So, here’s the question….
You’re in the Headmaster’s office. Two girls were spotted committing some grave offence (truancy, perhaps). You were caught: your friend escaped unrecognised.
The Headmaster ponders the situation. “On the one hand, you fully deserve to be caned – but so does the other girl involved. On the other, one might argue that it’s unfair for you to take the punishment if your colleague gets away with it scot-free.”
So he proposes a solution: “double or quits. I’ll toss a coin. Heads, and you walk away. Tails, and the six strokes I’m going to give you will be doubled to twelve, so you take the punishment for both girls.”
What would you choose? (And would your decision vary according to the number of strokes – for example, if you’d originally been due a dozen, but the wrong call would increase that to 24?)
Yes, call Heads. But can we use my special coin, please sir?
I was going to say that of course the Head would use *his* special coin (unbeknown to the poor girl of course).
Depends on who you want to get the better of the situation, I guess 😉
It’s human nature to take the double-or-nothing option. Of course, a truly dastardly headmaster would mete out the first twelve and then ask again for the co-conspirator’s name. IMO, that would be much worse than a cheating coin. After all, no girl in her right mind would fail to ask to see both sides!
I would always take the punisment and never tell!
J xx