Would you take the law into your own hands?

CHANGEinWAVES · February 2009

I just watched a movie about someone's son being killed and justice not being served, the father of the boy finds the killer and attempts to take justice into his own hands.

We've all heard these stories before, and honestly I don't know what I would do since I have no children. So I was wondering what the rest of you feel on this matter. (I don't think I could kill someone, but I don't have children yet that I'd give my life for.)

Thorns2010 · February 2009

I'd like to think that I am more advanced than the normal person. As in I'd be willing to forgive and not seek VENGEANCE, because honestly that's how I feel most people are doing when 'justice isn't served' and take things into their own hands.

I really don't know though, I've never been in the situation, and hopefully I never will be.

CHANGEinWAVES · February 2009

Thorns2010 wrote:

I'd like to think that I am more advanced than the normal person. As in I'd be willing to forgive and not seek VENGEANCE, because honestly that's how I feel most people are doing when 'justice isn't served' and take things into their own hands.

I really don't know though, I've never been in the situation, and hopefully I never will be.

I would think that your love for a child changes your feelings on this situation completely

Thorns2010 · February 2009

CHANGEinWAVES wrote:

Thorns2010 wrote:

I'd like to think that I am more advanced than the normal person. As in I'd be willing to forgive and not seek VENGEANCE, because honestly that's how I feel most people are doing when 'justice isn't served' and take things into their own hands.

I really don't know though, I've never been in the situation, and hopefully I never will be.

I would think that your love for a child changes your feelings on this situation completely

I'm not doubting that, but at the same time I realize that we as human beings are just overly advanced animals. And the question is, would I give into my animal instincts? Or approach the situation from a different/higher level than that basic instinct?

CHANGEinWAVES · February 2009

Thorns2010 wrote:

I'm not doubting that, but at the same time I realize that we as human beings are just overly advanced animals. And the question is, would I give into my animal instincts? Or approach the situation from a different/higher level than that basic instinct?

I just think it's easier to say that when you're not feeling the pain of loss.

Thorns2010 · February 2009

Again, I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm just trying to look at this from a philosophical point of view.

I mean what if unbeknownst to you, your child would grow up to be the next Hitler.....yes for you it would suck and be very painful to loose that child, but in the grand scheme of things it would be for the betterment of all mankind.

Than again.....I believe the world will be around at lot longer then us foolish humans will be, and by the end of time, all that we have achieved and created will be lost to the sands of time.

Hehehe, I don't mean to sound like a downer, I swear!!

Motha Judson · February 2009

Yes

know1 · February 2009

Absolutely not. Killing is wrong....even in revenge. Maybe even worse in revenge if possible.

know1 · February 2009

Thorns2010 wrote:

CHANGEinWAVES wrote:

Thorns2010 wrote:

I'd like to think that I am more advanced than the normal person. As in I'd be willing to forgive and not seek VENGEANCE, because honestly that's how I feel most people are doing when 'justice isn't served' and take things into their own hands.

I really don't know though, I've never been in the situation, and hopefully I never will be.

I would think that your love for a child changes your feelings on this situation completely

I'm not doubting that, but at the same time I realize that we as human beings are just overly advanced animals. And the question is, would I give into my animal instincts? Or approach the situation from a different/higher level than that basic instinct?

Do animals kill out of revenge?

mnicole22 · February 2009

Yes....If someone maliciously killed my child, and I didn't think justice was being served? Yes, in a heartbeat.

DeLukin · February 2009

That really is a tough question. I'd LIKE to think I wouldn't give in to those emotions, but the fact of the matter is I don't know. My daughter came home with a bruise on her knee the other day from a boy in her class who had playfully kicked her - I could literally feel my blood pressure rising as she told me what happened! It's well and good to say you're more evolved than that, but who knows how any of us would act in that moment? I sure don't.

blackredyellow · February 2009

At first, I'm sure my first reaction would be to take justice in my own hands... but then after many sleepless nights I would probably realize that me killing the person responsible would probably end me up in jail.... So instead of my family losing a child, they'd be losing a child and a father...

I don't know.... it's easy to think what you would do now, but who knows how any of us would react in that terrible situation.

bernmodi · February 2009

Even in this worst case scenario for parents, when your child gets killed, I don't think I could kill in revenge. It just doesn't make sense and wouldn't ease my pain. But of course I'd wish the killer to feel hell on earth for the rest of his life... And, if someone "just" harassed my child I guess I might easily get violent myself and slap this person or kick his balls. Doesn't sound very logical, but then these are situations where logic usually stops.

soulsinging · February 2009

I don't believe anyone here saying yes. We're all basically middle-class professionals, cowards, and law-abiding citizens. We tell ourselves and each other that if our kid was killed we'd all be tough and strong and go Bruce Willis on them, track them down and kill them ourselves, but it's just smoke. We'd sit and take it. We'd go to counseling, maybe start a kidney foundation, and move on with our lives. How many children die or go missing every year? How many of those go unsolved? And how many of these families go to the extent of tracking down and killing the culprit? Maybe the one that caused the movie and one other parent. It just doesn't happen. You're probably more likely to commit suicide than to lift a finger other than to maybe hire a private investigator.

