Originally Posted by Otter (Post 12298621)

Do you love dogs?

While it's not up there with will you murder for religion I sincerely believe it has intrinsic value to gauge someones karma. And Rain Man, if you ever decide to eat mushrooms I'm only at the other end of the state. I don't want to be the focus point. Just a fly on the wall to see what comes out of that dome when turbo boost kicks in.

Originally Posted by Rain Man (Post 12298513)

D. People get 1 point for every yes, and 0 points for every no. You can define a minimum passing score or a maximum passing score depending on how you word your questions. For example, you can define 10 questions about positive traits and anyone getting less than 9 points is gone, or you can define 4 questions about negative traits and anyone getting more than 2 points is gone. You get to design it.

Originally Posted by Rain Man (Post 12298513)

In light of your amazing contributions to a football bulletin board, you have been deemed a person with a very high understanding of humanity. (This is hypothetical if that's not already obvious.)

As a result, some higher power has approached you for help. You may assume that this higher power is someone you respect and will not turn down, whether it's God, the Illuminati, Batman, The Global Commission To Make The World A Better Place, aliens, the Teamsters, dolphins, or some other group. It doesn't matter to me.

You are given the following assignment:

1. Develop up to 10 yes/no questions that everyone in the world must answer truthfully.
2. Define a "cutoff score" where people scoring below (or above) a certain level will be categorized as non-contributing members of the world. They will suddenly cease to exist.

The rules:

A. For your ethical purposes, you may assume that some time travel or divine intervention ensures they were never born, or if you prefer ... public executions. But let's go with the most humane route that doesn't make you a mass murderer.

B. Questions may be worded any way you wish. They can be negative ("Have you ever stolen something from someone else's house?"), they can be positive ("Have you ever helped a stranger in a broken-down car?), they can be value-laden ("Do you believe in the Hindu god Vishnu?), they can be attitudinal ("Do you approve of pedophilia"?), they can be attributes ("Are you under 5 feet tall?"), they can be oddly specific ("Are you a Denver Bronco?"), they can be whatever you want as long as they're yes/no questions.

C. You can have anywhere from 1 to 10 questions. Your call.

D. People get 1 point for every yes, and 0 points for every no. You can define a minimum passing score or a maximum passing score depending on how you word your questions. For example, you can define 10 questions about positive traits and anyone getting less than 9 points is gone, or you can define 4 questions about negative traits and anyone getting more than 2 points is gone. You get to design it.

E. Recognize that once you set the scoring, the people who fail your test will cease to exist. No exceptions to the rule. If your mom fails, she's gone right along with those Taliban leaders. And if you arrange questions to save your sister the crack whore, maybe her pimp will get saved, too. This is a standardized test.

F. Recognize that you have to take the test, too.

With those rules, what are your questions, what scores will let people survive, and what percent of the population do you think will cease to exist?

Originally Posted by LoneWolf (Post 12298699)

For Listo and Pestilence.

Originally Posted by listopencil (Post 12298655)

Many of these questions boil down to how well you behave in a situation where you have either power, authority, or both.

Originally Posted by Otter (Post 12298730)

I'm not sure if that's agreement, disagreement or insight with the question but I think it fits well into your basis. Dogs are dependent on the owner and you can beat them without recourse in most cases or love them and teach them. How a person treats their pet has always been a big measuring stick for me in judging personality.

How does a person treat their family is another big one. I'm having a hard time coming up with yes or no question on this one. It's easy to fake being a good person. It's like having a new co-worker. The real deal doesn't come out until you see how someone handles adversity.

Originally Posted by listopencil (Post 12298722)

That still leaves too much leeway. For instance:

"Should you refrain from causing unnecessary harm, both physical and psychological, to other living beings?"

Normal good guy answer: Yes, that's bad and you shouldn't do it.

Normal bad guy answer: No, I hurt people even if it's unnecessary because it's expedient.

Psychotic answer: Yes, I should refrain from doing things, but I don't because I'm not concerned with what I should or shouldn't do.

Originally Posted by LoneWolf (Post 12298828)

That's why none of the questions I posted were
"Should you".