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ciphergoth comments on So you say you're an altruist... - Less Wrong
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The practical answer is that most people would indeed put their neck in the noose for those other 10 strangers, because they and they alone can save them. However, if the King were instead to go out onto the marketplace and say "I will hang ten people today unless one person steps up to take their place", no-one would volunteer. This makes little sense from a consequentialist point of view; it's just a fact about human psychology.
One consequence is that if you're ever being attacked on the street while passers by walk on, don't just shout for help: select a particular passer by and ask them for help as specifically as you can.
Even better to address as many as possible, making them all feel like they are being specifically targeted
"Hey you with the dark hair"
I suspect that would be counterproductive - people would rather hang onto the idea that someone else is being targeted.
I fear my first thought would be that they were confederates and this was a 419-like scam.
(This is London, of course people try 419-like scams face to face.)
Anyone running such a scam would be well advised to wait until the mark is the only person nearby before starting their performance.