Context: So I just remember this after digging through memories.
So my mother was watching/reading some weird social media thing and there was this this question was asked to guys in China, and it’s supposed to be a dilemma because if you say save your mother, your girlfriend will break up with you, if you say save your girlfriend, your mom’s gonna disown you (cuz filial piety).
And so anyways, I think I was like 15 or something, and my mom asked me the question… I kinda froze because idk what to say… it was such a weird question. Then mom was like: “Of course you have to save me first, I raised you, remember? You only have one mother in this world.” … Something something… “People with blood relations to you comes first”.
Now reflecting on that memory, that was so awkward…
Ever been asked this question?
How would you answer if your mom asked that?
“Mom, I never would have expected you to ask such a mean question.”
I hate my biological mother and I never have a girlfriend.
To answer your question if my mother asked me this my response would be, “Stop calling me you filthy junkie.”
“I’d hire a prostitute for the occasion just so I can save her instead”
Pshhh, easy. Same person.
I’d answer by saying I’ll first save whichever one doesn’t ask me questions like this.
I don’t have a partner and I’m a PADI certified rescue diver.
If I see my mother drowning I’m going to hang around until I’m sure she’s fully dead.
If I see my mother drowning I’m going to hang around until I’m sure she’s fully dead.
Oh jeez, how abusive was her from 1 to 10?
I inherently care more about someone I chose to make part of my family than I do either of my parents.
Those philosophical dilemma questions (basically always some variation of the trolley problem) have almost no practical relevance. Situations like that practically never happen in real life and if they do, you won’t have time for moral or philosophical reflections.
Ask mum if she’d prefer to drown or survive but you drown while saving her.
Ask mum if she’d prefer to drown or survive but you drown while saving her.
Oh shit, good question.
I might ask her later… hopefully she doesn’t get mad at me xD
Bye Mom.
I would absolutely save my wife first. Now, do I actually have to save the second person?
I would probably be paralyzed due to the situation and choice I have to make and they would both drown until I actually start moving.
are you my ex??
My mom wouldn’t ask because she knows I wouldn’t choose her.
However if she did ask my response would just be laughter because is such a dumb question.
I’ve heard this one before and I’ve heard that the “correct” answer is to save your mother because “you can always get another wife but you can never get another mother.”
I’ve also heard that the answer to this (originally Chinese) question is indicative of cultural values (filial piety like you say) but I wonder how differently people would answer in a wide survey… If my mom asked me, I would choose my mom because I don’t have a wife.
Wife, my child needs her and my mum’s no help.
Any practical situation would have ameliorating factors that would make one sequencing saving one over the other first the most likely order for saving both; obviously, I would choose that one.
It is easy for me to answer, my mom is old. My wife can probably tread water while I get my mom to shore.
I told my wife this and she replied that she is a strong, independent woman who can swim perfectly well on her own. The right answer is that I should grab my mom and start bringing her towards the shore while my wife swims ahead and helps me pull her in once we get to shallower water.
