Did they treat their victims with any comfort? Don't suspect you've ever been raped or experienced someone close to you being murdered. It's a life-changing, life-destroying event. These monsters deserve little comfort. As is said in many cultures throughout the world, do unto others as you would have others do unto you. Given their treatment of others, it's only fair we make them suffer to some degree.Indeed, their conditions should be made as comfortable as reasonable.
A man said to the universe:
"Sir, I exist!"
"However," replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."
-- Stephen Crane
All of what you say is exactly true. However, what a criminal does is not moral justification, in my view, for acting as they do. I suspect most people, like you, don't share that view. You, as you say, justify your behavior by society's worst not the best.Quote by: Angry Citizen
I realize it is difficult, and for some impossible, to extend the hand of compassion to "monsters". But, how we treat "monsters" is more indicative, I suggest, of our true natures and ethics than how we treat those whom we find not frightening nor dangerous.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd - Voltaire
Hey, I'm civilized. It's not like I prescribe society-mandated torture or rape. That would be cruel. Just lock them away and, if the crime is truly heinous, kill them. This nonsense about being "better than them" is absurdity. There's no compelling reason, moral or otherwise, to withhold a just punishment. How are we being better than them by providing convicted murderers and rapists with a comfortable existence at taxpayer expense?However, what a criminal does is not moral justification, in my view, for acting as they do.
A man said to the universe:
"Sir, I exist!"
"However," replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."
-- Stephen Crane
Being better than they are is not nonsense, in my view at least, but perhaps not in yours. I prefer not to take my moral guidance from those who are the least moral in our society, namely many criminals.
What is "just punishment" is a moral issue, as is the use of punishment at all.
If we don't treat rapists and murderers as they treat others, we are better than them.
What has taxpayers' expense got to do with anything under discussion here?
Perhaps I misunderstand your position, but it seems to me your view is that those guilty of serious crimes should, preferably, be murdered by the state, and failing that left to rot under the worst possible conditions until their deaths. Many and perhaps most people would agree with you, including, possibly, most serious criminals. It is something you may morally share in common with them.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd - Voltaire
Being better than they are is not nonsense, in my view at least, but perhaps not in yours. I prefer not to take my moral guidance from those who are the least moral in our society, namely many criminals.
What is "just punishment" is a moral issue, as is the use of punishment at all.
If we don't treat rapists and murderers as they treat others, we are better than them.
What has taxpayers' expense got to do with anything under discussion here?
Perhaps I misunderstand your position, but it seems to me your view is that those guilty of serious crimes should, preferably, be murdered by the state, and failing that left to rot under the worst possible conditions until their deaths. Many and perhaps most people would agree with you, including, possibly, most serious criminals. It is something you may morally share in common with them.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd - Voltaire
You don't misunderstand me. If you wish to unnecessarily conflate my moral position with that of "serious criminals", that is your wish. My moral position targets the guilty. Theirs targets the innocent. If you do not see a difference there, then I'm afraid your moral compass needs a new needle.Perhaps I misunderstand your position, but it seems to me your view is that those guilty of serious crimes should, preferably, be murdered by the state, and failing that left to rot under the worst possible conditions until their deaths. Many and perhaps most people would agree with you, including, possibly, most serious criminals. It is something you may morally share in common with them.
A man said to the universe:
"Sir, I exist!"
"However," replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."
-- Stephen Crane
You want to kill convicted murderers and they want to kill you. Are you not both murderers, unnecessarily taking human lives? It seems to me you are.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd - Voltaire
As I put it in post 18:
If you'd care to respond to this point rather than repeat ad nauseum that I am "unnecessarily" taking life, that'd be great.My moral position targets the guilty. Theirs targets the innocent. If you do not see a difference there, then I'm afraid your moral compass needs a new needle.
A man said to the universe:
"Sir, I exist!"
"However," replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."
-- Stephen Crane
I thought I did respond. What did you find deficient in my response? If a criminal is in custody and no longer a threat to anyone, murdering them by execution is unnecessary to protect anyone.
If you as an individual who was attacked by potential murderer and had constrained them so as to prevent them posing a danger to you or anyone else then went on to murder them you'd be guilty of murder. Why should it be any different for the state?
Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd - Voltaire
I would be guilty of murder solely because the man had not had his day in court at that point. Like I said, I'm civilized. I'm willing to give the guy the benefit of the doubt before I kill him.
A man said to the universe:
"Sir, I exist!"
"However," replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."
-- Stephen Crane
That's one notion of being civilized, and one shared by many. Some would not at the "kill him" part.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd - Voltaire
I get the impression you're trying to make a point by repeatedly noting that "many people" think as I do. I'm just not sure what it is.
A man said to the universe:
"Sir, I exist!"
"However," replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."
-- Stephen Crane
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