At 09:37 PM 7/25/01, John D. Giorgis wrote:
>At 02:04 PM 7/25/01 +0200 J. van Baardwijk wrote:
> >>Given that I value my own life at around US$500mil to US$1bil
> >
> >When someone kidnaps you, do you really believe someone will pay 0.5 - 1
> >billion dollar for your release? Kidnapped captains of industry have been
> >released by their kidnappers for less than that; do you think that you, as
> >an ordinary civil servant, are worth more than those people?
>
>Of course not.
>
>First, I would point out that if I was ransomed for, say, a mere $1mil, I
>would simply consider it a deal. I paid a cheaper price for something I
>would have gladly paid much more for.
>
>Secondly, the amount with which I value my life does not equal the value
>others place on my life.
>
>Finally, the amount I would be willing to pay for ransom is decreased by
>the probability of being released or recused without a ransom.
>Additionally, the amount is also decreased by the cost palced on me for
>rewarding kidnapping. If by paying a ransom, I simply encourage more
>kidnappings, I am much less likely to pay a ransom.
>
>The only way to truly value your life, is to consider the following question:
>How much would someone have to offer you to take a hypothetical injection
>that will killy instantly and painlessly in one month's time?
Now, replace "yourself" as victim with "your child" and answer the same
questions ("How much would you pay to save your child from . . ." ).
--Ronn! :)
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I always knew that I would see the first man on the Moon.
I never dreamed that I would see the last.
--Dr. Jerry Pournelle
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