So no, I wouldn't. I'd never kill anyone. I'm afraid of prison.

acoustic guy · February 2009

soulsinging wrote:

I don't believe anyone here saying yes. We're all basically middle-class professionals, cowards, and law-abiding citizens. We tell ourselves and each other that if our kid was killed we'd all be tough and strong and go Bruce Willis on them, track them down and kill them ourselves, but it's just smoke. We'd sit and take it. We'd go to counseling, maybe start a kidney foundation, and move on with our lives. How many children die or go missing every year? How many of those go unsolved? And how many of these families go to the extent of tracking down and killing the culprit? Maybe the one that caused the movie and one other parent. It just doesn't happen. You're probably more likely to commit suicide than to lift a finger other than to maybe hire a private investigator.

So no, I wouldn't. I'd never kill anyone. I'm afraid of prison.

No way man...the way I feel for my family? And the way I already am.....I would have to do something. Not sure what but I could never ever ever let it go. Maybe its all talk but I just know how I am with small things, something this big would put me over the edge.

yoke · February 2009

yes, without a doubt in my mind

Brain of J.Lo · February 2009

CHANGEinWAVES wrote:

I just watched a movie about someone's son being killed and justice not being served, the father of the boy finds the killer and attempts to take justice into his own hands.

We've all heard these stories before, and honestly I don't know what I would do since I have no children. So I was wondering what the rest of you feel on this matter. (I don't think I could kill someone, but I don't have children yet that I'd give my life for.)

If someone hurt my daughter, I don't think I would be able to control my actions towards that person. I don't think fear of consequences would keep me from acting, because I doubt I'd be rational.

That said, I'm a petite woman who does not and would never own a gun, so I'd be lucky to get in a few slaps before someone pulled me off of the person I was trying to "kill". :oops:

Austicman · February 2009

I probably won't for the fact it would only compound the misery for my family and friends. As much as they'd probably want revenge as well the thought of losing another loved one would bring them to their senses.

norm · February 2009

kill? too easy

torture...yep especially mental torture

soulsinging · February 2009

acoustic guy wrote:

soulsinging wrote:

I don't believe anyone here saying yes. We're all basically middle-class professionals, cowards, and law-abiding citizens. We tell ourselves and each other that if our kid was killed we'd all be tough and strong and go Bruce Willis on them, track them down and kill them ourselves, but it's just smoke. We'd sit and take it. We'd go to counseling, maybe start a kidney foundation, and move on with our lives. How many children die or go missing every year? How many of those go unsolved? And how many of these families go to the extent of tracking down and killing the culprit? Maybe the one that caused the movie and one other parent. It just doesn't happen. You're probably more likely to commit suicide than to lift a finger other than to maybe hire a private investigator.

So no, I wouldn't. I'd never kill anyone. I'm afraid of prison.

No way man...the way I feel for my family? And the way I already am.....I would have to do something. Not sure what but I could never ever ever let it go. Maybe its all talk but I just know how I am with small things, something this big would put me over the edge.

So the people who have had something terrible happen to their kids and didn't go kill the person that did it... they just don't feel the way you do about your family?

Surf Rider · February 2009

soulsinging wrote:

acoustic guy wrote:

soulsinging wrote:

I don't believe anyone here saying yes. We're all basically middle-class professionals, cowards, and law-abiding citizens. We tell ourselves and each other that if our kid was killed we'd all be tough and strong and go Bruce Willis on them, track them down and kill them ourselves, but it's just smoke. We'd sit and take it. We'd go to counseling, maybe start a kidney foundation, and move on with our lives. How many children die or go missing every year? How many of those go unsolved? And how many of these families go to the extent of tracking down and killing the culprit? Maybe the one that caused the movie and one other parent. It just doesn't happen. You're probably more likely to commit suicide than to lift a finger other than to maybe hire a private investigator.

So no, I wouldn't. I'd never kill anyone. I'm afraid of prison.

No way man...the way I feel for my family? And the way I already am.....I would have to do something. Not sure what but I could never ever ever let it go. Maybe its all talk but I just know how I am with small things, something this big would put me over the edge.

So the people who have had something terrible happen to their kids and didn't go kill the person that did it... they just don't feel the way you do about your family?

What about all the thousands of people who have killed out of revenge. The majority might not but your stating that like it's fact, nobody would ever do such a thing. Some would and have. It doesn't even have to be that your child is murdered, even a daughter being raped can cause a parent to kill. Anyone who thinks that some parents aren't capable of that is very naive.

Would you take the law into your own hands?

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