this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2025
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the trolley problem (quokk.au)
submitted 2 weeks ago by Deceptichum@quokk.au to c/philosophymemes@quokk.au
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[–] TootSweet@lemmy.world 26 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

Screenshot of a post from 4chan reading "The shopping cart is the ultimate litmus test for whether a person is capable of self-governing. To return the shopping cart is an easy, convenient task and one which we all recognize as the correct, appropriate thing to do. To return the shopping cart is objectively right. There are no situations other than dire emergencies in which a person is not able to return their cart. Simultaneously, it is not illegal to abandon your shopping cart. Therefore the shopping cart presents itself as the apex example of whether a person will do what is right without being forced to do it. No one will punish you for not returning the shopping cart, no one will fine you or kill you for not returning the shopping cart, you gain nothing by returning the shopping cart. You must return the shopping cart out of the goodness of your own heart. You must return the shopping cart because it is the right thing to do. Because it is correct. A person who is unable to do this is no better than an animal, an absolute savage who can only be made to do what is right by threatening them with a law and the force that stands behind it. The Shopping Cart is what determines whether a person is a good or bad member of society."

(I might suggest that making good alt-texts on Lemmy may be another good example. Yes, I transcribed that whole screenshot into the alt-text by clicky-clacking.)

[–] Flagstaff@programming.dev 13 points 2 weeks ago

you gain nothing by returning the shopping cart.

That's totally not true; you encourage the continual framework of a civilized society, which should benefit you in the long run as an uncivilized, every-person-for-themself environment is generally much harder to deal with overall.

It is hardly a litmus test, which by definition is pivotal, sure, but has nothing to do with the level of sacrifice attached.

I know it's a tongue-in-cheek 4chan image, but I just felt like going serious on this anyway. I feel like a real litmus test is seeing someone in need and choosing to help them or not.

[–] HumanoidTyphoon@quokk.au 3 points 2 weeks ago

The shopping cart gremlins will kill you. You don’t know about them because they leave no survivors.