Painting or the Cat

This thread is a good argument for why everything on the forum doesn't have to be gambling related. As a firefighter, you are trained to value life above property. So it would be humans, then animals, and THEN objects. Even if that animal would be brought to a shelter and put to sleep after a week.

Phrase it like this: A large cat is barreling down on a priceless painting, confused that it's a picture of a bird or a mouse or "Scream". He'll surely claw straight through it, ruining the painting. You have a gun and can shoot the cat, killing it, and saving the painting. Do you still choose the painting? Many look at the problem like this and choose the cat, because inaction is an excuse. "Well, I'd do nothing, because you're less likely to get into trouble doing nothing than doing something..."

Quote: Wizard

For those who voted for the cat, why? There is no shortage of cats in the world. Wouldn't the painting bring more joy to humanity than one more cat?

Oh, I thought you were refering to Nemuri-neko.

Quote: Doc

Now if this particular Rembrandt were done in florescent colors on velvet, THEN it could readily be recognized as something of sufficient value to warrant rescue.

Or had a beer logo or looked like a giant can of tomato soup. Of course if it were a lesser painting, but one that could be sold on the black market after having officially been destroyed in the fire, then the answer is obvious: steal the painting and frame the cat for arson.

Thanks for all the comments thus far. This is a tough crowd in terms of accepting a hypothetical question. For those who argue that the cat would be difficult to catch and carry out of the building, just assume it is already in a carrier. Also assume the fireman is an expert on art.

Regarding the pain of the cat, I would think it would die or pass out from smoke inhalation before the flames got to it.

Quote: Nareed

Having briefly owned a cat, and having known a few other cat owners, I can state that you can buy a scratching post and train your cat all you can stand, she will still pick one spot of carpet or furniture to shred.

I've had two cats and both of them used a scratching post I made for them about 90% of their scratching activity. The key is to wrap plenty of thick twine around a post. The store bought ones that are mostly carpet are not as appealing to cats.

Quote: Wizard

This is a tough crowd in terms of accepting a hypothetical question.

Well, suppose for a moment that there weren't any hypothetical situations. ....

Certainly the life of an animal is not worth as much as a valuable part of human civilization. The fireman should save the painting.

As a more interesting hypothetical question about human lives versus the value of great artwork see the 1964 war movie, The Train written by Franklin Coen and Frank Davis and directed by John Frankenheimer. It stars Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield and Jeanne Moreau.

Set in August 1944, the film sets Resistance-member Labiche (Burt Lancaster) as he attempts to prevent Col. von Waldheim (Paul Scofield) from shipping art masterpieces from a French museum to Germany. After the Germans remove the art chosen by Waldheim from the Jeu de Paume Museum, curator Mademoiselle Villard (Suzanne Flon) seeks help from the French Resistance. Given the imminent liberation of Paris by the Allies, they need only delay the train for a few days — still, it is an extremely dangerous operation and it must be done in such a way that does not risk damaging the priceless cargo. Although the Resistance initially rejects the plan ("We won’t waste lives on paintings"; "Don’t you have copies of them?"), the men have a change of heart after a cantankerous elderly engineer, Papa Boule (Michel Simon), is executed for trying to sabotage the train on his own.

Quote: cclub79

This thread is a good argument for why everything on the forum doesn't have to be gambling related"

Okay, : )

You run into a burning casino and into a secret back room and see a large stack of hundred dollar bills on a poker table, and next to it is a cat, and next to the cash is also a poker hand face down.

You only have time to 1) steal the cash OR 2) rescue the cat OR 3) turn over and see what the poker hand is...

Quote: Wizard

Regarding the pain of the cat, I would think it would die or pass out from smoke inhalation before the flames got to it.

I don't know if a cat would pass out at all, seeing as it is close to the ground where the oxygen is displaced to. Also smoke inhalation can cause burns inside the trachea and lungs. That hurts.

Quote:

I've had two cats and both of them used a scratching post I made for them about 90% of their scratching activity. The key is to wrap plenty of thick twine around a post. The store bought ones that are mostly carpet are not as appealing to cats.

I got her one made of twine and wood, actually. She used it, but she also liked an old stool and one corner of carpet in my room.

Quote: cclub79

As a firefighter, you are trained to value life above property. So it would be humans, then animals, and THEN objects. Even if that animal would be brought to a shelter and put to sleep after a week.

That's all well and good, but it's also the result of all those countless hours of training.

The original question was posed to ordinary people. The same type of people would would be running out of the burning building while the firefighter is running in.

I'd save the cat. Screw civilization.