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Le Champion

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 8:49 pm
by Infected Mushroom
This is a follow up ethical dilemma scenario to "The Price of Victory":

You were a participant in a cut throat turn-based magical duelling world tournament in which the winner got 2 billion dollars and all non-winners lost 2/3 of their total wealth. You really wanted to be the champion. You made it to the finals where you faced off against a French duelist, Emilia Leblanc, on a floating platform high above the city of Rome.

You were going to win but Leblanc walks to the very edge of the platform and said to you:

"I have come too far to back down now. Either I walk away the champion, or I die. That's how much I am determined to win. You can win. But you'll have to kill me. Are you willing to do what it takes to win?

After some hesitation, you warn her to step away from the edge because you are going to attack. She refuses. When the timer is very close, you order your wizard to attack the Pyramid. The force of the impact knocks Leblanc off the edge of the platform; she screams as she falls through the sky and lands many many stories below on the concrete.

...

Following the above events, Leblanc is hospitalised. She has survived her injuries. However, she is severely and permanently maimed. She's lost the use of both of her legs (from the shattering of the joints), the neural connections to her left arm have also been "severed" by the shock of the impact, making her unable to move it ever again.

You become the Champion and pocket your 2 billion dollars. Unfortunately, after a whole bunch of taxes, surprise twister regulations, and a lot of corruption on the part of the judges, you only pocket 10 million dollars. As per the customs of the games, the law does not come after you for the "attempted murder."

A few weeks later, while Leblanc is still in the hospital, she demands an audience with you. You hesitate but decide to show up in any regard.

Leblanc ironically and coldly congratulates you over your victory, saying that you "deserve" to be the Champion because you did what was necessary. She remarks that she can never walk again and that she basically only has one arm now. She tells you that she hopes you enjoy your win. However, after a few lines of conversation exchange, she blatantly tells you that she hopes you die a slow and painful death and burn in the fires of hell.

You get out before things escalate further.

On your way out of the hospital, you are approached by Leblanc's sister. The sister tells you that Leblanc was supposed to ask you for a favour but was too proud to ask. She apologises on behalf of Leblanc for any unbecoming comments. The sister then tells you the following:

1. After losing 2/3 of her wealth and the rest of the liabilities, play out, Leblanc is in fact in serious financial trouble. She cannot even afford the expensive healthcare treatment that she's undergoing right now (free healthcare/government subsidies of healthcare all over Europe have generally been abolished).

2. The sister then says you should consider giving Leblanc some of the prize money to help her out. Its completely unfair that the runner-up to Champion gets absolutely nothing. "You don't need the entire 10 million, you already get the glory of being the Champion." Why not give her a few millions to help her lick her wounds? "She's going to spend the rest of her life without the use of her legs and with only one hand."

After some verification with your investigators, you find out that the above statements are true.

You have 10 million dollars from the win.

So then what do you do? Do you give Leblanc any money? How much? What is your justification?

(due to the complexity of the scenario, OP reserves the rights to make edits/clarifications)

Because I feel deeply uncomfortable about what I have done and I want to feel like a good person again, I will give her 3 million dollars. Being crippled for life is some serious hardship.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 8:52 pm
by Dogmeat
Screw Leblanc, I have money!

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 9:08 pm
by Bombadil
Can you remind me if she offered to give me any portion of the winnings in her whole 'I'll fall..' gambit, because if not then I don't see why she expects me to give her anything.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 9:14 pm
by Infected Mushroom
Bombadil wrote:Can you remind me if she offered to give me any portion of the winnings in her whole 'I'll fall..' gambit, because if not then I don't see why she expects me to give her anything.


The issue of the prize money was not raised during the match nor during her gambit

Probably fair to assume it was a winner take all mentality at that time

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 9:16 pm
by Bombadil
Infected Mushroom wrote:
Bombadil wrote:Can you remind me if she offered to give me any portion of the winnings in her whole 'I'll fall..' gambit, because if not then I don't see why she expects me to give her anything.


The issue of the prize money was not raised during the match nor during her gambit

Probably fair to assume it was a winner take all mentality at that time


Maybe she should have thought it through better.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 9:18 pm
by Infected Mushroom
Bombadil wrote:
Infected Mushroom wrote:
The issue of the prize money was not raised during the match nor during her gambit

Probably fair to assume it was a winner take all mentality at that time


Maybe she should have thought it through better.


