At least in Omelas, you know it's only one child who suffers, rather than knowing it is many. By supporting the "other" society, I'd be supporting many more people's suffering. I'd like to think I'd walk away, but the more I think about it, the less sure I am. Do they think it will be less pleasant, but that they will feel happier on the whole because they don't have to live with the image of the child's suffering? Do they think they will be less happy, but they're prepared to live with suffering themselves rather than knowing they're the cause of someone else's suffering? It's a subtle distinction though, I'll admit! I think the people who walk away from Omelas are coming to our everyday world, (where things are less pleasant overall), but I wonder what they expect to find. If I get chance tomorrow, I'll see if I can track down a copy of the intro. I read the version in Brave New Worlds (which has a whole BUNCH of excellent dystopian/utopian stories - they've all been really excellent). I haven't read that introduction, but would love to have a look.
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