The Trolley Problem

Welcome This is a short game, based on Philippa Foot's Trolley problem. It will give some insight into the type of person you are, and the values you hold. [[Continue->Explain?]]

Before we get started, should I explain what the Trolley Problem is? [[Yes please->Trolley Intro]] [[No, let's get started->Start Trolley]]

<img src="http://stevebromley.com/trolley/images/trolley.jpg" width="100%" alt="A trolley"> The trolley problem is an ethical thought experiment, originally described by philosopher Phillippa Foot in 1967. It describes a run-away trolley (also called a tram - like in San Francisco. Or Croydon.). You are in a position to be able to influence it's direction. A common depiction is that the trolley is on a path to hit and kill five people if you do nothing. If you pull a lever you will send it down a new track where it will hit only one person, but by pulling the lever you will be responsible for causing their death. The original problem asks what you would do in this situation. It often then posts variations (such as pushing an individual in-front of the tram instead of pulling the lever) to expose your moral beliefs. [[Understood. Let's get started ->Start Trolley]]

<img src="http://stevebromley.com/trolley/images/lever.jpg" width="100%" alt="A lever"> Here we go. You are on a runaway trolley. You see that the trolley is on a path where it will hit five people who are in its way. At this speed, they will definitely die. They are unaware of the trolley's imminent arrival into their lives. In front of you is a lever, and you can see that pulling the lever will change the path the trolley is on. On the alternative path there is one person in the way. They look distracted, and kind of melancholy. They are also unaware of the runaway trolley. You have to decide what to do. [[Pull the lever-> First Pull]] [[Do nothing-> First Do Nothing]]

You pull the lever. You hear the screech of the the track moving, and the trolley wobbles as it is pulled down a new direction, before stabilising itself. You hurtle towards the person. At the last second the person looks up, directly into your eyes. You share a moment. They know what you've done. You know what you've done. You feel bad. As the trolley speeds through the person they immediately explode in a cornicopia of blood and inside bits, barely slowing they progress of your trolley. You wonder if this was the right choice. The End. [[Regret your decision?->Second loop]]

You do not pull the lever. The trolley rattles on towards the five people who are oblivious, deep in conversation. At the last minute one looks up and shouts out, but it is too late. As the trolley ploughs through the people, one after another, it is thrown off balance and topples off it's rails. It crushes a nearby Cocker Spaniel who was passing before it grinds to a halt. You step out of the crumpled wreckage of the trolley, relatively unscathed. As you survey the scene of destruction behind you, you wonder. Was there another way? The End. [[Regret your decision?->Second loop]]

<img src="http://stevebromley.com/trolley/images/lever.jpg" width="100%" alt="A lever"> Here we go (again). You are on a runaway trolley. You see that the trolley is on a path where it will hit five people who are in its way. At this speed, they will definitely die. They are unaware of the trolley's imminent arrival into their lives. In front of you is a lever, and you can see that pulling the lever will change the path the trolley is on. On the alternative path there is one person in the way. They look distracted, and kind of melancholy. They are also unaware of the runaway trolley. You have to decide what to do. [[Pull the lever->Second pull]] [[Do nothing->Second do nothing]]

<img src="http://stevebromley.com/trolley/images/lever.jpg" width="100%" alt="A lever"> This feels familiar now. You are on a runaway trolley. You see that the trolley is on a path where it will hit five people who are in its way. At this speed, they will definitely die. They are unaware of the trolley's imminent arrival into their lives. In front of you is a lever, and you can see that pulling the lever will change the path the trolley is on. On the alternative path there is one person in the way. They look distracted, and kind of melancholy. They are also unaware of the runaway trolley. You have to decide what to do. [[Pull the lever->Second pull]] [[Do nothing->Second do nothing]] [[Look around->Look]]

Looking around the trolley's carriage, you observe some loose wires hanging from the control console. Perhaps reattaching them might achieve something. [[Inpect the wires->Wires]]

<img src="http://stevebromley.com/trolley/images/wires.jpg" width="100%" alt="Wires"> There are two loose wires, but only one nut that can be used to connect them to the console. One of the wires has yellow and black stripes on it, like a bee. The other one is a bright red, like a ripe strawberry. You will only be able to connect one wire. [[Connect the bee wire.->Wrench]] [[Connect the strawberry wire.->Wrench]]

<img src="http://stevebromley.com/trolley/images/wrench.jpg" width="100%" alt="A wrench"> You plug in the wire. Nothing immediately changes, but you feel like you've made progress. While fiddling with the wires, you noticed that there is a bolt that is only half screwed into the console. It's not immediately clear whether it was being added or removed. On the floor next to it lies a wrench - the person using it must have been distracted before they could finish. You wonder whether the bolt's position is related to the predicament you are in. [[Tighten the bolt->Monitor]] [[Loosen the bolt->Monitor]]

<img src="http://stevebromley.com/trolley/images/command.jpg" width="100%" alt="Code"> As soon as you finish turning the bolt, the console springs into life. A small old fashioned monitor hums as it turns on, and a command prompt appears. There is a keyboard infront of it, coated with grease and dust. Looking up, you can see that the trolley is almost about to hit the innocent people. You will only have time to type one thing. You crack your knuckles and hope for the best. [[Type 'Stop'->Whirring]] [[Type 'Emergency'->Whirring]] [[Mash the keyboard with the palm of your hand->Whirring]]

