Is it wrong that I don't do this?

Question

Okay when I hear about people being rapists and murderers I don't call them sickos or psychos. For some reason, I think there is more to their story than the media actually presents. I don't believe there are bad people but people who make horrible mistakes or unforgivable mistakes. I highly doubt someone would just hurt someone intentionally. I think they must have been hurt before by someone and they are seeking vengeance. Not saying that i think that is right but I'm saying that i don't think murderers and rapists are 100% evil. i think something pushed them to make that decision. does anyone else feel this way?

Answer 1

Do some research on Richard Ramirez or Jeffery Dahmer and tell me these people were "making mistakes."

Answer 2

To me, your question cannot be answered in any way without looking at the underlying issues that I presume here. It boils down to whether people are truly responsible for their actions.

If you think about it, the whole argument about nature versus nurture really doesn't condemn the person, as he can't help being the way he is (either from nature or/and nurture) its always something else at fault. In effect circumstances are to be blamed. Note that his parents are not at fault following this line of reasoning as they are also shaped by circumstances. And so on back to the first man.

Sure enough, we now come to the ancient question of free will. Does man truly have free will? But our thoughts are produced by the brain and that goes back to the previous fault of nature and nurture! Perhaps we could have free will if we had souls, something 'outside' the system of circumstances. This soul is essentially unaffected by whatever happens to the brain. Or if it IS affected, it retains the power to independently choose right over wrong. In effect, it has free will in the 'absolute' sense.

Again, some people may now cry out. "But God made our souls as well as everything else! He also determines destiny!" So we are just actors and cannot be truly blamed. Just playing along with the script! Hence the question is, are we the puppets of an unseen hand, the masters of destiny or altogether something else. I leave that question open. Some people may believe one or the other but I think most of us are in the middle. Godel says that some things cannot be solved by purely logical means. This may well be one such question.

Regardless of philosophy, the nation or community must take steps to safeguard themselves. And in this regard, sympathy is not often expressed to the perpetrators, especially from the victim. I realise that I have not answered your question, but have instead brought out even more issues, but I hope I have shed some light on the topic nonetheless.

Answer 3

I agree that something had to have happened to turn them into the kind of people that commit such horrible crimes. However, I do believe that they are evil. So, basically born "normal" and then turned evil. There is never any excuse for that type of behavior. In fact, I am the other end of the spectrum because I think that "insanity" is not an acceptable defense. I think if you ever commit a horrendous crime, you should do the time. If you are insane, you can do the time in the hospital instead of prison, but you still need to be locked away from society forever.

Answer 4

well, you are not right, but you are not wrong 100%. because yes, there are some social problems, psycho problems or any other reasons can push human to do crimes or hurt others. there is no acceptable justification for any intentional crime. but of course there is reason. but then could be selfish reason, not necessary they are hurt before. for instance, someone wanna be famous, or someone wanna get money without hard working. or a religious reason, or or or.

but not right to say they probably got hurt by others. no no no sir, there are many many cases not like that. few cases where people hurt and do crime because of that.

Answer 5

I agree with you to a point .. there is something called responsibility for ones actions ... my girlfriend works in a psych unit and says there are the mad and the bad ... some act deliberately .....some act totally beyond their own control.. I do believe we all have a divine spirit within and there is such a wide range to the way our actions can be justified by our ego, emotions, brain , logic whatever

Answer 6

even if its true they were pushed or hurt before... if they then turn around and hurt another person the same way or even worse then arent they evil still?? how can u say someone who could beat and torture a small child do explicit things to them then even kill this small defenseless CHILD! is not evil?? maybe u are just as sick! u should evaluate your thoughts on this subject!! AND TO THE COMMENTER ABOVE ME..people shoot people everyday 4 something as simple as wearing the wrong color or shouting the wrong word! how can u say no one would grab someone and shoot them?? a crazy person with no remorse can do anything!

Answer 7

this is one of those cases where each individual case needs to be looked differently.

i think it is wrong to judge people just by hearing about one thing that they have done, everyone has a right to tell their side of the story, HOWEVER that does not excuse those kinds of actions, and i think that they should be punished to the full extent of the law, and if they get off early or on a technicality, it should be the right of the victim (or their families) to seek revenge.

Answer 8

Oh puhleese..lets not even go there.there is no excuse for killing..slaughtering people, raping women just because you are angry at someone!!!if thats the way we all would react to problems in our lives then i do not know where this world would be.Except one could be mentally unstable and thats why they are put in mental institutions for good! The way i see it, it's possible for one to be 100% evil, they do whatever they do because they like.
There is no excuse for them.Period.

Answer 9

No. I don't agree with you at all. We each have things from our past to overcome in this life. ALL of us do. We have a choice to make - to be bound by our past and let our past define us and set our future for us - or we have to choice to let it go and define ourselves and create a new future. The only way to overcome the past is to ask God to give you the strength to forgive the people who have wronged you. It's not easy to do but it must be done not for the sake of the person who has hurt you but for the sake of YOU. You have to forgive and let it go to move on. Those who don't are bound to dwell in the past and make future decisions based on the hate and resentment the binds their hearts. Hope is offered to everyone through the salvation of Jesus Christ. He forgave the very ones who murdered Him. If we refuse forgiveness of others we are placing ourselves in a position higher than God. A very precarious place to dwell.

Answer 10

I'm like that too, giving people the benefit of the doubt, even when it comes back and bites me in the butt. I think everyone is born good, it's just the environment they came from that messed them up and they need help.