So as Michael corleone might say

“My offer is... Nothing.”

Is that your position?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 9:21 pm
by Valentine Z
$1. She can use it to pay the Ferryman Charon to cross the River Styx.

All's fair in the game, and sure, I feel bad for injuring her, but I wouldn't say all those words if we switched places (that is, I became the injured and she was the victor).

And she brought it upon herself. There's a difference between me coldly doing something and being in control (that is, I chose to injure her), but for this scenario? She chose to attempt to plummet to her own death, so that's her loss and in her control. Could have just accepted defeat and swallow that pride.

Enjoy the $1. You'll need it.

(I would also ask how in the hell I only get 0.5 % of my promised winnings, but I will assume that it went to the mobs, the corruption, and to my mom).

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 9:32 pm
by Bombadil
Infected Mushroom wrote:
Bombadil wrote:
Maybe she should have thought it through better.


So as Michael corleone might say

“My offer is... Nothing.”

Is that your position?


I'll throw her a million.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 9:37 pm
by Infected Mushroom
Valentine Z wrote:$1. She can use it to pay the Ferryman Charon to cross the River Styx.

All's fair in the game, and sure, I feel bad for injuring her, but I wouldn't say all those words if we switched places (that is, I became the injured and she was the victor).

And she brought it upon herself. There's a difference between me coldly doing something and being in control (that is, I chose to injure her), but for this scenario? She chose to attempt to plummet to her own death, so that's her loss and in her control. Could have just accepted defeat and swallow that pride.

Enjoy the $1. You'll need it.

(I would also ask how in the hell I only get 0.5 % of my promised winnings, but I will assume that it went to the mobs, the corruption, and to my mom).


But why not just give nothing?

0_O

Why add to the injury?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 9:38 pm
by Infected Mushroom
Bombadil wrote:
Infected Mushroom wrote:
So as Michael corleone might say

“My offer is... Nothing.”

Is that your position?


I'll throw her a million.


I see...

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 9:39 pm
by Valentine Z
Infected Mushroom wrote:
Valentine Z wrote:$1. She can use it to pay the Ferryman Charon to cross the River Styx.

All's fair in the game, and sure, I feel bad for injuring her, but I wouldn't say all those words if we switched places (that is, I became the injured and she was the victor).

And she brought it upon herself. There's a difference between me coldly doing something and being in control (that is, I chose to injure her), but for this scenario? She chose to attempt to plummet to her own death, so that's her loss and in her control. Could have just accepted defeat and swallow that pride.

Enjoy the $1. You'll need it.

(I would also ask how in the hell I only get 0.5 % of my promised winnings, but I will assume that it went to the mobs, the corruption, and to my mom).


But why not just give nothing?

0_O

Why add to the injury?


Words hurt, man. I mean, I can self-praise that I am not a heartless bastard, but when she used words, I will use a small action to get back at her. ;)

I will probably do this if along the way she insulted my Ma.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 9:40 pm
by Infected Mushroom
Valentine Z wrote:
Infected Mushroom wrote:
But why not just give nothing?

0_O

Why add to the injury?


Words hurt, man. I mean, I can self-praise that I am not a heartless bastard, but when she used words, I will use a small action to get back at her. ;)

I will probably do this if along the way she insulted my Ma.


So it’s in retaliation to her attitude at the hospital meeting?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 9:42 pm
by Valentine Z
Infected Mushroom wrote:
Valentine Z wrote:
Words hurt, man. I mean, I can self-praise that I am not a heartless bastard, but when she used words, I will use a small action to get back at her. ;)

I will probably do this if along the way she insulted my Ma.


So it’s in retaliation to her attitude at the hospital meeting?


Yup.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 9:44 pm
by Infected Mushroom
Valentine Z wrote:
Infected Mushroom wrote:
So it’s in retaliation to her attitude at the hospital meeting?


Yup.


What if she didn’t say those things out of instinctive anger/resentment?

Would she have gotten any money?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 9:55 pm
by Valentine Z
Infected Mushroom wrote:
Valentine Z wrote:
Yup.


