How many people would you give up your net worth for?

[Schmitty 87]

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I'm not saying I'd do it for anyone just that's it's different than donating your money to random starving people.

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I don't think it's as different as we immediately think.

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I think it clearly is - immediacy matters! We're all going to die, so why accumulate money in the first place?

Oh, right, because I expect to need it today, etc, LDO.

If I'm going to read in the paper that my old buddy from college will be dead tomorrow because I didn't help him, well, I can't handle that and I can make more $$$ anyway. I'll gladly pay off the 'nappers if I get a guarantee.

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There aren't people in the world who are in need of immediate basic medical care?

[NajdorfDefense]

basic care <> life-threatening. DUCY?

[Schmitty 87]

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basic care <> life-threatening. DUCY?

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Does "<>" mean not equal?

So if you found out that your best friend, instead of being kidnapped, was stuck in the middle of a third world country and starving to death, you wouldn't pay for a few of his meals?

Happens everyday, thankfully your friend isn't one of them.

[mak15]

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basic care <> life-threatening. DUCY?

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Does "<>" mean not equal?

So if you found out that your best friend, instead of being kidnapped, was stuck in the middle of a third world country and starving to death, you wouldn't pay for a few of his meals?

Happens everyday, thankfully your friend isn't one of them.

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the major difference you are missing is that you can't give money to a starving child in Africa and all of a sudden make him a middle class kid in America. In the OP you are giving someone a totally normal life back rather than them being killed.

[mbillie1]

probably just one. doesn't even have to be an important one.

[Schmitty 87]

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basic care <> life-threatening. DUCY?

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Does "<>" mean not equal?

So if you found out that your best friend, instead of being kidnapped, was stuck in the middle of a third world country and starving to death, you wouldn't pay for a few of his meals?

Happens everyday, thankfully your friend isn't one of them.

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the major difference you are missing is that you can't give money to a starving child in Africa and all of a sudden make him a middle class kid in America. In the OP you are giving someone a totally normal life back rather than them being killed.

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You're right. We can't make starving children in Africa middle class Americans (as if that's a desirable thing anyways). We can feed them though. I don't understand how that isn't a pressing concern.

[mak15]

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You're right. We can't make starving children in Africa middle class Americans (as if that's a desirable thing anyways). We can feed them though. I don't understand how that isn't a pressing concern.

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not saying it isn't a pressing concern. just that it's a lot different.

[Schmitty 87]

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You're right. We can't make starving children in Africa middle class Americans (as if that's a desirable thing anyways). We can feed them though. I don't understand how that isn't a pressing concern.

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not saying it isn't a pressing concern. just that it's a lot different.

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The point of OP's question is: "What's more important, your net worth or the life of your friend?" If you honestly believe that the implications of that question are significantly different than "What's more important, your net worth or the life of a starving child?", then I don't know what to say. I grant you that the particulars are different, but I don't think that the particulars (ie being returned to a middle class western lifestyle) mean much compared to the heart of the dilemma which is weighing the value of money vs. the value of life.

[CaptainNurple]

I couldn't live with myself knowing that I could have prevented a murder but didn't. Can always make more money, but this is an opportunity to save a life and show someone love, so I'd have to go with 20+.

Can't guarantee they'll appreciate the sacrifice, but I don't think it's my job to worry about that...

[HighandDry]

Probably anyone I've known well. I simply couldn't live with myself knowing that person will never be released because I was too selfish to give up some money.