Judge decides case based on AI-hallucinated case law

[Mannahnin]

Perhaps so, and yet there always seem to be some of these "exceptional" people around.

Indeed? Or is this more selection bias, because such events are noteworthy and more likely to be reported on?

I do appreciate that it's still a common ideal, at least. "Men are not ants", as Juan Rico argued in H&MP class in Starship Troopers (the novel). This desire to be heroic and save others is one of our more admirable qualities, even if the incidence rate is lower than we might wish.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Indeed? Or is this more selection bias, because such events are noteworthy and more likely to be reported on?

I do appreciate that it's still a common ideal, at least. "Men are not ants", as Johnny Rico argued in H&MP class in Starship Troopers (the novel). This desire to be heroic and save others is one of our more admirable qualities, even if the incidence rate is lower than we might wish.

People? Don't be melodramatic, Mannahnin. Look around you the next time you're in a crowd.

Now tell me -would you really feel any pity if one of those ants stopped moving forever? If I offered you fifty thousand dollars for every ant that stopped, would you really, Mannahnin, tell me to keep my money, or would you calculate how many ants you could afford to spare? And I'd pay you under the table and free of income tax, Mannahnin. Free of income tax - the only way you can save money nowadays.

And would you be more inclined to accept my offer if the next crowd you're in was at a bard convention?

 

[Ryujin]

Indeed? Or is this more selection bias, because such events are noteworthy and more likely to be reported on?

I do appreciate that it's still a common ideal, at least. "Men are not ants", as Johnny Rico argued in H&MP class in Starship Troopers (the novel). This desire to be heroic and save others is one of our more admirable qualities, even if the incidence rate is lower than we might wish.

I would argue that while it's not a trait shared by all humans, the herd tendency to protect the weaker members, or those in distress, is still not what I would call uncommon.

 

[Jfdlsjfd]

I would argue that while it's not a trait shared by all humans, the herd tendency to protect the weaker members, or those in distress, is still not what I would call uncommon.

I think it's not uncommon, but this isn't just a question of a tendancy to help people in need we're discussing here, but risking one's life in the uncertain hope of saving another. I'd agree that I can see most people using an extinguisher on someone who's caught fire instead of walking past to continue their shopping, but I doubt as many people would throw themselves in front of a car to push someone else out of harm's way. That, I think, is rather uncommon. Hence the "heroic" label we grant them when it happen, despite warnings against it. Isn't it taught to first responders that they must first care for their own safety?

I also think some people might say they'd send their car into a tree (and die) to avoid running over someone who threw themselves under their wheel while having reservations if the same decision was programmed into an automated driving protocol.

 

[Ryujin]

I think it's not uncommon, but this isn't just a question of a tendancy to help people in need we're discussing here, but risking one's life in the uncertain hope of saving another. I'd agree that I can see most people using an extinguisher on someone who's caught fire instead of walking past to continue their shopping, but I doubt as many people would throw themselves in front of a car to push someone else out of harm's way. That, I think, is rather uncommon. Hence the "heroic" label we grant them when it happen, despite warnings against it. Isn't it taught to first responders that they must first care for their own safety?

I also think some people might say they'd send their car into a tree (and die) to avoid running over someone who threw themselves under their wheel while having reservations if the same decision was programmed into an automated driving protocol.

I pretty much lose count of the number of people who are reported to drown, every summer, while trying to save someone else from drowning.

 

[Mannahnin]

A thing can be done frequently despite there being a very low percentage of people who are willing to do it.

Millions of people can run a marathon each year, and it can still be true that less than 1% of people have ever run a marathon. Heroic rescues are more newsworthy and exceptional than marathons, yes?

 

[Clint_L]

I pretty much lose count of the number of people who are reported to drown, every summer, while trying to save someone else from drowning.

I point out that this is not always, but typically, a family member. Also, having taken a white water rescue course, I can tell you that most people are terrible at understanding the risk of strong currents.

 

[Ryujin]

I point out that this is not always, but typically, a family member. Also, having taken a white water rescue course, I can tell you that most people are terrible at understanding the risk of strong currents.

Oh, absolutely on the lack of understanding, and even just dealing with a panicked swimmer can make both drown.

 

[Jfdlsjfd]

I point out that this is not always, but typically, a family member. Also, having taken a white water rescue course, I can tell you that most people are terrible at understanding the risk of strong currents.

While I totally agree that the impulse to save a family member at the cost of one's live will be greater than a random stranger, there is also a bia here: the probability that the entire group of person observing someone drowning is a family member is quite high, given that many drowning victim are children who tend to be with their parents more often than not. So they might be overrepresented among spontaneous helpers. And overrepresented among helpers who die during the attempt, since they are not trained in rescuing drowning victims.

 

[jian]

I pretty much lose count of the number of people who are reported to drown, every summer, while trying to save someone else from drowning.

Yes. We're always trying to save each other even if it's a bad idea, even if we know it's a bad idea.

There are thousands of accounts of attempted mine rescues in coal mines going back to 200+ years ago where the miners absolutely, viscerally know that trying to rescue that one guy who's collapsed in a pocket of bad air is a bad idea - you're much more likely to get poisoned yourself or, even worse, ignite the gas and bring this section down on everyone - but people almost always tried, even if they died for it.

And of course, this has specific circumstances - the trapped miner may well be a friend or even a relative - but we do it because we don't want anyone to die, because that person could have been us and next time we'd like someone to try and save us even if it's a bad idea.