suffers, ever again. It would benefit humanity and the populations of all other animalistic, insectoid, and such life on the earth. If I were in that child's place, and someone could murder me to do the above, I would want them to murder me. I am but one life compared to the possible benefit of billions now, and billions to come.

[Amerique Royal]

Depends. If it was to become smart enough to solve major issues and make scientific breakthroughs, that would significantly further humanity, it would be the only decision to choose. The furthering of the many for the sacrifice of the few is the only logical solution. If I had to sacrifice myself to further the world to that extent, I would, gladly.

[Wisconsin9]

Would you kill off the entire human populace to secure world peace?

Yes. Death Star 2016.

[Timothia]

The condition is "You will get smarter if you kill this child."
*hands you child*
*hands you your weapon of choice*
What would you do?

I want to know who the child is. How old they are, how bad they've been, psychological traits. Physical disabilities, mental disabilities, that sort of thing.

So you would kill the child is s/he was autistic but wouldn't consider sparing him/her if they weren't? Or if the child was born without a left arm, then it would be OK, but if the child was fully functioning, then you wouldn't?

Fine, I'll play along and provide you a scenario:
You are in a position that you are 100% certain that killing this child would make you mentally superior in every way to every other human currently on planet earth. He is in the first grade and has no known major mental or physical flaws. He is a selfish little guy who's teachers say that he is an all around stinker in class. He's difficult to discipline, but he earns average grades and is of average physical prowess.

[Shaggai]

Depends. How many children, how old, and how much smarter? I mean, yeah, I would totally kill, say, a single newborn infant (who doesn't currently have a mind) if I would then be smart enough cure all diseases, poverty, and global warming. If I had to kill millions of older children and it would raise my IQ by one point? Hell no.

The scenario given is of one who values knowledge for knowledge's sake, not as something used to help others. Their concern is of getting caught, not the ethics behind lives saved for lives ended. It is implied that you are doing this just to become smarter, not receive near-omnipotence.

Well, the quote did say "hyperintelligent". So it's possible that this would save more lives than it would harm. Seriously, though, I really need a more detailed situation before I can make a judgement.

[Regnum Dominae]

No.

Just... what the actual fuck?

[God Kefka]

No.

Just... what the actual fuck?

Well as one Avenged Sevenfold song so famously sings...

''Everybody's gotta die some time...''

[Shaggai]

No.

Just... what the actual fuck?

I think this is sort of asking whether you view human life or personal knowledge as more valuable.

[Timothia]

1. Smart enough to be considered the smartest person in history.
2. In every way and in every aspect of your life, you would be mentally superior to every peer.
3. No, but you would never forget it.
4. A random child from {insert the name of a local grocery store here}.

Would you do it?

Yes, I would. If I were able to use that knowledge for the betterment of society and the human population as a whole, I would do so with little hesitation. I would be willing to carry the burden of also knowing that I am a monster who killed an innocent child. But, I would repent in a way that makes it so no other suffers, ever again. It would benefit humanity and the populations of all other animalistic, insectoid, and such life on the earth. If I were in that child's place, and someone could murder me to do the above, I would want them to murder me. I am but one life compared to the possible benefit of billions now, and billions to come.

1. Smart enough to be considered the smartest person in history.
2. In every way and in every aspect of your life, you would be mentally superior to every peer.
3. No, but you would never forget it.
4. A random child from {insert the name of a local grocery store here}.

Would you do it?

Sure...

I expect with that kind of intelligence (''in every way and in every aspect... mentally superior to every peer) I would be unstoppable.

I think the good I would accomplish for myself, my friends, my country, my family would far far far outweigh the life just ONE kid (see no. 4, it's just one kid).

Besides, what happens when we die? No one knows. Maybe I've just sent the kid to a better place, in all likelihood he simply ceased to exist (something that happens to all of us inevitably right?). It's not really that evil and unforgivable in the grand scheme of history...

I haven't really changed the pattern of history DIRECTLY in any way except by massively augmenting my own intelligence. The kid's life process was speeded up that's all...

And I wouldn't get caught... so what's the problem?

First of all, I'm disgusted.
Second of all, how do we know that you would actually USE your knowledge for the better of mankind? In the end, you could just use it to take control of everything. You could use your knowledge to kill millions more than you saved! Do you mean to tell me that it would be worth it to sacrifice a child on the gamble that you would use your knowledge for good?

Besides, I for one couldn't sleep at night if I knew that I had deprived a child of his or her life because I wanted knowledge. It would haunt me forever, and my conscience would eat at me until I, too, would die. That's not the life I would live, and I have a hard time picturing anyone else wanting it either.

[The Mathematical States]

Yeah, no.

[Benuty]

Would you kill all of humanity by refusing to participate in the yearly sacrifice of 7 youth thus unleashing ancient deities from the slumber to take their wrath out on earth?

[Vetalia]

I just thought of something...if someone was willing to murder children for intelligence, would you really want them in any position of power?

[Timothia]

I just thought of something...if someone was willing to murder children for intelligence, would you really want them in any position of power?

Excellent point. I didn't think of that. I certainly wouldn't...

[The Mathematical States]

I just thought of something...if someone was willing to murder children for intelligence, would you really want them in any position of power?

Exactly.

[Imperia Mlytoria]

Yes. Assuming I could strangle just any ol' kids and there were no magickal-like way for me to get caught beyond police investigations, and the ratio of kids killed to intellect increase is a reasonable tradeoff.

There are plenty of kids in the world, and plenty of them could be murdered and dumped some place in a way that leaves no genuine evidence behind. As stated by the fellow in the quoted post, I care more about my own intellect than random kids I don't know and never will know.

Christ, I hope you're not serious.

Just be glad we live in the real world, where things make sense and I gain no personal advantage from being a serial child murderer.

[Timothia]

Christ, I hope you're not serious.

Just be glad we live in the real world, where things make sense and I gain no personal advantage from being a serial child murderer.

Just knowing that you're out there makes me never want to have children. For their sake.

[Vamtrl]

"Would you strangle strange children in order to become hyperintelligent"

If we go by the quote in your OP then there is a lot of room for interpretation there. Right off the bat, no killing. How long would I have to have my fingers around the neck? If I were to walk up to a child and put my fingers around his neck for 2 seconds, that would count. I would say yea probably.

Would you kill children to become smarter?

This is more direct but I think my answer would be the same.

I'd become an abortion doctor.

They take care of a fetus so its not considered a child. A child is a being between birth and puberty.