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+--- Thread: Small Story on Decision Making (/thread-small-story-on-decision-making)
Small Story on Decision Making - alibaba - 01-10-2004
> > >Here is a small story on decision making. > >Please go through the story very carefully to get the sense of it. > >Decision Time > > >The story given below is quite interesting and really gives us an >insight into DECISION MAKING.
> >Which one will you choose? > >A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use >while the other disused. Only one child played on the disused track, the >rest on the operational track. The train came, and you were just beside the >track interchange. You could make the train change its course to the >disused >track and saved most of the kids. > >However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track >would be sacrificed. Or would you rather let the train go its way? > >Let's take a pause to think what kind of decision we could make............
>.. > > >No cheating... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Most people might choose to divert the course of the train,and sacrifice >only one child. You might think the same way, I guess. Exactly, I thought >the same way initially because to save most of the children at the expense >of only one child was rational decision most people would make, morally and >emotionally. But, have you ever thought that the child choosing to play on >the disused track had in fact made the right decision to play at a safe >place? > >Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends who >chose to play where the danger was. This kind of dilemma happens around us >everyday. In the office, community, in politics and especially in a >democratic society, the minority is often sacrificed for the interest of >the majority, no matter how foolish or ignorant the majority are, and how >farsighted and knowledgeable the minority are. > >The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track was >sidelined. And in the case he was sacrificed, no one would shed a tear for >him. > >The friend who forwarded me the story said he would not try to change the >course of the train because he believed that the kids playing on the >operational track should have known very well that track was still in >use,and that they should have run away if they heard the train's sirens. > >If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he >never thought the train could come over to that track! > >Moreover, that track was not in use probably because it was not safe. > >If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all >passengers on board at stake! And in your attempt to save a few kids by >sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundreds of people to >save these few kids. > >While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to be >made,we may not realize that hasty decisions may not always be the right >one > > >"Remember that what's right isn't always popular... >and what's popular isn't always right." > >
S H A H B A Z A L I
- amam_786 - 01-22-2004
I am impressed with your visualisation of decision making.
But my intial response was to save one child and rest of the people on train and sacrifice few children. Perhaps reason for this decision is that me house is situated near railway line and i now the possible consequences of wrong track.
Edited by - amam_786 on Jan 22 2004 25750 PM
- jbladeus - 01-24-2004
Very interesting and thought-provoking stuff Alibaba. Good post.
________________________
Arrrgh... it sure's gonna be mighty rough sailin' today ... mates!
- derivativetrader - 01-25-2004
Alibaba, I was asked the similar problem in one of my interview for an internship - to check my precision of thought and reasoning skills.
I am glad to tell you that I was successful then.
Anyways, would you mind sharing that how did this problem originate?
AHSAN
- alibaba - 02-04-2004
a-0-a,
txz guys................for my post.
REGARDS
S H A H B A Z A L I
- n/a2 - 02-25-2004
A great dilema i am very impress because of your professional approach
ARSLAN