Funny Trolley Problem Outside-the-Box Solution Meme
Dialogue
Overview
This is a two-panel humorous meme playing on the famous trolley problem ethical thought experiment. The top panel displays the standard trolley problem setup: a runaway trolley is on course to hit 5 people tied to the main track, while a person stands next to a lever that can divert the trolley to a side track where only 1 person is tied. Text above this panel reads 'Therapist: What would you do in this scenario'. The bottom panel, labeled 'Me:', shows a real photograph of a young girl drawing a new curved line on the sketch that routes the trolley completely around both groups of people on the tracks, with the text 'Solved !' next to her, presenting an absurd, optimistic outside-the-box solution that avoids the forced no-win choice of the original dilemma.
Origin notes
This meme is a popular remix combining the widely recognizable trolley problem thought experiment meme format with the 'child drawing an alternative solution' trope. It was sourced from the RSS feed of the X (formerly Twitter) account WholesomeMeme, which shares lighthearted, wholesome viral content. The meme has circulated widely across social media platforms for its funny, relatable take on a famously difficult ethical question.