A Hypothetical Mind Game: Twin Pods

I've had many mind games invented, some of which are used and realistic, while others are more unrealistic and hypothetical. This is one of the latter.

You've probably seen the Dark Knight, right?
Do you remember the scene with the two ferries? Keep that in mind, but call the ferries pods.
This is going to be similar, but with three new dimensions.

#1: Now there is 12 hours of time.
#2: There is a button that, when pressed by pod A, if pod B tries to destroy pod A, pod B will be destroyed. However, if pod B does not attack pod A, pod A will be destroyed. It terminates in 2 hours.
#3: The entire human race is sorted into these pods, one for the people smarter than they are strong, and the other for the converse.

Who will "win," and why?

Pod A, because mankind will always choose the easiest and most "logical" solution.

Let me try to clear up what happens when:

If Button A (in pod A) is pressed, but Button B is not then A is destroyed.
While if Button A is pressed and B is also pressed, then B is destroyed.
If B but not A then nothing.
If neither then B is destroyed.

The winning option seems rather obvious, then.


The more traditional form of this is as follows:
If A and B then both die.
If A but not B then A dies.
If B but not A then B dies.
If neither then both die.

Alternatively (This would be the example that inspired this thread):
If A and B then both die.
If A but not B then B dies.
If B but not A then A dies.
If neither then both die.

None of them are easy problems. My first one is possibly the easiest one morally, most people would say that they'd push their button.

My 2nd one is harder, I mean, it makes sense to save one group as opposed to saving none, but there's still the whole murder aspect.

Actually, I needed to clarify. I just made up the 'Pod A' and 'Pod B'-my original distinction gave them no names. Also, the 2nd point is temporary-for two hours. (I'm editing that.)

How about Pod A is for the smarter and Pod B for the stronger people?

I'm thinking that it all remains on chance because Pod A is faced with numerous difficulties-they would think things through more so than Pod B in general. (Note: it would get more complex in real life.)

Pod B may get it over with and destroy Pod A.
Pod B may be faced with indecision and destroy Pod A just before 12:00.
Pod B may just not resort to destroying Pod A (like in the movie).
Pod B may argue a bit, but eventually someone would go ahead and do it.

In those situations, Pod A has a few tactics. It could block Pod B in the beginning, block Pod B at 10:01, destroy Pod B automatically, or be faced with randomity.

In turn, Pod B may consider some of this. They could block randomly, in the beginning, at 10:01, etc.

It isn't complete, but it may just come down to Pod B being unpredictable or Pod A outsmarting Pod B using the same tactics.

Ah, so it's a simple variation then:
If A, not B then A is destroyed
If A, and B then B is destroyed
If not A, but B then A is destroyed
If not A and not B then nothing.


The solution again seems pretty simple.

If A, not B then A is destroyed by reputation
If A, and B then B is destroyed by military
If not A, but B then A is destroyed by airplanes
If not A and not B then no second term of Bush.