Stitch on 8/7/2008 at 03:13
Well, for a second there it seemed like you were making a case that life in prison is tantamount to death so we might as well kill 'em, which is absurd.
Also: we have reached 100% humidity here and my condo is like a racquetballer's vagina.
Scots Taffer on 8/7/2008 at 04:43
Quote Posted by Stitch
Well, for a second there it seemed like you were making a case that life in prison is tantamount to death so we might as well kill 'em, which is absurd.
Right. That's not my position at all.
Quote Posted by Stitch
Also: we have reached 100% humidity here and my condo is like a racquetballer's vagina.
Guess that dehumidifier failed you after all. :(
SubJeff on 8/7/2008 at 07:01
That really did look like your position Scots. That's what my last post was about.
So know we've established that you don't think life in prison = death sentence, what was your point?
Kolya on 8/7/2008 at 07:08
Stitch's condo = a racquetballer's vagina ?
PigLick on 8/7/2008 at 07:31
Has anyone been listening to Muzman in this thread? Cos he's about the only one who has made a decent statement/argument about this whole issue, most others just snapping around like shark frenzy over piece of bait.
The thing is, these huge ISSUES are so fraught with emotional triggers that it is very hard to argue logically or dispationately.
For example, my view is that the aforementioned rapist should definetely deserve to die, hell if it was my daughter or family member I would be trying to hunt the guy down and kill him myself. However I am very much opposed to the death penalty, ethically and morally, so what do you make of that?
SubJeff on 8/7/2008 at 09:22
You're either a hypocrite, not in contol of your own emotions, only human, 2 of the above or all at once.
Scots Taffer on 8/7/2008 at 09:34
My point, fractured and seemingly incoherent though it was, is:
* Assumption: true "life" imprisonment doesn't exist
* Assumption: in justice systems absent of the death penalty a systematic weakening of sentences is also present
* Thesis: Death sentence is a substitute for the lack of true life imprisonment
This whole death sentence vs life imprisonment for the "nastier" cases or whatever wasn't on my radar, really, I think it's an absurd superfluous issue - my position was that for crimes where "death" is the only option for effective "absolute life imprisonment", I can understand why those people support the death penalty, because for those really nasty crimes, those animals should never be allowed back on the streets again.
My whole point was about the absolutism of sentences next to the absolutism of the death penalty.
It's a tough point to coherently lay out though.
SubJeff on 8/7/2008 at 12:19
OIC
Quote:
Thesis: Death sentence is a substitute for the lack of true life imprisonment
Hmmm. I can see why one might come to this way of thinking. However, if there is a need to remove someone from society forever it is my opinion they should just have a real life sentence - imprisoned for their natural lives.
If someone does something meriting the death sentence they should get that instead.
But, as I've said, I'm big into rehabilitation for those cases where it is possible. I think it perfectly possible that someone could commit murder, serve 20 years, be let out and have changed so much that the murder conviction should not really stop them from pursuing any career or vocation they want. There was a recent case in the UK where someone had their place at Med School revoked when a conviction for burgalry came to light. I don't know what the timing was but I feel that this was pretty harsh - one stupid mistake (and a fairly innocuous crime in the grand scheme of things) stopping someone who was previously deemed as having the credentials being blocked like that? It makes a mockery of things where a minor infraction can affect you so much and yet if you kill someone you can be out in less than 15.
Stitch on 8/7/2008 at 15:58
Quote Posted by Scots Taffer
Guess that dehumidifier failed you after all. :(
Not so, my basement is perfectly regulated for maximum Mario Kart comfort :cool:
Quote Posted by PigLick
For example, my view is that the aforementioned rapist should definetely deserve to die, hell if it was my daughter or family member I would be trying to hunt the guy down and kill him myself. However I am very much opposed to the death penalty, ethically and morally, so what do you make of that?
I think you basically summed up my take on the topic perfectly.
Kolya on 8/7/2008 at 21:12
If something like that actually happened to you, you would be a victim and anyone could understand that your ethics are overthrown by your emotions. That doesn't invalidate these ethics. It just shows that victims (and sympathisers) understandably make bad judges.
