# Convince my hypothetical mass murderer that he's wrong **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 27, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-my-hypothetical-mass-murderer-that-hes-wrong/579849 "2011-04-27T02:03:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-my-hypothetical-mass-murderer-that-hes-wrong/579849/41 "2011-05-03T14:40:37Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > Come on. It may not be technically about abortion, but it is _clearly_ meant to be an analogy to it. Balderdash. The woman scheduling an abortion gives her consent to it. The women in the OP do not. Intent is a basis of all laws. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-my-hypothetical-mass-murderer-that-hes-wrong/579849/42 "2011-05-03T15:00:33Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > Come on. It may not be technically about abortion, but it is _clearly_ meant to be an analogy to it. Such is not clear to me. Why don’t you ask **jsgoddess** if she meant it to be an abortion analogy? In my experience she is an honest debater and not given to _gotcha_ threads. It’s not necessary to assume people are trying to fool you. It isn’t helpful either. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-my-hypothetical-mass-murderer-that-hes-wrong/579849/43 "2011-05-03T17:20:46Z")
This isn’t meant to have anything to do with abortion (other than the crazy’s intent to cause spontaneous abortions in his victims). It’s a question more about free will and what theists perceive the purpose of living is if it’s actually only through living that we become vulnerable to sin. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-my-hypothetical-mass-murderer-that-hes-wrong/579849/44 "2011-05-03T20:35:06Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I also was wondering why anyone would bother arguing with the hypothesized person, instead of arresting or killing him. Oh yeah? Well what are you going to kill him with when both of your hands are tied up fighting the hypothetical? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-my-hypothetical-mass-murderer-that-hes-wrong/579849/45 "2011-05-03T23:14:07Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > It’s a question more about free will and what theists perceive the purpose of living is if it’s actually only through living that we become vulnerable to sin. One approach to morality is that the moral ideal is innocence, and that the way to live a good life is to keep oneself as pure and unsullied by the world as possible. A substantial number of people seem to subscribe to this philosophy, but they’re not all members of the same religion or even necessarily religious people at all. I do not agree. The people I find most morally praiseworthy are not those who have managed to come through the world in mint condition with the plastic wrap still on them, but those who have attained wisdom and character and spiritual maturity. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-my-hypothetical-mass-murderer-that-hes-wrong/579849/46 "2011-05-03T23:19:23Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > One approach to morality is that the moral ideal is innocence, and that the way to live a good life is to keep oneself as pure and unsullied by the world as possible. A substantial number of people seem to subscribe to this philosophy, but they’re not all members of the same religion or even necessarily religious people at all. > > I do not agree. The people I find most morally praiseworthy are not those who have managed to come through the world in mint condition with the plastic wrap still on them, but those who have attained wisdom and character and spiritual maturity. Okay, but who gets to heaven? Or, if you prefer, who is more at risk of going to hell? (If you believe in either of these things) ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-my-hypothetical-mass-murderer-that-hes-wrong/579849/47 "2011-05-03T23:19:58Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I also was wondering why anyone would bother arguing with the hypothesized person, instead of arresting or killing him. I would try arguing with the person if I were not certain I could overpower him easily. The guy is obviously going to be willing to kill me, so I’ll likely get only one shot at trying to take him out. If I can get his trust enough to make him let down his guard, grand; and if I can dissuade him entirely, even grander. I don’t want to kill anyone I don’t have to, if only because I am not Chuck Norris. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-my-hypothetical-mass-murderer-that-hes-wrong/579849.md?page=2)