Ben was suicidal because of an overwhelming emotion, not because of careful consideration about the zombie apocalypse and a decision to escape it. He wasn't in his right mind to make the choice to die.
The girl who wanted the gun was going to turn into a zombie and was also suicidal. She wasn't in the right mind to make the choice either. Both needed to be calmed down and talk about their situation and choices, but there was no one trained in suicide prevention. Maybe Katjaa would still be alive if the group had anyone trained in suicide prevention.
However, Ben and the girl's situations were very different. Ben's suicidal impulse was a permanent tragedy for a temporary emotion. The girl was facing an incurable medical condition that was going to lead to more suffering for her (and those around her). So, after talking it over, death would probably be the right choice for her. She could go more at peace, though, instead of frightened and alone. For Ben? There was no reason to die, and someone should have stepped in and stopped the suicide.
You might learn something because of a game that could save someone's life.
ITA that Ben wasnt in the right state of mind to decide he wanted to die. It was purely out of guilt and a need to atone for the mistakes he made. That, to me, was not nearly enough reason to let him die if I could save him. When he was said let me go, I didnt even have to think about it. I just was not doing it. Who's to say how anyone would act in a situation like that? We all think we would be heroic but who knows? People get overwhelmed and get in their own way. I think he deserved a second chance.
I wasn't on the "Ben need to die" side even if he brought a lot of problems to the group. And I kind of liked him as a character. But when the time came to let him die or pull him out, I didn't know what to choose. I wanted to save him but I feared that if I didn't let him go, we were both going to die so I let him go.
When I learned that he could live through it and when I remembered that I was playing a video game and Lee couldn't die yet, I was pissed at the decision I made. Since it is my 1st playthrough, I chose not to rewind.
My friend told me that I need Ben, but when the time came he kept telling me to let him go. I obeyed his final wish. I regretted that choice I will never let him die again. I don't care if Ben killed almost half of my friends or that he's useless, that death is painful to watch.
Saved him. At least he admits his mistakes. What else is in ep five he picks up carleys gun which is her last memento and gives it to me. Which means a lot cus she and lee had a deep relationship and shouldnt be forgotten
I dropped him. I could forgive the mistakes, but not manning up on the side of the road and letting Carley take his bullet made me hate him, then leaving Clem in the streets. That was just selfish cowardice.
He got way to many good people killed. That was my thinking at the time.
In hindsight given i would have been able to keep Carley's gun and he's doesn't last all that long i'd probably pull him up.
Even though he did a lot of mistakes and therefore bears the guilt for Ducks and Katjaas death, I decided to pull him up. I thought that it wouldn't be right to end his life, since you can't bring anybody back to life and he could still be a help in some situations.
Lee to Glen when he asked why he gave Irene the gun - "Mercy, man."
That's also why I pulled Ben up. It was simply in my Lee's moral perspective the right thing to do, the most merciful.
I know these are two different situations and not related to each other, but I played Lee as someone seeking to make amends for his own mistake(s) and such weighed on his decisions in the ZA.
I... was gonna drop him because he was begging me to, but I chose to pull him up because I thought it would be one of those choices where you tried to save them, but the death is canon. Glad I chose that option though, he died in a better way by getting shot.
I pulled him up, because his intentions are good. Even if i hated him for his actions, i will not be responsible for his death. He'll do himself in or someone else will, but that blood won't be on my hands.
I never hated Ben. He was a good, but stupid guy, who always tried to help, but in the wrong ways. That can't be said about all characters
I'm in management and I think some lessons I've learned from that apply here.
I've had employees that were fuck-ups before (like Ben), and employees that were malevolent (like Lily). I think anyone would agree that malevolent ones are a much bigger problem than mere fuck-ups.
And a situation like a ZA when you don't really have much choice in who's on your team is not that different from the business world. Firing and replacing people tends to be a laborious process that's almost always harder than simply finding the right niche/role for the troublesome worker.
The "senior management" at the Travellier Motel had no way of knowing that Ben was not qualified to stand watch. But after that Lee made a huge mistake in allowing him to come to Crawford. Ben contributed nothing of value to that mission and we all know what he did while there. IMO, he should have been left behind to "guard" Clem and Omid, or at least act as a warning system since he'd probably have run and hid at the first sign of trouble.
At any rate, Lee knew full well what Ben was incapable of back during episode 3, but we weren't given the option to act on that knowledge. That's not a knock on TTG, but it did seal his fate.
Comments
No Ben = No Thrill on the story
ITA that Ben wasnt in the right state of mind to decide he wanted to die. It was purely out of guilt and a need to atone for the mistakes he made. That, to me, was not nearly enough reason to let him die if I could save him. When he was said let me go, I didnt even have to think about it. I just was not doing it. Who's to say how anyone would act in a situation like that? We all think we would be heroic but who knows? People get overwhelmed and get in their own way. I think he deserved a second chance.
I pulled him up, Just cause I want someone to guard ze boat.
When I learned that he could live through it and when I remembered that I was playing a video game and Lee couldn't die yet, I was pissed at the decision I made. Since it is my 1st playthrough, I chose not to rewind.
He got way to many good people killed. That was my thinking at the time.
In hindsight given i would have been able to keep Carley's gun and he's doesn't last all that long i'd probably pull him up.
That's also why I pulled Ben up. It was simply in my Lee's moral perspective the right thing to do, the most merciful.
I know these are two different situations and not related to each other, but I played Lee as someone seeking to make amends for his own mistake(s) and such weighed on his decisions in the ZA.
That's my answer as well.
I'm in management and I think some lessons I've learned from that apply here.
I've had employees that were fuck-ups before (like Ben), and employees that were malevolent (like Lily). I think anyone would agree that malevolent ones are a much bigger problem than mere fuck-ups.
And a situation like a ZA when you don't really have much choice in who's on your team is not that different from the business world. Firing and replacing people tends to be a laborious process that's almost always harder than simply finding the right niche/role for the troublesome worker.
The "senior management" at the Travellier Motel had no way of knowing that Ben was not qualified to stand watch. But after that Lee made a huge mistake in allowing him to come to Crawford. Ben contributed nothing of value to that mission and we all know what he did while there. IMO, he should have been left behind to "guard" Clem and Omid, or at least act as a warning system since he'd probably have run and hid at the first sign of trouble.
At any rate, Lee knew full well what Ben was incapable of back during episode 3, but we weren't given the option to act on that knowledge. That's not a knock on TTG, but it did seal his fate.