Does attempting to understand the criminal mind mean that you condone criminal behavior?

Question

I have heard people call others 'terrorist sympathizers' for trying to understand how terrorists operate. Does trying to understand a criminal mind make you a criminal?

rusty, are you referring to the NSA wiretapping?

no, Kareruph, YOU misunderstand! They are not an organized army, hence the reason we don't follow geneva conventions when dealing with them! You can't hae it both ways. They are CRIMINALS and should not have their status elevated, as they would like us to. Don't hand our power to them! They are petty criminals who should be dealt in EXACTLY the same way the UK dealt with them most recently, and in the subway bombings.

Answer 1

No. As a matter of fact, it can make you an award winning TV writer. However, I think that trying to understand fanatics who have a belief system contrary to our liberal culture (even our "Cons" are liberal compared to these guys) is ultimately unproductive. For example they believe that gays should be killed, because of a personal faith. Where do you go with that?

Answer 2

Not at all.

If you had a baby and he or she was crying out loud because she had a loaded diaper, you'd understand, wouldn't you? Does it mean that you're all right with letting that load remain in the diaper? Of course not! You'd change the diaper.

Now say your kid is 12 years old. Someone comes along and calls your kid awful names and adds, "Your mother is a whore!" Your kid throws rocks at that person. Do you understand why he or she threw rocks? Of course you do! You might even feel proud that your kid stood up for you. Does that mean that it's okay to throw rocks at someone who insulted you? Of course not!

People commit crimes for many reasons. They feel worthless. They feel superior and entitled. They're starving and jobless and need money now. They want to feel rich and powerful. They see an opportunity to cash in big. They have a tumor pressing on their brain. Someone insulted their mother. Someone killed their father and they want revenge.

I'm sure you understand at least some of these reasons; you may have felt them or thought them yourself. Does this make the crime acceptable? No. However, if you can understand the reasons behind the crime, you can address the problem and even resolve it. You might operate and take that brain tumor away. You might give the starving person some food, and then training, and then a job. You might teach the person who feels worthless that they are worth something.

Much crime happens because of injustice. (Have you ever seen Sweeney Todd, or heard the story of Robin Hood?) If we take away some things that cause injustice, we might prevent much crime before it even happens.

Answer 3

No, not at all. Attempting to understand the terrorist mind is a valid pursuit. I think we'd be crossing the line when we modify our behavior to satisfy their demands.

UPDATE: No, because that's not a bahavior that satisfies their demands. I'm referring to measures such as releasing prisoners to end a hijacking or paying ransom to end a kidnapping. NSA is, certainly, a whole 'nuther debate. As an illustration, I recommend reading any book about AQ by Michael Scheuer. He spent a career learning about them. Though he believed in defeating them, he also, disturbingly, advocates some changes in U.S. policy to satisfy them.

Answer 4

Exodus 8:20-32 is with regard to the plague over Egypt by ability of means of Moses? What ever? As you state, you have been helped previous your guy or woman situation by ability of means of a therapy application and then got here upon that what they taught became: You had to alter your guy or woman suggestions. You had to locate a thank you to act properly-typical with unfavorable desires I say in case you have faith interior the tactics of the Lord then so be it, yet; you had to return to him no longer him to you? You took the preliminary step and that's the version between therapy and not therapy-your rationalization of a incorrect indoors. So a sin became taken away given which you sought innovations and placed it indoors your self by ability of way of counseling and the Lord.

Answer 5

Your question reveals a major misunderstanding. Our enemy are not criminals in the sense that we can catch and punish them so as to deter their behavior. They are an enemy that has declared war on us. Their is only one way to deal with an enemy during a time of war. You must defeat them.

While it makes sense to study the criminal mind so as to deter that criminality in others. That wont work against someone whose goal is to destroy us.

The only think we need to "understand" about terrorist is how to defeat them. During a time of war you cannot sit on the fence. You are either with us or you are against us.

Answer 6

No. You have to know how the enemy thinks, what motivates them. The plus is that understanding might lead to alternatives to armed conflict. The people who are eager for there to be a fight before all options are exhausted should be the first to enlist.

Answer 7

No, it does not, but it helps to know what you're dealing with. There's a phrase "Know your enemy". Understanding their behavior and what may have caused it can help society to perhaps prevent future criminals

Answer 8

There's a difference between people who try to understand terrorists and people who try to make excuses for their violence.

Answer 9

No. Taking that understanding and using it to excuse the behavior does, however.

Answer 10

No, it makes you a better person. It means you can understand them.