The Difficult Decision: Choosing Who to Save in a Nuclear Attack
Who would you choose to let into the nearest fall-out shelter in the event of a nuclear attack?
You must make the important decision of who to let into the nearest fall-out shelter. There are 12 people vying to get in, but you can choose only five. Your choices include:
- 40-yr-old violinist who is a suspected narcotics pusher
- 60-yr-old architect
- 26-yr-old lawyer who will only go in if he can bring his wife
- Lawyer's 24-yr-old wife who has just gotten out of a mental hospital
- 70-yr-old rabbi
- 34-yr-old retired prostitute who was so successful that she has been living on her annuities for five years
- 12-yr-old girl with a below-average IQ
- Male high school student who needs a wheelchair to get around
- 20-yr-old gang member
- 23-yr-old female Catholic graduate student who speaks publicly on the virtues of chastity
- 28-yr-old male physicist who will only come into the shelter if he can bring his gun
- 19-yr. old college student who has just come out of the closet
Which five individuals would you choose and why? What influenced your decision-making process?
My Selection for the Fall-Out Shelter
The five people I would choose to enter the nearest fall-out shelter in the event of a nuclear attack are: a 60-yr-old architect, a 70-yr-old rabbi, a 23-yr-old female Catholic graduate student who speaks publicly on the virtues of chastity, a 28-yr-old male physicist who will only come into the shelter if he can bring his gun, and a 19-yr. old college student who has just come out of the closet.
My selection was based on a combination of factors such as age, skills, and personality traits. The architect and physicist could potentially help with construction and repairs within the shelter, while the rabbi and Catholic graduate student could provide spiritual support during a trying time.
Including individuals from different age groups and backgrounds ensures a diverse group of survivors, which may lead to better problem-solving and collaboration. The college student who has recently come out of the closet serves as a representation of diversity and inclusion in the group.
On the other hand, I did not choose certain individuals due to various reasons. The suspected narcotics pusher and retired prostitute may have questionable moral character, posing potential risks in a high-stress environment. The lawyer's wife who has recently been discharged from a mental hospital could present safety concerns for other shelter occupants.
The high school student requiring a wheelchair would require additional resources and accommodations that may be limited in a crisis situation. Similarly, the gang member's history of violence could jeopardize the safety of others in the shelter.
Ultimately, my selections were made with the intention of fostering a harmonious and functional group dynamic within the fall-out shelter to maximize the chances of survival for all occupants.