Someone did in fact test that. Thankfully when he found no basement, the situation resolved peacefully.

I like the story, because it’s a reminder that perfectly logical people can fall down these rabbit holes. If there are children in that basement, of course you should save them, and if you find no basement, of course you need to stop and concede. You’ve messed up.

Any one of us can fall down a little “rabbit hole” if something gets past the radar.