Punishing the Innocent

[Newby]

I'm curious as to what people think and why. Please explain the logic behind your choice.

[leet_muffin]

Actually, the poll is a bit extreme, but if it were something in the range of 1:1, Id be more supportive. Also, it depends upon the crime\consequences. If its something to the effect of life in prison, no. Thats just alot of confusion, though. Ill stick with the old "innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt" ways.

[MyndFyre]

Kill them all.  The innocent people were probably stupid and/or shitty drivers.

[d&q]

The first option definitely. The American legal system works that way too.

[leet_muffin]

The first option definitely. The American legal system works that way too.

Notice how many criminals we have on the loose? Sex offenders not reporting\living in areas they should not be? Cool.

[d&q]

Notice how many innocent people are let to live their lives instead of rotting in jail? Cool.

[Newby]

the poll is a bit extreme

See: blackstone's formulation.

I say the second option. The planet is overpopulated as it is, and I'd rather kill everything including the innocent to make sure that no one else has to suffer. If ten innocent people die for every 1 guilty person, that's one less guilty person who could have made those ten, if not hundreds or thousands more, suffer.

[iago]

The problem is that everybody here is innocent.  Anybody who picks 'b' has to accept the possibility that they're going to be punished. 

[CrAz3D]

A

no innocent person should be punished...but for people proved guilty beyond any reasonable doubt(which could include DNA evidence, eye witnesses, & confessions), death be to them (for some offenses)

[GameSnake]

How would 10 innocent people suffer if 1 person can't escape?!

[AntiVirus]

the poll is a bit extreme

See: blackstone's formulation.

I say the second option. The planet is overpopulated as it is, and I'd rather kill everything including the innocent to make sure that no one else has to suffer. If ten innocent people die for every 1 guilty person, that's one less guilty person who could have made those ten, if not hundreds or thousands more, suffer.

The only thing I see wrong with what you said is that you say the planet is overpopulated, but do you really think that killing these innocent will make it any less overpopulated?  For each one of those that die hundreds more are born. It doesn't do much to the grand total.  Kind of a bad reason to support it.

[Rule]

The problem is that everybody here is innocent. 

Interesting assumption

Guilty of what?  What kind of suffering are we talking about?  I think you need to be more specific.

[iago]

The problem is that everybody here is innocent. 

Interesting assumption

Well, the assumption was important to creating the proper emotional response

Guilty of what?  What kind of suffering are we talking about?  I think you need to be more specific.

That's a good point, but I think that, the way it's worded, we have to apply it to everything.  Start with murder, and work your way down to parking tickets. 

[Chavo]

Kill them all.  The innocent people were probably stupid and/or shitty drivers.

Or framed.   Real world examples of both options are obvious today.  The american system represents A (albeit somewhat corrupt I'll admit) while China's 'no chance to defend yourself' policies represent B.  I think any system that trys to use fear (excepting fear of reprisal) is flawed.

[Newby]

That's a good point, but I think that, the way it's worded, we have to apply it to everything.  Start with murder, and work your way down to parking tickets. 

Correct.

I think any system that trys to use fear (excepting fear of reprisal) is flawed.

We had to read 1984 in our English class. We had to do a project where we decided what ten aspects of life we would control if we took over a government. I said (rather, my group) the first choice would be the armed forces, because ruling through violence will keep the masses in line, and a violent reign of power generates fear in the masses. You don't rule them through this fear, you rule them through punishment and keep them in line. Fear implies you won't do anything bad to them, they just run their lives on fear.