Who is more responsible, the person who commits the act or the person who causes it?

Question

I asked a question a little while ago and got an interesting response. So allow me to ask a hypothetical question?


There are two school children, one is a BULLY the other is the bullies’ VICTIM.

The BULLY bullies the VICTIM mercilessly for years, slowly wearing down the self esteem of the victim and sending the victim into a deep and suicidal depression.

The victim has had others try to help but they are either unable or unwilling to prevent the BULLY from bullying the VICTIM. The VICTIM has tried to prevent the BULLY from bullying but is physically (by disability) unable to do so.

The VICTIM commits suicide by stepping in front of a loaded bus. The bus driver swerves to miss the VICTIM (still hits though) but in doing so veers off the edge of the road. The resulting crash claims two lives other than the VICTIM and injures thirty more.

Who is responsible for the death and injury of those on the bus, the BULLY or the VICTIM?


SERIOUS ANSWERS ONLY!
Please explain your answers.
Thanks.

Answer 1

In this case if you think about it, the victim wouldn't have done it in the first place if he weren't bullied to the point of depression and suicide. In other cases like a drug pusher and a user, both are equally responsible but the drug pusher faces a heavier penalty. I think both bully and victim are just as responsible as the other but the bully should face a penalty for pushing a person to his/her limits.

Answer 2

I would say that it is both the Victim and the Bully but more to the victim.

Victim: So he cannot defend himself.....so what. In a world of indifference, no one cares if the victim cannot find hope in something. Thus, as Camus states, since he wants not only his life to end, but everything around him also, that is where suicide comes into play. He knows full well what he is doing, therefore, with full responsibility. And with full responsibility, he "is" the cause of the deaths of the people on the bus due to his own stupidity of a failed suicide attempt, thus leading onto more guilt, more depression, and even more desire to annihilate himself.

Bully: By being fully conscientious of the situation, the sadistic element of humanity comes into play as well. Since it is apparent that the bully suffers from a lack of self-motivation, and motivation from others, by breaking down a lesser individual does he begin to experience a catharsis so to speak, even to the point of the victim's death. Why, because he feels no remorse to the victim, treating him only as a toy; should the victim pass away, he would find another.

Thus both views compliment each other and negate each other as well. Suicide spurned by Sadistic Play.....what a horrible world to live in......

Answer 3

It is not a crime bullying another, unless there are injuries that warrant the prosecution. The bully did not cause the accident. The responsible parties are the victim and the bus driver.

The driver will pay a higher quantum in compensation for injured and death, even though the victim was responsible in the accident.

Answer 4

Suppose the bully was bullied? Is whoever bullied the bully responsible for the bullies behavior, contributing to the victim's death and thirty more injuries? In my opinion, the victim is responsible for his or her own death by stepping in front of the bus. Why, because they chose to step in front of the bus. Were they forced to? No. Was it caused by their mental state? Possibly, and probably. But they still chose to. In reality, not all individuals bullied would make such a drastic decision. Some might choose to move to another school, others might choose retaliation, still others might simply endure and move on. I suppose a select few may choose suicide, but suicide nonetheless is a choice. And a somewhat courageous one at that. It takes an element of pre-meditated courage to step in front of an oncoming bus. Courage, desperation, whatever the motivation, nonetheless they chose to respond as such to the persecution heaped upon them. They still had other options, which it doesn't take long to figure out. They could have told someone of the situation which may have alleviated some of the persecution. Ultimately, in this situation, only God can judge the thoughts and intents of the heart. Definately my judgement is fallible. But as long as I stand breathing, I believe that wherever I choose to step, it is still my choice to step. Even if I believe from using too many drugs I'm stepping onto a magic carpet when I'm really stepping off the fifth floor of my apartment or infront of an oncoming bus.

Answer 5

Responsibility is always a shifting target. People try to pin the answer to one person, but it's rarely the case. It would be valid to say the VICTIM as they could have killed themself in a way that was not endangering other people. Additionally, they cared not a wit for the guilt the bus driver would have felt in running the VICTIM over.

The BULLY is responsible for being such a jerk and leading the VICTIM into despair.

What about the teachers, who were not attentive to the situation?

What about the parents of the VICTIM who didn't notice or take care of the increasingly depressed child?

What about the parents of the BULLY who allowed/created their unruly child in the first place?

What about the other children who tried to stop the bullying themselves but didn't report it to a person in authority?

What about those childrens' parents who did not teach them how to act properly in such a situation?

There are varying degrees of responsibility. The best that anyone can hope for is that they behave appropriately as the situation warrants. Even then, everyone has a weak moment. It does not diminish their responsibility, but is sometimes "understandable."

Finally, what is more important in this particular situation? Finding out who is responsible? Or asking how one can be of assistance to those now in need of care and concern? (I know this is a hypothetical, but it's late and I feel 'soap-boxish'.)

I hope you find what you're looking for!!! ;-)

Answer 6

Where are the parent's? Sometimes with that many people involved--it really is an accident. However, from my own experience with my own children and bullies, the other parent just doesn't accept the fact that their child could be a part. This is a hard predicament. I do know that it can be prevented. We as parents, friends, coworkers, teachers, and stand-byers--Listen!!! Don't be afraid to ask why.
Whoever you are asking this question--good for you. You are someone's friend and a caring person. Don't give up.

Answer 7

The bully is the source of the problem, but the victim let him be a problem. So guess in a way they're both responsible.

Answer 8

The victim is ULTIMATELY responsible, but the bully definitely needs to be punished for contributing to the victims' despair and thus choice to take his life.

Answer 9

No contest - the bully all the way|

Such a person is a killer in the true sense of the word.

And there are so many of those walking around among us today|




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Answer 10

Do you blame the victim or do you blame society? Is the perpetrator held responsible for his action or is society the reason he's the way he is?