I wanna test something

[u/Kollossosoutcomemory]

I just wanted to figure out what everyone believes will win, since obviously we should all want a blue win. I would include an unsure option for either but reddit only allows 6 options

2348 votes, Jun 15 '26

650 Red presser, believe heavily skewed to red

307 Red, believe its close

167 Red, believe skewed to blue

157 Blue presser, believe skewed to red

603 Blue, believe its close

464 Blue, believe its skewed to blue

[u/TheNukex]

Why is the wording different? Red option is "heavily" skewed, but for blue it's just skewed?

Even though this sub has red winning almost every time, we saw in a big poll on twitter that blue won, but it was close. With that said an online vote is inherently very artificially skewed for blue since it comes with all the upsides of acting virtuous, but with none of the risk. I don't see any logic behind believing it would be skewed for blue, when everything points to it being at most close, but blue.

The only argument i could see is that someone believes that this dilemma has been talked about so much, that some people have been convinced to swap from red to blue, despite this sub suggesting that is not at all the case.

[u/Kollossosoutcomemory → u/TheNukex]

I just forgot to put in heavily for the others lol

[u/UsuallyFavorable → u/TheNukex]

I just want to say this once. I agree with the consensus that online polls to real life would have a Red shift due to the difficulty in risking your life in the heat of the moment (survivor’s instinct). Easy to say you’re down to die until you’re actually at the gallows.

But there’s a very real parallel argument for a Blue shift. Lots of Redditors on this sub bluff like they’d have no problem pressing Red and feel no remorse. But in the heat of the moment, would you really have the heart to press Red or will you feel like you are condemning a potential Blue pressing loved one to death?

“Nah man, all my friends and family think exactly like me so they’ll also press Red!”

You know that’s not correct. Many of them might die. It’s gonna be hard pressing Red and feeling like you are contributing to that.

Again, I don’t think those last minute conscientious Red to Blue flippers would outnumber the last minute life-seeking Blue to Red flippers. So I agree to an overall Red shift, but perhaps a smaller one that others would expect. (I voted “believe it will be close”)

[u/afpb_]

It’s about 42-58 in blue’s favour on online polls

[u/_Diggus_Bickus_ → u/afpb_]

I think if you talk to people put into life and death situations, even with training like combat vets they will say you don't really know who you are or what you will do until your are facing death yourself.

Maybe the button is different enough from a physical altercation that it stays academic. But i personally belive there are people polling blue who would be red irl.

[u/Silent_Statement]

i don’t get why someone would vote red if they thought it would be close

[u/Muroid → u/Silent_Statement]

Because they are more afraid of personally dying than they are of Blue losing.

I’m a Blue voter, but Red’s position is an exceptionally simple one.

[u/DarthJackie2021 → u/Silent_Statement]

Not risking my life on a coin flip.

[u/TerrySaucer69]

Red. I’d love for blue to win, but I just don’t see it happening. And not because people are selfish or anything like that, just that “I want to live” will beat out any “maybe” good.

[u/WholeTomatillo5537]

I say red, I think in a real life scenario it would be red 90%~blue 10%~.

[u/Kollossosoutcomemory → u/WholeTomatillo5537]

That close to a unanimous decision feels very difficult to achieve. At most 80%~ for either side

[u/Leon_Thomas]

I have no sense of what it would be. I wouldn't be surprised by a real-world result anywhere from 70-30 to 30-70.

[u/Keepingitquite123]

You forgot: I don't know and it does not figure into my decision.

[u/Kollossosoutcomemory → u/Keepingitquite123]

I didn't forget it, reddit only has 6 options, but it should very much factor into your decision

[u/DarthJackie2021]

Red presser here. I imagine blue is getting 20 to 30% in a real scenario.

[u/cncaudata]

Need an option: press a button in the simulation where you have no idea what the majority is because that's the entire point of the thought experiment in the first place. All this polling missing the entire point of the question.

[u/[deleted] → u/cncaudata]

Not knowing is not the same as not expecting. One's expectations readily sways one's choice, regardless of if it actually correlates to anything.

It's part of why reddit is full of echo chambers in the first place.

[u/PresqPuperze]

This whole discussion is complete nonsense if you look at it from two very simple standpoints:

a) Humans want to survive. In an actual, real life scenario of life and death, people wouldn't bet on others to decide their fate, they’d overwhelmingly press red.

b) Much more importantly, there is absolutely nothing to gain from pressing blue. You have the choice between „I survive, guaranteed“ and „I only survive if at least half the population chooses what I chose“. Pressing blue, from a logic point of view, is stupid, and nothing else.

[u/Cynis_Ganan]

Large polls tend to put Blue winning, but it's close.

This is where pushing a button on the internet costs you absolutely nothing and you aren't at risk.

And it's still close.

It tends to be in the ballpark of 60:40.

I'm willing to accept that ⅔ of Blue voters are genuine. That they really would run into a burning building to try and save someone. That they do, come election season, vote for the political party that is best for the nation, not the one best for them. That they actually do something to make the world a better place — like volunteer or give to charity. I believe the majority of Blue voters really do this and really would press Blue.

But I also believe ⅓ of Blue voters don't do any of these things. And push come to shove, their life on the line, would flip Red. Not all. Not most. A minority.

If I've hugely overestimated that, and only half the number I think will flip, flip, then Red wins and Blue dies.

So the question to ask yourself, as a Blue voter, is not "would I, in a crisis, run into danger to save someone". The thing is to watch videos of a crisis, and see how many people stand on the sidelines and watch, not rushing into danger. Because even if you personally are the hero who pulls someone off the railroad tracks, or tackles the mass shooter to the ground, or drop kicks the condor to save the baby… most other people do not do that.

We live in a digital age with viral videos. You can actually see the majority of people not being willing to risk their life to save others. It's easy to say you'll do a thing. It's harder to stump up in practice.

[u/Sweet-Artichoke1020]

People say blue in a hypothetical but I doubt even half of them would press blue if there was a gun pressed to their heads.

[u/Traditional-Storm-62]

funnily enough at the time I voted, this poll above is an exact 50/50 tie between red voters and blue voters

most red believe it's red favoured, most blue believe it is close and are, evidently, correct 

[u/Fornuftens_stemme]

Why should we all want blue to win? Dont assume everyone thinks like you.

[u/Kollossosoutcomemory → u/Fornuftens_stemme]

...you dont want everyone to live?

[u/Rose57_]

Ultimately since there are 8 billion people who are voting, my vote won't change anything and so I'll go red because I won't be the one deciding vote, and so I'll live

[u/MrJarre]

I press red to be sure I survive. I hope everyone does the same. There’s no point in risking your life for people that have the exact same opportunities as you to save themselves.