The original poll, long taken down, was:
About torture...
A terrorist has tied your baby to a timebomb. You have the terrorist. He tells you that you have one hour before the bomb goes off. Would you include torture as one of the ways to save your baby?
Yes, I would consider torturing the terrorist
No, I would never use torture
[This was based on a Twitter spat on this subject. It was a lot like our discussion except in 140 characters and with death threats.]
I would consider it, probably - not sure if I'd do it. Maybe if I was sufficiently enraged. Also, thinking rationally instead of stroking our egos, torture is not a very good way of finding out the truth. I'd certainly try other things first.
I would also certainly accept that I was breaking the law prohibiting torture and accept the legal punishment. Once you legalise torture under any excuse, it's all downhill from there.
Since you apparently love questions about moral choices: if the terrorists asked you to choose between having your child and your *current* wife killed, what would be your answer?