You immediately hear distant machinery start spinning up. You can tell by the creaking that this hasn't happened for a long time, as ancient parts of the trolley are reawakened. A rumble starts at the back of the trolley, and passes up the carriage. It stops just over your head, and you are aware something significant is about to happen. And just in time too, as the trolley is almost upon the people. [[Look up->Seatbelt]]

<img src="http://stevebromley.com/trolley/images/seatbelt.jpg" width="100%" alt="A lever"> You hear a ping as the seatbelt sign is illuminated. The trolley's renewed commitment to safety is of little consequence as it collides into the five people in it's path. Startled by the seatbelt sign's ping, you see the lone person on the other track stumble and fall down an uncovered manhole. It looks serious. This couldn't have gone worse. The End. [[Could it have gone differently?->Fourth loop]]

<img src="http://stevebromley.com/trolley/images/lever.jpg" width="100%" alt="A lever"> Once again you are on a runaway trolley. You see that the trolley is on a path where it will hit five people who are in its way. At this speed, they will definitely die. They are unaware of the trolley's imminent arrival into their lives. In front of you is a lever, and you can see that pulling the lever will change the path the trolley is on. On the alternative path there is one person in the way. They look distracted, and kind of melancholy. They are also unaware of the runaway trolley. You have to decide what to do. [[Pull the lever->Third pull]] [[Do nothing->Third do nothing]] [[Look around->Second look]]

Looking around the trolley's carriage, you observe some loose wires hanging from the control console. Perhaps reattaching them might achieve something. [[Look at the wires.->Wires]] [[No!->Reject1]]

Ok, no wires. How about bolts? [[Yeah, I'll look at the bolts->Wrench2]] [[No. No bolts.->Reject2]]

The keyboard? [[No.->Reject3]] [[No.->Reject3]]

You again noticed that there is a bolt that is only half screwed into the console. It's not immediately clear whether it was being added or removed. On the floor next to it lies a wrench - the person using it must have been distracted before they could finish. You wonder whether the bolt's position is related to the predicament you are in. [[Tighten the bolt->Monitor]] [[Loosen the bolt->Monitor]]

What about the brake? [[No->Reject4]] [[Wait, what?->Brake1]]

Are you sure? It seems relevant to your current predicament [[What brake?->Brake1]]

The brake. You know. The other lever. [[You never mentioned another lever.->Brake2]]

Pretty sure we did. [[No, I'd remember. It does seem pretty important->Brake3]]

Are you sure? I thought we covered it at the start of each loop. *"You are on a runaway trolley with a really obvious brake lever that you have yet to pull. You see that the trolley is on a path where it will hit five people, etc..."*. [[No, you hadn't mentioned it.->BrakeChoice]]

Oh. Well, I don't know what to say. What do you want to do now? [[Pull the brake lever->Success]] [[Don't pull the brake lever.->Nobrake]]

<img src="http://stevebromley.com/trolley/images/celebrate.jpg" width="100%" alt="Celebrate"> The trolley pulls to an immediate, yet safe, stop. Crowds start to gather to congratulate you on heroically halting the runaway trolley. The cocker spaniel looks particularly happy. Looking behind you, you see a crate of Magnum ice-creams on the back seat - enough for everyone. As you distribute them to the crowd, you reflect on a job well done and start to feel a warm glow inside. Looking back on it years later, you recognise that this was one of the proudest days of your lives, and a story that the grandchildren want to hear every time they visit. [[So what was the moral?->Moral]]

<img src="http://stevebromley.com/trolley/images/lever.jpg" width="100%" alt="A lever"> Once again you are on a runaway trolley with a really obvious brake lever that you have yet to pull. You see that the trolley is on a path where it will hit five people who are in its way. At this speed, they will definitely die. They are unaware of the trolley's imminent arrival into their lives. In front of you is a lever, and you can see that pulling the lever will change the path the trolley is on. On the alternative path there is one person in the way. They look distracted, and kind of melancholy. They are also unaware of the runaway trolley. You have to decide what to do. [[Pull the path changing lever->Last pull]] [[Do nothing->Last do nothing]] [[Look around->Last look]]

You do not pull the lever. The trolley rattles on towards the five people who are oblivious, deep in conversation. At the last minute one looks up and shouts out, but it is too late. As the trolley ploughs through the people, one after another, it is thrown off balance and topples off it's rails. It crushes a nearby duck who was passing before it grinds to a halt. You step out of the crumpled wreckage of the trolley, relatively unscathed. As you survey the scene of destruction behind you, you wonder. Was there another way? The End. [[There must be another way->Fifth loop]]

You see a really obvious brake lever. Honestly, I don't know how you missed it. [[Pull the brake lever->Success]]

I don't know. Something to do with observation. Or ice-cream. It doesn't seem to matter now. The End. (colour: "#2F4F4F")[`@steve_bromley`]

It doesn't end well for anyone involved. [[Let's try again->Fifth loop]]