Is it wrong to feel sympathy for these criminals?
  Home FAQ Contact Sign in
alt.philosophy only
 
Advanced search
POPULAR GROUPS

more...

alt.philosophy Profile…
 Up
Is it wrong to feel sympathy for these criminals?         


Author: meatnub
Date: May 22, 2008 09:30

Gangsters, murderers, rapists, serial killers, pedophiles, you-name-
it.

These were all once innocent children. But something went wrong.
Mental Illness? No parents? Abused as children? Who knows.

Of course, they are adults and most ought to know better, but they
don't, for whatever reason.

I am not a religious man, but was raised Roman Catholic. I don't
believe in god but I believe in 2nd chances and forgiveness. Except
how do you give a second chance to a rapist, pedohpile or serial
killer?

I don't think these people should be free to walk the streets. They
often disgust me for the crimes they have done, and I would prefer to
see them hanged, castrated, euthanized, whatever than to sit alive in
jail.

But then I find myself sympathizing for these people who were once
children themselves, and someone let them down. But again, that
doesn't make me want to hug them or pat them and say "there, there".

I know it's not wrong to feel however I do. But I just wonder at times
and wonder if I'm alone in the way I think or feel about this?
11 Comments
Re: Is it wrong to feel sympathy for these criminals?         


Author: meatnub
Date: May 22, 2008 10:00

And just to follow up, I know that many criminals do what they do out
of the sheer enjoyment, and DO know better, have the IQ to know better
and mental aptitude to know better, but don't care and enjoy killing,
raping, etc. I don't have a bleeding heart for these people.

So of course, the problem is then, how do I know which criminals are
"bad" because of something that happened to them as children, and
which ones are "bad" out of pure pleasure.
no comments
Re: Is it wrong to feel sympathy for these criminals?         


Author: kevirwin
Date: May 22, 2008 17:11

On May 22, 1:00 pm, meatnub gmail.com> wrote:
> And just to follow up, I know that many criminals do what they do out
> of the sheer enjoyment, and DO know better, have the IQ to know better
> and mental aptitude to know better, but don't care and enjoy killing,
> raping, etc. I don't have a bleeding heart for these people.
>
> So of course, the problem is then, how do I know which criminals are
> "bad" because of something that happened to them as children, and
> which ones are "bad" out of pure pleasure.

Getting into the "question of evil" in this forum can lead to long-
winded dissertations on how the concept is completely subjective (or
not).

Blame it on “life”…

Just a thought,
K e v
no comments
Re: Is it wrong to feel sympathy for these criminals?         


Author: Chronos
Date: May 22, 2008 22:57

We were all children once. Some folks had tough childhood, were raised by"
the street", saw and went through plenty of uglyness in their life, but
still remain humain and unwilling to hurt another human being. Maybe it's
due to proper brain chemistry balance.
no comments
Re: Is it wrong to feel sympathy for these criminals?         


Author: turtoni
Date: May 22, 2008 23:13

"Chronos"
> We were all children once. Some folks had tough childhood, were raised by"
> the street", saw and went through plenty of uglyness in their life, but
> still remain humain and unwilling to hurt another human being. Maybe it's
> due to proper brain chemistry balance.

that doesn't justify the "ugliness" to imagine it gives balance.

"violence breeds violence"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9jIKX2ntpU

"If it's true a rich man leads a sad life
That's what they say, from day to day
Then what do the poor do with their lives?
On judgment day, with nothin' to say?

I've been beat up, I've been thrown Out
But I'm not down, Oh I'm not down
I've been shown up, but I've grown up
And I'm not down, Oh I'm not down
Show full article (1.48Kb)
no comments
Re: Is it wrong to feel sympathy for these criminals?         


Author: curmudgeon
Date: May 22, 2008 23:30

As seen on a bumper sticker

*GOD forgives Sinners not Criminals*
no comments
Re: Is it wrong to feel sympathy for these criminals?         


Author: ZerkonX
Date: May 23, 2008 04:37

On Thu, 22 May 2008 09:30:48 -0700, meatnub wrote:
> I don't think these people

'these people" are, in fact, individuals not 'these people'.

no comments
Re: Is it wrong to feel sympathy for these criminals?         


Author: ZerkonX
Date: May 23, 2008 04:40

On Fri, 23 May 2008 00:30:17 -0600, curmudgeon wrote:
> *GOD forgives Sinners not Criminals*

Oh really? which god is that? For instance, who is the only single
person promised heaven in the New Testament?
no comments
Re: Is it wrong to feel sympathy for these criminals?         


Author: tg
Date: May 23, 2008 04:58

On May 22, 1:00 pm, meatnub gmail.com> wrote:
> And just to follow up, I know that many criminals do what they do out
> of the sheer enjoyment, and DO know better, have the IQ to know better
> and mental aptitude to know better, but don't care and enjoy killing,
> raping, etc. I don't have a bleeding heart for these people.
>
> So of course, the problem is then, how do I know which criminals are
> "bad" because of something that happened to them as children, and
> which ones are "bad" out of pure pleasure.

Except that the feeling of pleasure they get might be because of what
happened to them as children. Or brain chemistry, or whatever. In this
respect, they are no different from anyone else---you could ask the
same question about someone whose behavior you admire, right?

The only reason to be concerned with any of that is if it shows the
way to change the behavior. Otherwise, it makes no sense to feel
either anger or pity (assuming you or someone close isn't a victim or
perpetrator). If someone is not deterred by the law, they must suffer
the consequence, and perhaps be permanently incarcerated.

-tg
no comments
Re: Is it wrong to feel sympathy for these criminals?         


Author: bigfletch8
Date: May 23, 2008 09:04

On May 23, 3:00 am, meatnub gmail.com> wrote:
> And just to follow up, I know that many criminals do what they do out
> of the sheer enjoyment, and DO know better, have the IQ to know better
> and mental aptitude to know better, but don't care and enjoy killing,
> raping, etc. I don't have a bleeding heart for these people.
>
> So of course, the problem is then, how do I know which criminals are
> "bad" because of something that happened to them as children, and
> which ones are "bad" out of pure pleasure.

To enjoy such behaviour is equally, if not a greater example of
'malfunction'

There is work going on at some unis on the 'criminal gene'.

I have no doubt whatever that such a genetic link exists.

If that is true, how does one punish a person because of a genetic
inheritence.

If you look at this logically, there is a parallel with racism.Some
are punished for their physical inheritance.

Of course we have to protect society.

Answers? Of course there are, otherwise the questions would not exist.
Show full article (1.21Kb)
no comments
1 2