could you kill?

[CoachPedro]

A small group of soldiers got trapped behind enemy lines. They were hiding away in an old farmhouse. An enemy soldier wandered in, unaware of their presence. They captured him, tied him to a chair and gagged him.

They planned to sneak back to their own side during nightfall, but they had a problem.

They had to move in absolute silence, so they could not risk dragging an unwilling prisoner with them.

They did not dare to leave him there either, just in case he would be found and then sent his buddies after them before they were back in safety.

They did not dare to shoot him because of the sound of the gunshot would be heard by the enpemy.

They had only 2 options:

1) cut his throat with a knife
2) surrender to the enemy

Question: how many of you think that you would have been able to walk up to an unarmed man, your age, tied to a chair, totally helpless, and cut his throat with a knife while he was watching you? urrender to the enemy

[Dane]

Dude. I can't even kill a fly or a cockroach. I think you know my answer...

[Worldslaziestbusker]

In the exact scenario you describe, I would kill the soldier.

[TheOneThatWasntChosen]

Under those circumstances, I think I could do it, though I think I'd have a massive guilt trip later. But, that would really be my only choice if I didn't want to be captured by the enemy--and no doubt, they'd treat me pretty badly once they had me.

[gruber]

what is the enemy like, will they treat me like the japs did to pows in ww2?

[4lan]

Originally Posted by CoachPedro

A small group of soldiers got trapped behind enemy lines. An enemy soldier wandered in. They captured him, tied him to a chair and gagged him.
<snip>
Question: how many of you think that you would have been able cut his throat with a knife? (my edit for brevity)

My decision depends on many factors including but not limited to:

a) Was I conscripted?
b) What is the ideology of my armies government?
c) What is the main purpose of the battle?
d) Am I being ordered to kill the prisoner?
e) Has the Geneva Convention been suspended?
f) What is the local time at this 'old farmhouse'?
g) How far away is the homefront?
h) Who is losing the conflict the least?
i) What rank is the prisoner?
j) What is the total enemy forces representation locally?
k) Who has air superiority?

As your situations stands I consider it too nebulous to form a considered choice. I'm fairly sure that should I be in a similar situation in future I would spend less time considering but that would probably be because I'll be returning to this over the next few days to consider as its an interesting dilemma.

Additionally those are not the only two options available, here's some others:-

3) Secure the prisoner to the rafters with a noose perched on a rickety stool far enough to fall that would cause a broken neck ensuring his hands and mouth are securely bound and leave him there while trying to escape under cover of darkness.
4) Reason with the prisoner and make an agreement where he allows you to escape across the frontlines and we allow him to return unharmed to his own forces.

Food for thought.

4lan

[owheelj]

Given, I guess, the sentiment of the question, I would kill the solider, or I hope I would, knowing that any psychological harm I suffer, no matter how devastating, is less important than the broader cause I'm fighting for (a number of assumptions made, to keep my answer in line with my perception of the intent of the question). However in the circumstances given, I would leave the soldier tied up but alive, and risk capture. Also if I did kill him (ignoring the question premiss), I would suffocate him, rather than cut his throat.

[Rogerb]

...and surely the most important question, what are the implications of surrender? Is it certain death or hot chocolate & a ride home?

[owheelj]

I think the intent of the question is pretty clear;

If it were clearly in your best interests (and/or the interests of a cause greater than yourself), could you kill a person in cold blood?

[wearestardust]

Just happened coincidentally came across this

http://www.spaceavalanche.com/2011/0...inese-lantern/