Hypothetical Situation II

**Feliks** · April 07, 2007, 03:30 PM

You are an astronomer making observations with a very high-powered telescope. Working late into the night, you by chance discover a very large asteroid heading for a direct collision with Earth, it will make impact within a matter of days and likely destroy all life on the planet. Assume that no one else will discover it until it reaches Earth's orbit. Also assume that there is absolutely no way to stop it, or that any refuge or shelter, however well protected, will remain safe. Do you inform the public of their impending doom, feeling that they have a right to know, or do you keep the information to yourself, hoping to let the world live out its last days in peace?

**jankren** · April 07, 2007, 05:56 PM

It is gonna be the same dilemma faced during the 2005 Tsunami.

**rez** · April 07, 2007, 06:21 PM

Inform the public.

Don't deprive them of a few days of absolute lust for life, when they are so desperate to soak up every last moment that they finally start living.

That would be a hell of a gift.

However the flipside is always going to consist of widespread crime and rioting

**Dunecat** · April 07, 2007, 07:07 PM

I'd say let the world know.

That way all the small-government hacks will feel like crap for not supporting NASA.

(BTW I am not for NASA, it's run by inefficient, close-minded dweebs whose only goal is to reproduce the man landing on the moon.)

**Khan Kong** · April 07, 2007, 07:11 PM

2Feliks
Confess that you know something that is unknown for the whole world!

To speak seriously. Hard dilemma whether to tell to the people or not. It would be unfair to keep silence, on the other hand, if they know they start to kill and rob each other, chaos would happen. I think I wouldn't inform. Let this damned world go to hell.

**Feliks** · April 07, 2007, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by Khan Kong

2Feliks
Confess that you know something that is unknown for the whole world!

To speak seriously. Hard dilemma whether to tell to the people or not. It would be unfair to keep silence, on the other hand, if they know they start to kill and rob each other, chaos would happen. I think I wouldn't inform. Let this damned world go to hell.

But then again, someone might say: What does it matter if they all kill and steal from each other, they'll all be dead in a few days anyway.

**LSJ** · April 07, 2007, 10:24 PM

I'd become lord of earth until we all died.
Grab a machine gun, mow everyone down who does not give me the correct answer to my riddles. Set a city on fire and use the flames to make a smoore. Walk into a porno store. Shoot off some very big fireworks, into abandoned houses. Legally change my name to Joe Leetness.
I would prefer living a day in chaos to living a day of extreme fear and anxiety alone.

**Amorphos** · April 08, 2007, 09:21 AM

tell just one person-preferably whom you don’t like, and let them have the dilema while you spend your last moments down the pub and at the brothels.

**Segestan** · April 08, 2007, 10:05 AM

Inform the World ?...Yes
Scientist would question the facts right up until the final hour anyway.It would be as the 'Day the Earth stood still', all eyes on the sky.. Like at Pompey though ; most persons would hold to hope in and families would face the final hour together.

**Giorgos** · April 08, 2007, 12:14 PM

I would warn the world. It should give people the opportunity to set things right with people they wronged in their lives.

**Skyler** · April 08, 2007, 12:20 PM

Tell the people, they deserve the right to know about it.
Anyway people aren't stupid they will eventually know about their inpending doom; Look mommy, up there in the sky, pretty meteor owhhhh, ahhhhh.

Anyhow, depending on the size of the asteroid, would it be not that hard to spot it if it is that close into orbit?