decision making

The story given below is quite interesting and really gives us an insight
into DECISION MAKING.

Which one will you choose?

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 came, and you were just beside
the track interchange. You could make the train change its course to the
disused track and saved 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.

...

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 friend who forwarded me 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 h! ave known very well that track was still in
use, and that they should 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."

Ken Spyce, The Thirteen of Hearts.
Spyce Group, Inc.

From: JeanAustria@astec-power.com

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