We've heard about the Red Button and
the Green Button. All well and good. Now suppose there's this newly
installed Yellow Button: Pressing it means you instantaneously remove all
human beings from the earthly equation. That simple; poof they go.
If you'd prefer to be a bit more restrained and even-handed, amend the hypothetical so that pressing the Yellow Button means you incapacitate each human's reproductive function. This way, all unsuspecting individuals still get to live out the rest of their lives despite their newfound inability to procreate.
I'll just stick with the harsher version, for brevity's sake.
Either way, the result is the same in a generation or four: A planet
devoid of humanity, with all else remaining the same.
The kicker: You don't have days/weeks/months to decide whether or not to press
the Yellow Button. You must decide right now, as the button is available for
a limited time only. With ample time to make the call, loose ends might
not end up being so loose, and the lesson being imparted loses some of its
punch.
