Red/blue button choice is influenced by knowledge

[/u/Jocko2112]

The online poll is biased by the fact that everyone who participated can see the running statistics. As long as the score is close to 50/50 (which is statistically likely early on), more people will be encouraged to choose blue to help save those before them. If red pulls ahead enough early on though, people will lose faith in the blue choice and choose red rather than give their life for a lost cause. If the statistics were unknown until the bitter end, I think far less would choose blue and it's much more likely red would win. Now let's say your choice is to be made public after the result is over. Social pressure would be to pick blue because if red does not win, many people wouldn't want to be identified as a red button pusher making blue the safer social choice. Some people won't care about that and choose red anyway as the safe bet but a majority will care how they are judged (and treated) once the result of out.

submitted by /u/Jocko2112
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