Would you... ? (serious question!!)

[Drisos]

Would you give your life for your wife/girlfriend/girl/woman you love ?

I think it is an intresting question... Most will think 'yes' right away. But, first, think really good about it. Do you really value her life more then yours?

Lately I came in a life-treathening situation... I don't want to talk more of it. It did not concern the same.. but concerned 'would you sacrifice your health for justice?'. Beforehand I told myself to do so... however on moment itself I did not act the way I wanted. It is really hard to do so.. I was like 'stoned' when it happened. All went too fast.. I couldn't think at all, and just stood there. This made me think of the question above.

At this moment I am in love.. and I value her life more then mine. She is a better person, and younger. I can only hope I will act after if such event ever takes place. If not, I will feel guilty the rest of my life... If so, I die 'in honour'..

how about you?

[English assassin]

As my wife is also my children's mother, and as, if they had to have only one parent, it had probably better be the mother, then yes, or at least, I hope so.

Of course come the time I might come over all Winston Smith, who can say in advance? But I would hope not.

Besides, it would be nice to have a rest.

[Fragony]

Lately I came in a life-treathening situation... I don't want to talk more of it. It did not concern the same.. but concerned 'would you sacrifice your health for justice?'. Beforehand I told myself to do so... however on moment itself I did not act the way I wanted. It is really hard to do so.. I was like 'stoned' when it happened. All went too fast.. I couldn't think at all, and just stood there. This made me think of the question above.

Agression is a very scary thing.

@original question, if you say risk then yes, sacrifice is a bit harder....

[Samurai Waki]

Yes. I'm a person that has always been ruled over by my emotions, my sense of honour, loyalty, and sacrifice are rarely seen in many people these days. I must say that getting into my little circle of trust is a difficult thing, but once your in it is my life for theirs.

[Lemur]

I have two kids, so I can't imagine not sacrificing myself for them. As for my wife, I would sacrifice either of us for them. I think we're both pretty good parents, so I would not have a real preference over which of us should be sacrificed. Hypothetically, of course.

I guess my first priority now is the welfare of my little lemurs. Everything else is secondary.

[doc_bean]

In all honesty, I can't answer that question. I'd like to think so oof course, but I've noticed before, that I don't always act like I know I should, sometimes very unexpected.

[Drisos]

Yes.. it is weird. In some situations your brains seem to shut off you mind.. :S

[Craterus]

I'd like to think I would but if a situation came around who knows what I'd do?

On a similar note, I'm having a recurring dream that my name will be the next in the newspaper headlines of another British teen being stabbed to death by some chav.

[lancelot]

I have two kids, so I can't imagine not sacrificing myself for them. As for my wife, I would sacrifice either of us for them. I think we're both pretty good parents, so I would not have a real preference over which of us should be sacrificed. Hypothetically, of course.

I guess my first priority now is the welfare of my little lemurs. Everything else is secondary.

I dont have kids (or a wife) so I cant really answer this scenario properly but from right now...aka a no kids or wife perspective...I have a gut feeling that I would be very torn between saving my wife and a child...is that really wrong?

For example...If my (hypothetical wife) was gonna die in child birth and I had to make the call- wife or unborn child...my gut feeling at the moment right here and now...without either... would be to save my wife.

Even as I say that it seems messed up to me but I somehow feel that is the road I would choose...yet I cant seem to shake the feeling that that course of action is somehow morally unsound...

Id like to hear the thoughts of a father and husband on this.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

If I had a wife, maybe.

Girlfriend? No. Don't want to sound heartless, but no.

[Ludens]

Yes.. it is weird. In some situations your brains seem to shut off you mind.. :S

Not really. In danger situations you often don't have time to think. Instead, it is usually best to rely on your instincts: they have been honed by millions of years of evolution. So this is what happens: your higher brain areas are switched off and decisions are turned over to the more primitive (and faster) structures. This is why people often react differently in panic-situations than they think they will. Simply put: you don't think when you are panicking, except on a primal level. And off course instincts don't take morality into account: it is just about survival. Also, evolution has not yet adapted to the complexity of the human world, so instictive reactions are not necessarily the right ones.

