[anonymous]

[anothersoul]

I would like your opinion on something, community. Let's talk about justice for a moment.


In particular, let's say there is a person who once served the people. They did much good. Then they became a criminal. Not a rebel, not a petty thief because they needed to. A real criminal. Let's say they killed someone in cold blood.

In this example, since this person did much good, what would be a fitting punishment? Would it be merciful for that person, as well as just, for them to be killed? Their victim would be avenged and they would be cleansed of guilt, as well as preventing any further defamation of their good deeds.

No, I'm not talking about the death penalty. I'm talking about if another person went to the murderer and killed them for their crimes. A murder for a murder, out of mercy. Would it be just? Would it be merciful for that original murderer? Or is it just cheating the original victim out of justice?

I'm merely wondering.

Comments

text;

[selfished]

.. Who'd even care enough about that stuff to go kill someone else for doing something wrong to a person they probably don't even know? [ MISSING. THE. POINT. ]

Sounds like they should get a better hobby.

[anonymous]

[anothersoul]

{Just. Going to be over here giggling. Silly Sakura-san.]

Perhaps it was a family member who committed the murder.

[ghostshippingly]

That's... a really, really difficult question, anon.

But well, if you asked me... I'd say that unless there was really no other choice - like if your world didn't have its own justice system or if the system it did have was so corrupt that it just wouldn't work - it'd be better to help the system try and track them down so they can face a trial for what they've done. That's the reason we have something like a justice system, after all... and if there's one thing I learned from helping out Mr. Nick all those years ago, it's that a lot of the time there's some reason behind what the culprit did, no matter how bad it was.

But, even if that wasn't possible, even then... I'm not sure I could ever say that killing anyone was a good idea. The truth is, I really don't know anymore.

[anonymous]

[anothersoul]

I see. I'm not sure if I agree with you - this is a difficult manner, after all. I'm unsure wether justice is bound to laws and the justice system. There are certain things that perhaps the court can't handle.

[text]

[croibhristeoir]

Killing in the name of revenge was remarkably common where I came from. I can't say whether I thought it was justified or not; I think it would depend on what crime was committed and if the perpetrator was remorseful.

[anonymous]

[anothersoul]

Remorse... Would it be it be more just to kill a murderer who felt no regret or one that felt guilt? I wonder.

[shadow_spread]

I don't think that sounds just or merciful. It sounds like someone trying to justify revenge.

[anonymous]

[anothersoul]

Does it, now?

[ video ]

[second_star]

...And they just killed for the sake of killing?

[anonymous text]

[anothersoul]

Yes.

[oceanicbutterfly]

Situationally, it might be the right thing to do, but it isn't justice or mercy and the person killing him should remember that.

[anonymous]

[anothersoul]

[...]

I see. Thank you for answering the question.

( permanon: text. )

[owlcreation]

There's no mercy or justice in killing someone like that. No matter what, even if it's become necessary, that kind of choice will still be socially undesirable.

[the same]

[anothersoul]

Socially undesirable, yes, that's the phrase... It's a bit of a pity, really, that such things face such scorn.

( text. )

[insensate]

There's no justice in only speaking about justice. If there's something in your way, then get rid of it.

Disguising it plainly as noble or merciful is only avoiding deserved consequences.

( text; anonymous. )

[anothersoul]

That's true to an extent. Talk accomplishes little in such situations, doesn't it. Actions speak louder.

Am I right in thinking that you're already accusing me of something?

[sandinmyboots]

Does it matter? They'll still be dead.

[anonymous]

[anothersoul]

People don't exist in a vacuum, I'm afraid. True, they would still be dead but such questions still arise when other people find out about it.

[Voice]

[wishingpink]

[Wow...the questions that seem to turn up on the network.]

It wouldn't make much difference. It would just start a cycle. Killing someone is never the answer, it doesn't solve a thing. Not completely.

[anonymous]

[anothersoul]

True. There's always a cycle to such things.

[dekillerqueen]

Personally, I do not believe anybody has the right to judge that somebody else deserves death.

[locked]
However, if this question is more than hypothetical... I can offer my services.

[anonymous; locked]

[anothersoul]

Thank you for the offer; yet if this more than hypothetical I'm sure I could still handle it.

[novicius]

[This hits so close to home it hurts.]

