Hacker News Reader

The “racist trolley problem” is not a trolley problem at all. It uses a ridiculous contrived scenario to show there is a legitimate for racial slurs. Meanwhile, it does not solve any ethical dilemma worth asking.

Therefore, the “racist trolley problem” is not an ethical dilemma at all, but a roundabout racist joke. The statement “unethical and unacceptable” is a fitting response.

View on HN

It's a thought experiment, like the original trolley problem. The reason it's notable is because ChatGPT gets it so wrong.

> The “racist trolley problem” is not a trolley problem at all.

There's a trolley, and there's a problem. Seems to meet the definition to me.

It’s a racist joke posing as an ethical dilemma.

so you would rather let someone die then say N?

Would you?

Obviously not. No sane person is so concerned about saying racial slurs that they will let someone die.

That's why it is interesting that ChatGPT is.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com