Eye for an eye?

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- Jack Torrance
- Ex-Muslim
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Eye for an eye?
OP - October 16, 2009, 09:08 AM

I thought I'd pose this question seeing as I've noticed a lot of posts regarding punishments that would be dealt for various crimes/injustices, some over BIG stuff like rape and murder, others, over much smaller things, like the person who stated that they would punch the fuck out of anyone that said they believed in karma in their presence (because they had a relative who was handicapped).

I've always believed that it's best to at least try and forgive because any action taken will just perpetuate the 'crime' and drag you down to the perps level, and not least because it can often make you feel much better than storing up the resentment and feeding hatred. What do you think? I'm not taking about societies punishments here, but on a personal level. Also, 'depends' answers are no good, gotta be one or the other - for the sake of argument, the wrong doing is not the issue in this poll, but the reaction from you. Also, cowardice shouldn't be the motivation or factor to 'forgive'.

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- BerberElla
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Re: Eye for an eye?
Reply #1 - October 16, 2009, 09:22 AM

I can't go with the black or white thinking needed to give a one or the other type of set answer, as it really does depend on the circumstances to me.

Steal from me, I will strive to forgive, rape my child and I will strive to impale you on a barbed pole.

Inhale the good shit, exhale the bullshit.
- Homer
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Re: Eye for an eye?
Reply #2 - October 16, 2009, 10:07 AM

I see it as a false choice.

First I will quote from The Meditations By Marcus Aurelius (Roman emperor 26 April 121 - 17 March 180)

"The best way of avenging thyself is not to become like the wrong doer"

http://classics.mit.edu/Antoninus/meditations.6.six.html

Forgiveness is not necessary, there is no reason not to seek justice...However, make sure your motives are out of seeking justice solely for the sake of protecting those who would be harmed by such crimes, and not revenge, else you harm yourself as well. Temper that justice with mercy, if the person understands their crime and asks for it.
Mercy does not mean you forgive...or "turn the other cheek"...
Turning the other cheek is a noble gesture, if...IF it is to turn the heart of the person who stuck it. However, if dealing with a sociopath or something of that nature, You will find yourself with two bruised cheeks, and nothing more.
Also, Punishment should only be to protect the society, not for revenge, and the punishment needs to be only what is necessary to accomplish that objective.
The Eye for an Eye only makes two monsters.

On a similar note, a major reason I never believed in hell, is because it is a punishment with no reason...when asked "What about Hitler...or some other evil person blah blah" I respond "Why keep evil alive...even if just to punish? It makes no sense, you are simply punishing evil with evil, therefor creating more evil..".

The foundation of superstition is ignorance, the
superstructure is faith and the dome is a vain hope. Superstition
is the child of ignorance and the mother of misery.
-Robert G. Ingersoll (1898)

"Do time ninjas have this ability?" "Yeah. Only they stay silent and aren't douchebags." -Ibl
- Jack Torrance
- Ex-Muslim
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Re: Eye for an eye?
Reply #3 - October 16, 2009, 10:44 AM

It's not a false choice. It can be distilled down to, does revenge really make you feel better? And again, the perceived wrong doing is irrelevant to get to the answer. If my daughter was murdered, only bringing her back would make me feel better, but I would be very tempted to go after the perp, on impulse rather than logic.

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- BerberElla
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Re: Eye for an eye?
Reply #4 - October 16, 2009, 10:48 AM

Considering this is hypothetical, I would have to say that hypothetically speaking the idea of revenge under some circumstances does make me feel better.

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- Saif Rahman
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Re: Eye for an eye?
Reply #5 - October 16, 2009, 11:42 AM

Its often not even meant as a direct attack, and something the perpetrator would do to anyone in the right time & place, they simply see it as acceptable behaviour.

I also find that sometimes revenge can be motivated by ego i.e. "how dare he/she think that they can do that to ME, and get away with it".

If it is at that base level, I try my best to ignore it and rationalise it away - I have more enjoyable things to do with my limited time on this planet..

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