If they have killed someone you know, someone you love, then why not ruin them, as they have ruined you?

[anonymous]

[anothersoul]

What if it was someone you know, someone you loved, who committed the crime? Would they require ruin?

[the_original_clone]

Quite the question. One that is obvious to vary from one to another. But in my opinion, death can be quite a fitting punishment. It is the end. If one is wronged and willing, it truthfully matters little if it is just or not. You are taking everything from them. And the idea of killing them as merciful is flawed. It would only momentarily save face. The truth will appear soon enough and people will spit upon the once good one's name. The real question is, could you bring yourself to kill them in cold blood just as they killed another?

[anonymous]

[anothersoul]

Quite observant of you to note the reason why killing as a mercy is flawed. Logically, that's the most valid argument I've heard.

For your question? I think at this point my own answer is obvious: yes.

[text]

[lazyfacepalm]

...

(...Is this person speaking from a personal issue...?

In truth, this is probably a close call. In fact, I'm kind of lost as to what the question even is, more of even what kind of answer this person is looking for...

Let's take this into account. If I were to have killed someone just to kill someone...no matter how good I was before, it's obvious I'm a changed man; someone who grew so cold enough to murder someone with no reason whatsoever. There shouldn't be any remorse right? I should have the death sentence--but. The anonymous poster said no to that. He or she is talking about someone else murdering the murderer. A vigilante. Just? Merciful? Cheating?)

A fitting punishment would seem to be the death of the murderer. However, who it is who would commit a crime for the sake of others...

I believe there are rules to be broken in this world. If someone else won't do it, who will, right? I'm assuming the police were out of the question here. There was no where else to go, nothing to do.

If it was for the sake of good, I think it would be just.

(Geez, now I sound like some kind of vigilantic. Is that even a word? I don't know anymore.)

[anonymous]

[anothersoul]

The police can't solve every crime. They're only human and only have so many resources... Sometimes it is the individual who has to rise to do the dirty work.

It would be redundant to say that I agree with you, I suppose.

[handwritten]

[lifeisbrief]

No, it wouldn't.

[anon]

[anothersoul]

Why?

[anon]

[iwontforgivethis]

It's still wrong. Murder is murder. It doesn't matter if you kill a murderer, you're still committing murder.

Now, if this murderer was attacking you and you killed him or her in self-defense, then that would be different. Or if you were coming across the murderer as they were attacking someone else, went to help them, and the murderer ended up dying in the struggle, that'd be the same situation as the self-defense thing.

[anon]

[anothersoul]

Your examples is the common wisdom, I've found.

However. Let's say this murderer was close to you. A dear friend or family member. Would you turn your back on them and leave them to the justice system?

text

[fugal]

I don't know.

Why would someone who had been good do something like that?

[anonymous]

[anothersoul]

[Poor, innocent Miki-san. Senpai will teach you.]

Sometimes people change for the worst; perhaps someone betrayed them. Perhaps they simply broke down. It's not a good feeling to know that someone's picked the wrong path.

[tenminutes]

Not just, and not just because it's wrong to kill people or the typical "revenge doesn't make anyone feel better" sort of thing. Killing someone kills parts of a person too, just like it doesn't solve anything, and... all it does is make the victim into a monster just like the original murderer. When someone dies it effects a lot more than just them too. Just because someone does something wrong, it doesn't mean that they don't have anyone who cares about them. It's not fair to take someone away from someone else, no matter who they are or what hell they put you through because the people who are still around to be affected are the ones who suffer worst.

I'm saying this as someone who had their siblings murdered, was killed, and really, really thought about it for a long time. Probably the most qualified person for this question, actually.

[anonymous]

[anothersoul]

Mm, that's quite an answer and I won't argue that killing someone changes you. Like I've said before in this case I don't think 'revenge' is an apt motive yet that statement still holds true.

[the_visitor]

There is much mercy in death. But you must ask yourself of its purpose. Are you using death as a tool for revenge, or to ease pain? Or are you using it as an excuse, as a way of avoiding responsibility for ones actions? Do not misconstrue "justice" for "ease" - it is rare that the simplest solution is the most just.

[jailbirds]

This is all getting kind of complicated for something as simple as murder. Just kill who you want and don't get killed yourself. That's all it should be.