The IB Game Theory Challenge

1st year that just hit the 6th month wall like an 18 wheeler. Realized I love this job because I'm half cuck half hardo (maybe that's why the protesters hate the word cuckasian). Nonetheless, overheard two IT guys in the elevator today having a conversation that I want to pose on here. Imagine you're sitting at a table. Can be anywhere in the world. In front of you lies a red button. It's big. It's appealing.

If you hit the red button, you die. Instantly. No pain. No violence. It's instant. Sort of like the moment between trying to fall asleep and actually falling asleep. Don't remember that point in your sleep last night? Exactly. Painless and instant. You go right then and there. The alternative is not hitting the button, and anything can happen after. Just like real life. Good or bad.

The first IT guy goes "you would be crazy not to hit that button". Second IT guy goes "bro I'm telling you, I would never hit that button ever." I'm looking at both of them after being plunged through comments and a last rough night on the model thinking "I'd hit that button for all 3 of us right now". 

In all seriousness, the more I think about it, the more I would actually hit that button. Not in an angry or depressed way. Or a vindictive way to myself or anyone. Just me. On all accounts, I've had a good life. I went to a fun school, my Dad gave me a Daytona for graduation, I broke into my dream industry and got my dream job. On paper, I have everything. Which makes it seem all the more reason I would actually hit the button.

For your comments, ask yourself realistically if you think you would hit that button. You might surprise yourself. You never know, maybe you can finally get to the buy side in the next life. Comment your decision and your thoughts. 

-CueThe Saw theme song-

10 Comments
 

I'm sure the comments will be absolute anarchy here. I wouldn't press the button. I like my life but I can see where people on the wrong day would press it. Or who knows, maybe just press it to switch things up like a newly formed lesbian at Middlebury from a christian upbringing. Sort of an interesting question but really asking people how much do you hate your life. 

 

Anyone saying they’d press the button is likely bluffing. Guess what — that button exists! Most of your offices are high enough to where a nosedive into the concrete would take you out instantly. Are you going to do it though? You aren’t because you don’t really want to die — you’re sleep deprived and don’t have a real sense of purpose. If you woke up this morning, there’s a reason you’re on this earth and it’s up to you to figure out why that is. To kill yourself would be to deny yourself that fulfillment.

 

some truth to your comment but I don't think going skydiving off of the roof of BofA would be painless like taping the Staples easy button lol

 

Your brains would be on the other side of the street in milliseconds. Either way, it’s semantics. There are a wide variety of very peaceful tranquil suicide techniques that I’m not going to list out of conscience but the fact of the matter is it’s not that hard to die. Point being, the button problem is very much grounded in reality. Although many say they want end things, they continue to live as most understand deeply internally that this world does have purpose. “There is only one really serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide” - Camus

 

This is not game theory at all. This is just glorifying self-harm and has no place on this site. Either find a way to enjoy your job or find another one. I assume you live in America. If you do, even the poor here live better than kings of old. You don’t have to be a banker to be wildly rich by historical standards. Don’t do banking for the praise of other men; you’ve got to do it for you. Cheers

 

No simply because I think life has a lot of potential to extract a lot of happiness from. And the hypothesis is that you wouldn’t feel any of that when dead (or the bad parts as well of course). So it’s really a question of do you hit that button because you aren’t confident you can extract joy and happiness any further from your life and would rather hit a kill switch to mitigate your risks of having yourself feel worse, or would you rather continue to angle towards having a life where you can feel happy and all that. Likely a myopic view in some cases but that’s how I feel

 

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