Why do people always choose to save the youngest?

Does anyone notice that people cherish the lives of babies or toddlers more then adults or older teenagers? Can someone explain that to me? For Example...iRobot. He thought the child should have lived instead of him.

Now..i'll admit..I'm one of those people. i would rather for the child to live or be saved and what not...but WHY?

Could it only be for the "cuteness" factor everyone talks about? Sure..they are young and have a whole life to live and this adult has already lived his life...but..what about the adults who have real purpose in this world..a famiy..work..experiences..ect. Why save the baby ONLY because its cute and young and "has a whole life ' to live.

does anyone see where I'm coming from?

I never got it either man.

If it was between me saving my best friend or me saving my best friends baby I would save my best friend. I know thats a crazy scenario but I totally would if I HAD to choose

I don't think it has anything to do with cuteness.  I think it has to do with the very young not being able to save themselves.  They rely on us, as adults because we ARE able.

If your house was burning to the ground, you're not gonna run out and say something like "pshhh... I'm cute too!"

most people are going to try and save the baby/child.  I think it has to do more with 'people helping those who aren't able to do so for themselves'

I can understand that moodymomma and it make ssince...

like i said i'd prob do the same..but i always like to do the "whys" and stuff

so what if it was a baby and adult in the fire? And neither could save themselves..tell the truth.most would go to the baby. Why not the adult?

I agree with moodymomma. 

I think that it has to do with all the purpose that they could still accomplish. I also think it's an innocent factor. Children are unspoiled by the sun (they have yet to be tainted by the world) ... they are still able to believe, create, and imagine. What adult doesn't envy and want to protect this "ideology"? children are the future.

allthough...if it was between my best friend and her baby....... I think i'd sacrifice myself. Not because I'm amazing...just the opposite. I'm a musician. ugh... I have a career that is completely about ego. **** me. :( .....

badunkadunk sacrificing yourself wasnt an option! I would obviously sacrifice myself but thats not the point hahha

Schooder your best friend would NEVER forgive you or even ever want to see you again if you saved her instead of her baby. So you might as well save the baby and let your friend fend for herself. LOL

I think it has to do with human survival.  We save the ones that will further the human existence.  It is counter productive to save older over younger people.

I agree with dutch_girl the best friend would Never forgive being saved over their child.

further the existance of the world??

we are SOOO past our ecological footprint

We might be past it, but the natural instinct to save the young is still there. I don't have kids, but when I was child minding I was looking after a 4yr old, as we walked back to the house one day a car came around the corner quite fast without even thinking about it my natural instinct was to grab the child and to put them to the opposite side of me, hence putting me between them and the car. Thankfully the car stopped.

Our local hospital is designed similar. The maternity unit, special care baby unit or joined to the main hospital only by a very long corridor. On the ground floor next to the main emergency exits is the children's wards, and then on each floor above it is dependant on your chance of survival. Guess who are on the top floor? the elderly. When the hospital was built the fire brigade didn't have a ladder that would reach that floor!

That's life....

 

 

Ever wonder WHY babies are so cute?  The are designed that way to tug on our maternal instincts, so adults instinctively want to protect them.  It's the same in the animal kingdom.  That's why when you see a baby animal, you can't help but go "awwww" and you feel your heart melt a little bit.

I'm assuming it's done that way to ensure the continuation of whatever species you happen to be. :)

Original Post by kukua:

Ever wonder WHY babies are so cute?  

well most are anyway.

this might not be a good comparison...  i dont believe in really hitting a child, but when i see children running across the street, or if my child ever did that, i want to spank the living **** out of the child. whereas if it was my bf i would just scold him (well maybe hit him on the head as well, oops maybe i am violent). so there is something in us that wants to make us protect them in some ways. kids being hit by cars just freaks me out.

Original Post by schnooder:

I never got it either man.

If it was between me saving my best friend or me saving my best friends baby I would save my best friend. I know thats a crazy scenario but I totally would if I HAD to choose

The unfortunate thing about that scenario is that your best friend would probably never forgive you for saving her instead of her baby.  I know my sister would hate me forever if I saved her instead of her children...

I always thought it was because that child has its whole life in front of him/her where as I am 29 and have already had a pretty good life, and seen a whole lot.  That child has not seen much of anything, and if I give up my life for that child, I would hope that that child would do something great with his/her life.... maybe not but it is a possibility. 

babies are easier to carry out of a fire than an adult

In my eyes Badunkadunk and Dove2424 hit on it. It's the potential in the young. I know who I am and where I'm going. But the young, the children aren't set on a path yet. They could be anything, they could go on to change the world (not saying I won't, just saying that they have a chance themselves). In my eyes the potential value of that future of theirs could outweight my own (or others). They deserve the chance to have that future just as I've gotten the chance to live mine.

I also think that somewhere in there is an aspect of the 'they can't help themselves so they should be helped' mentality. I think that is another large piece of it.

A little off topic but since we're talking about the whole saving ideal - that 1 kid versus 1 million deal that comes up in movies? I think that's a crock of s***. I mean, seriously, when those heroes choose to save that 1 kid it's very noble but in real life the 1 million lives are worth more due to sheer volume of them. I've just always thought the portrayal of that 'noble' virtue was kind of off. I don't necessarily agree that those who choose the sacrifice are quite as evil as they're portrayed to be either. Thoughts?

Original Post by se1289:

so what if it was a baby and adult in the fire? And neither could save themselves..tell the truth.most would go to the baby. Why not the adult?

 just speaking for me personally, i could pick up and carry a baby a lot easier than i could an adult

maybe if I was forrest gump or something I could come back and get the adult too, but being me... coming back for the adult would most likely mean we both die because I'd never make it out trying to carry a 150-200 lb person. Would throw out my back, both knees and possibly an ankle or two...

it's a good reason to increase my strength training though... great! thanks! 

I agre with the "baby" not being capable enough

but I dont agree with 'the baby having his whole life in front of it" thing. Young men and women have their whole live sinfront of them too.only a 20 year differnce..u dont do much in your first 20 years anyway..your parents do everything for you.. IDK.