Choice

[Khandro]

If you had to make the choice of rescuing your known & loved pet or a person you don't know, which would you choose ?

[emmie]

the person i don't know, often pets get themselves out of trouble.

[emmie]

though if that person was in the water i would have to search for some form of lifebelt, as i don't swim well, immediately calling 999.

[10ClarionSt]

I don't have pets. Don't believe in them, so no problem about the choice.

[rowanwitch]

I don't know what I would do in that situation, depends on who the person was,and if I could summon help in time. I have a feeling I would go for whichever was nearest then go back for the second, and hope for the best but if I was killed trying the pet might be put to sleep anyway. I would say neither if it was too risky to try.

[barry1010]

Person. The thought of their loved ones grieving would spur me on

[wolf63]

Probably the human, but until the situation happens I can't be certain.

I wouldn't allow any human to risk their life to save my pet - a fireman etc.

[Khandro]

The question arises because of all the condemnation Pen Farthing is getting for rescuing his pets from Kabul, if I had to chose between leaving Riga ; https://ibb.co/TkBW48S to starve to death under the Taliban or take an Afghan of whom I knew nothing & who should have the wits to fend for himself, I think it would be Riga every time.

[Ken4155]

That wasn't the choice, though. As i understand it, the choice he made was between 25 people who worked for him or approx 150 dogs and cats.
So your loaded question probably ought to read; "If you had the choice of rescuing upwards of 150 dogs and cats, most of which you don't know, but including your known and loved pet, or 25 human beings (and their families, total 71), but who worked for you, what would be your choice?"

[burlyshirley]

My dog and if I had time go back for the human.

[wolf63]

It isn't clear, to me anyway, what input that his staff had in making the decision to the animals out first.

Nothing is ever black and white or right or wrong.

The situation in Afghanistan shows that humans may be advanced in many ways but we have not mastered the ability to get on well with each other.

[naomi24]

The human - and I'd tuck my dogs up his jumper.

[barry1010]

Shirley, could you really look a child in the eye and explain why you let his parent die but saved your dog? I couldn't.

[bednobs]

"I don't have pets. Don't believe in them"
I can assure you they are real 10cs :)

[Buenchico]

If I had to make the choice between causing a billion humans (including all my friends and family) to suffer a long and agonising death or causing one cat to suffer minor momentary discomfort, it's goodbye humans.

[burlyshirley]

I answered the OP barry, don't intend to get into a discourse about it !

[pixie374]

Blimey, Chris, I thought I was bad! Realistically, if I had to kill one of my dogs, to save the life of a stranger- just no.

[Ringlet]

Buenchico says //If I had to make the choice between causing a billion humans (including all my friends and family) to suffer a long and agonising death or causing one cat to suffer minor momentary discomfort, it's goodbye humans.//

I'm with Buenchico. My thoughts exactly.

[Sqad]

Ringlet/ Buenchico.

Assuming their answers are true, then two seriously disturbed human beings.

[anneasquith]

Pet.

[Ken4155]

Chico and Ringlet. So, once you've made that choice 7 times, who will be left to care for the animals?