The Lady or the Tiger?, a thought experiment |
 Jun 28 2007, 02:15 AM
Post
#1
|
|
 Amberific.  Group: Staff Alumni Posts: 12,913 Joined: Jul 2004 Member No: 29,772  |
So, there's this short story by Frank Stockton called "The Lady or the Tiger?" and in it, this woman has to decide between sending her lover to his death or to marriage to another woman. You can read it for yourself here (it's pretty short, it won't take you but 10-15 minutes to read it if you so choose).
Anyway, after reading this story, I got to thinking, "What would I pick?" And I'm not entirely sure I'd let the guy live. I wonder if that makes me selfish. Which would you pick? |
|
|
|
 |
Replies
(1 - 25)
|
Jun 28 2007, 02:18 AM
Post
#2
|
|
 Photoartist Group: Staff Alumni Posts: 12,363 Joined: Apr 2006 Member No: 399,390 |
I'd let them live and just try another spouse, ya dig?
|
|
|
|
| *alovesopure* |
Jun 28 2007, 02:27 AM
Post
#3
|
|
Guest |
I wouldn't kill him/send him to his death, I just don't think I could live with myself after knowing I killed my love. heh.
edit: idk how to explain the rest of what I was going to say. I hope I'm making sense. I'm having the most awkward convo on aim right now and I'm half-asleep. haha |
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 02:30 AM
Post
#4
|
|
 ‹(. .)› Group: Official Member Posts: 2,367 Joined: Jun 2004 Member No: 20,089 |
i'd let him live and kill the other bitch.
p.s. i love that story. |
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 02:32 AM
Post
#5
|
|
 in a matter of time Group: Staff Alumni Posts: 7,151 Joined: Aug 2005 Member No: 191,357 |
I read this a few years ago, I love short stories with open endings!
I think I'd kill him, honestly. |
|
|
|
| *stephinika* |
Jun 28 2007, 08:58 AM
Post
#6
|
|
Guest |
Wow, loved the short story but I'd probably let him re-marry and find a way around that...I don't think I'd be able to kill him.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 09:06 AM
Post
#7
|
|
 Home is where your rump rests! Group: Staff Alumni Posts: 4,235 Joined: Aug 2006 Member No: 451,969 |
QUOTE(alovesopure @ Jun 28 2007, 12:27 AM)  I wouldn't kill him/send him to his death, I just don't think I could live with myself after knowing I killed my love. heh. Theeeere we go. In reality, I'd do this for the same reason.QUOTE(synkro @ Jun 28 2007, 12:30 AM) i'd let him live and kill the other bitch.  And in my dreams when I'm as strong, insane, and willfull as like, Xena, I'd be doing this. |
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 10:32 AM
Post
#8
|
|
 ALLISON Group: Official Designer Posts: 3,372 Joined: Nov 2005 Member No: 310,259 |
haha I did this in 6th grade
I'd pick the tiger because tigers are purtyy |
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 10:34 AM
Post
#9
|
|
 rissa. Group: Member Posts: 621 Joined: Jul 2006 Member No: 436,690 |
I'd want him to be happy. Doesn't matter who he's with. So I'd let him live. Letting him die is selfish and is only putting burdens on yourself.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 11:08 AM
Post
#10
|
|
|
Amberific. Group: Staff Alumni Posts: 12,913 Joined: Jul 2004 Member No: 29,772 |
^ But wouldn't seeing the man you love with another woman add an equivalent burden on yourself?
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 11:29 AM
Post
#11
|
|
 Senior Member Group: Staff Alumni Posts: 7,025 Joined: Feb 2004 Member No: 4,051 |
QUOTE(synkro @ Jun 28 2007, 03:30 AM) i'd let him live and kill the other bitch. p.s. i love that story. That is genius. 
