I am in the category that would push the red button of course. And I think most people would do likewise.
The problem with this scenario is the the self that is able to push the button may not be able to concieve of eternal torture, may minimize the expected effects, may be unable to imagine the consequences. Yet, like an 18 year old, may also THINK he can imagine the consequences and may THINK he knows what he is doing.
Note that in our society, we let people age 17 and above join the armed forces, which means they are effectively forfieting many of their constitutional rights...depending on circumstances, possibly for the rest of their lives! (Due to human brain development, we shouldn't let someone to forfiet basic rights until they are at least 21 or in many cases, age 25. Note that as people age past 18, the rate at which they join the military starts to decrease...)
Yet every year, enough young people are willing to forfiet their rights that our armed forces are sufficient to maintain a permanent war. Despite the widespread knowledge of abominable conditions in the US war zones, record high troop suicides, poor care from the VA, etc.
The point is this: the moment of decision is prior to the time frame of the consequences. The self who makes the choice is not the same as the self would be after the self has been tortured a bit. And after the torture begins, it's too late, because the irrevocable decision has been made.
We can predict that most people would choose red, and we can predict that of those opting for torture, since we're talking eternity, 100% would eventually regret the decision and beg for death or mercy. But given human nature, there could easily be some who opt for torture.
Some might opt for torture, thinking that by doing so, they'd be yanking Biblegod's chain.
