Being on the spot was kind of the point. Ronan would rather they have to think through it now rather than freeze up when it really counts.

"That's a legitimate reason to want to save the strangers over the friend," he said. "What if the friend can't help, though? What if, even through that friend's action or inaction, you need to make the choice to save that friend, or those threatened by that friend, even inadvertently?"