Meme Monday: The reoccurring trolley problem

Memes can pose ethical quandries, too

It’s time for a special edition of the newsletter where I highlight a trending meme. If you’re new, you can subscribe here and follow me on X or Threads. Views are my own. Happy reading!

What is the meme?

An illustration of the trolley problem, an ethical dilemma which presents you with the option to pull a lever to divert a trolley from rolling over five people to one instead.

Who is in the meme?

You.

When did the meme pop up?

The trolley problem meme has existed for years, as has the ethical dilemma.

Why is the meme?

The idea itself, removed from its allegory, is amusing because when are you going to watch a trolley with fully functioning brakes hurtle toward innocent people tied up to the tracks?

When you least expect it. That’s when.