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 12:48 PM
Post
#12
|
|
 we go a-drowning Group: Member Posts: 964 Joined: Apr 2007 Member No: 519,725 |
i would let him marry the woman. maybe he'll have the brains to kill her in her sleep.
|
|
|
|
| *karmakiller* |
Jun 28 2007, 12:56 PM
Post
#13
|
|
Guest |
I'd let him live. I mean, you could still continue to do your thing because if you're truely "soulmates" he won't love the other woman but you. And I guess that's better than not having him at all.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 01:06 PM
Post
#14
|
|
 This bitch better work! Group: Staff Alumni Posts: 13,681 Joined: Jul 2004 Member No: 28,095 |
if he really loved his current woman that he's with, he'd RATHER DIE than get married to another woman, therefore making the decision easier?
i mean, at least you'd know he died for love. if he didn't loveyou, than kill the bastard, anyways. |
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 01:56 PM
Post
#15
|
|
|
Amberific. Group: Staff Alumni Posts: 12,913 Joined: Jul 2004 Member No: 29,772 |
^ Yeah, but in the story, the woman's father charged him with a crime -- loving the daughter, because the daughter was a princess -- and the way they decided who was innocent and who was guilty was to let them choose between two doors, one with a tiger behind it who would maul the person to death (meaning a guilty verdict) and one with a lady (or man, depending on who did the crime) behind it, to whom he or she would instantly become married (innocent verdict). The doors weren't labeled, it was all up to luck.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 02:20 PM
Post
#16
|
|
|
This bitch better work! Group: Staff Alumni Posts: 13,681 Joined: Jul 2004 Member No: 28,095 |
^ i shoulda read the story. ;/
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 02:22 PM
Post
#17
|
|
 Hi, Im Brook. Group: Member Posts: 1,774 Joined: Mar 2007 Member No: 508,383 |
I would kill him. If he truly loved the woman he would rather die then be with another, and he would wait for her in heaven. At least she would know he died for their love.
|
|
|
|
| *MyMichelle* |
Jun 28 2007, 03:00 PM
Post
#18
|
|
Guest |
Send him to marry another woman.
Only because I would send her to the tiger to get him back. |
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 03:23 PM
Post
#19
|
|
 d@niel Group: Member Posts: 1,267 Joined: Jan 2005 Member No: 91,453 |
i think i was supposed to read that story once in school...i could care less about what to pick
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 08:32 PM
Post
#20
|
|
 Lauren :D Group: Member Posts: 2,105 Joined: Jul 2005 Member No: 176,997 |
Oh! I read this in like 6th grade!
I would choose the lady. If she really loved this man, she would want him to live, even if it meant him marrying someone else. |
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 08:52 PM
Post
#21
|
|
|
Home is where your rump rests! Group: Staff Alumni Posts: 4,235 Joined: Aug 2006 Member No: 451,969 |
QUOTE(gigiopolis @ Jun 28 2007, 12:32 AM) I read this a few years ago, I love short stories with open endings! B-b-b-b-b-buuut I want to knowwww! 
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 08:53 PM
Post
#22
|
|
|
Photoartist Group: Staff Alumni Posts: 12,363 Joined: Apr 2006 Member No: 399,390 |
QUOTE(HakunaMatata @ Jun 28 2007, 09:52 PM) B-b-b-b-b-buuut I want to knowwww! Wouldn't you be ticked off if Harry Potter was open ended. =P
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 08:55 PM
Post
#23
|
|
|
Home is where your rump rests! Group: Staff Alumni Posts: 4,235 Joined: Aug 2006 Member No: 451,969 |
ARJUNA THAT IS NOT FUNNY.
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 28 2007, 09:06 PM
Post
#24
|
|
 Sup. I'm Deb =] Group: Human Posts: 650 Joined: Dec 2004 Member No: 68,227 |
I'd choose the lady too. If we were honestly soul mates and all that...
a) We'd see each other in heaven b) I think that fate would find a way to make us together in this life not just heaven c) I would feel terrible if I had killed the one I love |
|
|
|
|
Jun 29 2007, 09:22 PM
Post
#25
|
|
|
Amberific. Group: Staff Alumni Posts: 12,913 Joined: Jul 2004 Member No: 29,772 |
QUOTE(HakunaMatata @ Jun 28 2007, 09:55 PM) ARJUNA THAT IS NOT FUNNY. It was pretty funny =)
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 29 2007, 09:30 PM
Post
#26
|
|
 Krista. Group: Official Member Posts: 4,380 Joined: Apr 2006 Member No: 391,319 |
QUOTE(synkro @ Jun 28 2007, 02:30 AM) i'd let him live and kill the other bitch. Yes. bahaha. |
|
|
|
 |
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members: