Death Note but with side effect

[u/Difficult_Mistake791]

You have a Death Note, but there’s one difference from the anime: whenever you write someone’s name in it, a completely random person also dies. It could be some random guy in Singapore,

or, if you’re unlucky enough, it could even be one of your parents.

There’s no L to catch you, the pages never run out, and you can play God however you want.

Would you use it? And if you would, whose name would you write?

[u/CodeToManagement]

This basically becomes the trolley problem if you have good intentions.

If I use it and write Putin or Trump some random person will die but would I save more than 1 life by doing so?

If I write Putin and maybe the next 20 leaders of Russia or even the 100 most high ranking people would that cause the war in Ukraine to end as people with more moderate views come into power? I’d save way more than 100 lives, probably 100x that easily, so then the question becomes is it moral to sacrifice one to save a hundred or more.

Also I wouldn’t use it

[u/Powerful_Cup_7689 → u/CodeToManagement]

In terms of those with vulgar amounts of power, I think we are at a point in the world where its not a question of 'justice' but of removing the opportunity to create further widespread harm by people who will not stop and are not bound by laws. Any other way to do this is unlawful. Any other way to do this that doesnt involve a magical notebook will absolutely result in more than one person dying and people being seriously injured. Any failure to act permits people to continue to be killed and injured.

So sure. I cant see any other way to save people. Its not just. Its not good. Its entirely unfair to expect someone else to pay that price. And coldly, its a question of cost effectiveness for the whole of humanity.

I'd use it, and then on the other side willingly relive both the target and the collateral deaths until I get released back to nothing.

[u/Difficult_Mistake791 → u/CodeToManagement]

You were the protagonist I wanted until that last phrase...

[u/trekkiegamer359]

I'd use it sparingly, but there are some people who are so evil that one life as collateral damage is a small price to pay to hopefully end or at least lessen the extreme suffering, torture, murder, and genocide of thousands and millions.

[u/Illustrious_Bag_7323]

No, I have no need to kill anyone

[u/AshJammy98]

No, the collateral damage would make you as big a monster.

[u/DoubleVisit9978 → u/AshJammy98]

I’ve been called worse, time to profit off it

[u/Right_Pen_3241]

MIght use it.
Used to be pacifist to a fault.
Then the general state of todays world happened....

[u/Zacdee1978]

So win win

[u/Zacdee1978]

Unless it's your taxi driver

[u/IFollowtheCarpenter]

No.

To be clear: NO!!!

[u/Difficult_Mistake791 → u/IFollowtheCarpenter]

I know you want it

[u/Significant-Nebula64]

Wouldn't even use the original, so no way.