What if she didn’t say those things out of instinctive anger/resentment?

Would she have gotten any money?


Maybe a million... or two. Then I will lecture her about how asinine and dumb she was for manipulating me.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 9:59 pm
by Sougra
In the scenario, I'd give her an amount I'd consider acceptable, so long as I'm also able to meet my expenses, because I believe my mom is still hospitalized and I'm still in debt (unless you edited those parts out). I may have won, but that's a fight and this is life, one suggests a certain approach, the other has a completely different one. After a fight, you go ahead and treat the other person no differently than you, and I'd give her some money, just because I'd consider it the right thing to do. Doing a good thing to a horrible human being doesn't negate the fact that it's a good action. Of course that's me, the person.

Would the character from the last one do it? Well, the difference is that your OP in the other one suggested a certain ideology that those who participate in this tournament would prescribe to, as well as there being some logical inferences, but this is being framed as "would I, the person, do it?", at least to me.

But the character from the last one may not, simply because they see it as this being the rightful outcome of her stupid and frankly idiotic gambit. In their eyes, all is fair in love and war. Now, as me the person, I disagree with that, otherwise people wouldn't argue about who was right in any given conflict, but that's another discussion. For them, if you're the loser, lose gracefully, and accept it. They wouldn't expect mercy from the victor, so why should she? Of course, that's just the character, I've already given you my idea as me the person.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 10:33 pm
by Infected Mushroom
Valentine Z wrote:
Infected Mushroom wrote:
What if she didn’t say those things out of instinctive anger/resentment?

Would she have gotten any money?


Maybe a million... or two. Then I will lecture her about how asinine and dumb she was for manipulating me.


so what you're saying is that her pride did her in twice?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 10:42 pm
by Infected Mushroom
Dogmeat wrote:Screw Leblanc, I have money!


so you're not giving her anything?

why not?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 11:05 pm
by Geneviev
She gets all of the money. After all, what happened was my fault in this situation.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 11:12 pm
by The National Salvation Front for Russia
Yeah, I'd fork over enough cash for the medical treatment and not a dime more.

But I'd donate a million or two to some charity so that she might get the benefit if she stops being an asshole.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 11:26 pm
by The Free Joy State
Sougra wrote:In the scenario, I'd give her an amount I'd consider acceptable, so long as I'm also able to meet my expenses, because I believe my mom is still hospitalized and I'm still in debt (unless you edited those parts out).

Last I saw, those parts had been edited out.

As for LeBlanc, she gets the exact amount of money -- to the penny -- needed to cover her medical care. On condition that my character will be photographed donating the money, being sickly sweet and sympathetic to her poor, broken compatriot.

The images of the permanently damaged LeBlanc will then be used as promotional images -- vastly inflated and hung from every wall -- for a multi-million campaign to ban the sport that so injured her (instead funding healthier sports).

With the rest of the money, my character plans to live comfortably on her reputation as a truly charitable person (and the interest).

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 11:30 pm
by Heloin
Why would I visit her in the hospital?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 11:35 pm
by Infected Mushroom
Heloin wrote:Why would I visit her in the hospital?


In part because you didn’t think to refuse and in part because,

As Calvin Candie might say in a thick accent:

“It’s a custom here in this game... that upon the completion of the finals and the winner being decided that the two par-tays... SHAKE HANDS. It’s a gesture of goodwill.”

Needlessly to say the conversation went south with her so you left with no handshake

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 11:36 pm
by The Free Joy State
Heloin wrote:Why would I visit her in the hospital?

*shrug*

Why would I, as a person, have entered the competition? I view it as a character I'm playing.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 11:40 pm
by Heloin
Infected Mushroom wrote:
Heloin wrote:Why would I visit her in the hospital?


In part because you didn’t think to refuse and in part because,

As Calvin Candie might say in a thick accent:

“It’s a custom here in this game... that upon the completion of the finals and the winner being decided that the two par-tays... SHAKE HANDS. It’s a gesture of goodwill.”

Needlessly to say the conversation went south with her so you left with no handshake

Well I'd of just walked over to her mangled body at the bottom of the death Yu-Gi-Oh thing. and shouted "Good Game" as they carted her off, and be done with it.