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 is coming, and you are just beside the track interchange. You can make the train change its course to the disused track and save 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................
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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 great critic Leo Velski Julian who told 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 would 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."
Everybody makes mistakes; that's why they put erasers on pencils.
From India, Gurgaon
7The train is coming, and you are just beside the track interchange. You can make the train change its course to the disused track and save 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................
..
...
..
scroll down
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 great critic Leo Velski Julian who told 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 would 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."
Everybody makes mistakes; that's why they put erasers on pencils.
From India, Gurgaon
Hi Dear,
Its a very good thought for the Day.The similar thing is also applicable in our corporate world.We need to change it.This wont happen all of a sudden but as times comes we can do it.
Very good knowledge sharing.
Keep up the good work
Rgs,
Lavanya :)
From India, Madras
Its a very good thought for the Day.The similar thing is also applicable in our corporate world.We need to change it.This wont happen all of a sudden but as times comes we can do it.
Very good knowledge sharing.
Keep up the good work
Rgs,
Lavanya :)
From India, Madras
Its really a good thought for the day..... lot many things we can learn from this and possible we should adapt this.... Regards Swetha
From India, Bangalore
From India, Bangalore
Brilliant !! Goes to show how mistakes are made in everyday life - personal and professional - and then we try to cover them up with logic ( mostly contorted) Inderpal
From India, Mumbai
From India, Mumbai
I thank each one of you for apprecitaing my post.
Friends this really encouraging.
Thanks BIG much!!!
YBhatt2703 :D
Swetha D Kiran :D
cgnanij :D
Rahul :D
Inderpal :D
Bambang :D
Sharmistha :D
shalu :D
Maria Merlin :D
Rohini :D
Lavanya :D
Ambika :D
Raghav :D
Venu :D
Swetha :D
From India, Gurgaon
Friends this really encouraging.
Thanks BIG much!!!
YBhatt2703 :D
Swetha D Kiran :D
cgnanij :D
Rahul :D
Inderpal :D
Bambang :D
Sharmistha :D
shalu :D
Maria Merlin :D
Rohini :D
Lavanya :D
Ambika :D
Raghav :D
Venu :D
Swetha :D
From India, Gurgaon
a good thought but one more solution is available STOP THE TRAIN BEFORE INTERCHANGE NO CHILD WILL GET SACRIFICED PLEASE RESPOND ctraju
From India, Madras
From India, Madras
Dear Pradeep, It definitely sets us thinking cause we usually act in favour of minimizing loss or maximizing profits - not in the favour of what is right morally or ethically. Thanks for sharing.
From India, Mumbai
From India, Mumbai
Hello Amika,
Thanks for posting this!
This piece was shown as a ppt during my college days and we were asked to decide whom would we save. This would showcase our decision making skills.
I was happy that i chose to save the lone child who was playing on the unused track!!
This is a good method of exposing your decision making skills.
Regards,
Srilakshmi
From India, Bangalore
Thanks for posting this!
This piece was shown as a ppt during my college days and we were asked to decide whom would we save. This would showcase our decision making skills.
I was happy that i chose to save the lone child who was playing on the unused track!!
This is a good method of exposing your decision making skills.
Regards,
Srilakshmi
From India, Bangalore
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