Mostly Harmless - I agree it's a poor example, but it was one intentionally chosen as a stark contrast to our normal value system (uh... ok, maybe "my" normal value system).
Dagny, I'd probably yak too. Or shake really really bad. Which is embarrasing as a guy
Although I would love to debate how self-preservation in one's home is somehow different than self-preservation outside one's home (where someone dies), it's totally OT and worthy of a whole slew of threads. In my mind, though, having one's actions kill another is the same, whethere it's on the offensive or defensive.
Susan, if he had other choices available, and he went with the powerline first, he's a flipping moron.