To answer your question: I don't think I would. If I didn't panic, and had a few seconds to think, then perhaps I would. But otherwise, I would just try to save my own skin. Off course, being without a significant other, this is rather academic for me.

[UglyandHasty]

I think i would, but we will never know if that situation never show up.

For my son, i know i would. Anything, anytime .... I think i would even risk my life to save a child that isnt mine.

[Cowhead418]

I've never even been remotely in love so I can't really give a good answer to this question. To echo evil's thoughts, I'd like to think so if I had a wife, but I really don't think I would sacrifice my life for a girlfriend.

[Rodion Romanovich]

give my life for someone I loved? Maybe if it was my wife and she was pregnant with my child (I would of course need a DNA test before making that conclusion) or if it was my child and I'd be sure that my sacrifice would save my wife+embryo or child, respectively. All other forms of sacrifice would seem pointless and not very strategical, unless the person I'd sacrifice for has made a DNA test and it turns out his/her DNA is very similar to my own so that his/her survival would be little different from my survival in a genetical long-run perspective, and that person would have good chances of surviving and getting a good wife/husband and offspring if I sacrified myself for him/her. Plus finally "tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat, strategy without tactics is the slowest way to victory" - strategy is more important than tactics and if possible by planning ahead (strategy) the situation of possible need for sacrifice (demand for tactics) should be prevented from happening at all in the first place.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Lemur]

For example...If my (hypothetical wife) was gonna die in child birth and I had to make the call- wife or unborn child...my gut feeling at the moment right here and now...without either... would be to save my wife.

Even as I say that it seems messed up to me but I somehow feel that is the road I would choose...yet I cant seem to shake the feeling that that course of action is somehow morally unsound...

Id like to hear the thoughts of a father and husband on this.

I think the answer would really depend on the husband/father you ask. There will probably be some variation among us.

Personally, in a situation like you describe, my first priority would be my child. New life trumps old life, I guess. It's probably messed up to say so, but I suspect my wife would have the same answer. We're really tuned into the parenting thing. Perhaps when the little lemurs are older we will feel differently, but right now, with a two-month-old at home, there's nothing I can imagine which I wouldn't sacrifice for her well-being.

[Keba]

For a select few people ... sure. I never truly valued my life overmuch ... I mean, I like it, but it's not all that it's cracked up to be. Besides, I'm curious as to what happens afterwards (I'm the type of person to push the DO NOT PUSH buttons).

However, the question is is the person at risk worth it. Someone I love, a best friend, family, then yes ... but otherwise, no, thank you, I'll pass.

[Csargo]

Yes or at least I would like to think I would.

[Avicenna]

Yes, I think so.

[IrishArmenian]

Well, seeing as she's already pregnant (haven't told parents yet, will do tht after marriage) I would sacrifice myself for her without thinking. I have risked my life for my friends, soldiers and those higher in rank than me (but not as much because they are not my rseponsibilty) so why wouldn't I sacrifice myself for the woman who I LOVE. Upon further thinking, it is an even more resounding YES.

[GoreBag]

If I had a wife, maybe.

Girlfriend? No. Don't want to sound heartless, but no.

Honesty can't be heartless. I would not, either.

[Reverend Joe]

I have not a woman I love. But I know that, if I did, I would. Just a gut instinct.

[naut]

I have not a woman I love. But I know that, if I did, I would. Just a gut instinct.

Same.

[The Spartan (Returns)]

If I had a wife, maybe.

Girlfriend? No. Don't want to sound heartless, but no.

I agree.

[Dutch_guy]

Yes or at least I would like to think I would.

Yes indeed, I agree.

[Fragony]

Well, seeing as she's already pregnant (haven't told parents yet, will do tht after marriage)

Congrats!

[Ice]

Most likely if I loved the woman. I've never been in love before though (atleast I don't think) so I really can't answer the question fully.