Are you guilty in the eyes of the public if you have tendancies towards committing a crime, but never do it?

Question

I really wasn't sure to word this question, so keep reading.

I work in an office environment. I'm really really not violent, but when it comes to some of my coworkers, I can sort of sympathize with people who have ran into their place of work and gunned everybody down.

It got me thinking: am I violent, just because I have those fantasies occasionally, even if I would never ever do anything about them?

And to what extent is that the case? Are adults who are attracted to children, but never act on that feeling, still pedophiles? Is a parent who understands the point of frustration of a child abuser, but who would never harm their kids, child abusers?

What do you think?

Two hours, and one answer, and it wasn't even really an answer to the question.

Please note: I don't "justify" the crimes I mention. If I were on a jury for someone who killed coworkers or physically or sexually abused a child, I would not have any problem saying they're guilty, because they gave into the weakness.

My question is: Is the weakness the problem, or is giving into it the problem?

Answer 1

I think your question has different answers, depending on the examples you used:

First - are you violent because you have violent fantasies? I would say the answer is no. Lots of people have violent fantasies and never act on them. It can be a way of venting frustration or blowing off steam. You can't be quilty of something you didn't do. Having a fantasy of being a billionaire doesn't make me one. (Sadly) That said, some religions suggest that thinking about sins is just as bad as committing sins. I don't abide by that notion, but obviously some do. (Example - Jimmy Carter lusting in his heart)

Second - Are adults who are attracted to children, but don't act on the feelings, still pedophiles? Well, some people believe that pedophilia is a sexual orientation. So you might ask the question, if I am a man attracted to men, but never act on it, am I still gay? I think you could argue that the answer is yes. But there is more consensus that homosexuality is a sexual orientation than there is about pedophilia. So that one is open for debate. (And I should be clear that, in my opinion, there is no real comparison between homosexuality and pedaphilia - sexual activity between two consenting adults? No problem. Between an adult an a child? BIG problem.)

Last one - does a parent who relates to the mother who smacks her kid across the face, but would never do it herself, a child abuser? Definitely not. I suspect almost any parent could understand the kind of frustration that might lead to child abuse. But understanding it definitely does mean that you would do it. Or that you would even fantasize about it (as in the first example).

That's what I think.

Answer 2

sure, in spite of the undeniable fact that it replaced into an coincidence. I had offered a e book from a thrift save at the same time as i replaced into 7 in undemanding words to make certain there replaced right into a tiny skinny e book interior it (somebody else must have slipped it in there). I felt so undesirable after I were given it homestead that i could not even look at both of the books.

Answer 3

In our society, it is definitely not acceptable to verbalize any thoughts that these crimes are somehow justifiable.

None of the crimes you discussed are justifiable in any manner.

And, if you fantasize about or see some justification in committing those types of crimes, I'm sure that you realize that we all sometimes have thoughts that are contrary to the societal acceptance criteria, but we have no justification for acting out these fantasies.