# Is the killing of a child automatically more heinous than the similar killing of an adult? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 13, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-killing-of-a-child-automatically-more-heinous-than-the-similar-killing-of-an-adult/631386 "2012-08-13T16:02:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-killing-of-a-child-automatically-more-heinous-than-the-similar-killing-of-an-adult/631386/21 "2012-08-14T10:34:21Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I’d say they are equally heinous. But the killing of the little girl bothers me more. I agree with this one. (I voted “equally heinous”). ---
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-killing-of-a-child-automatically-more-heinous-than-the-similar-killing-of-an-adult/631386/22 "2012-08-14T15:04:21Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Nitpick: Do you mean all _human_ life is precious? I made the assumption that since this was about the murdering of humans I could short cut my sentences. My apologies for not being specific. I’ve been here long enough to know better 😃 P.S. Sorry for slow response, been busy. ---
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-killing-of-a-child-automatically-more-heinous-than-the-similar-killing-of-an-adult/631386/23 "2012-08-14T15:10:28Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > People who disagree with your moral judgment are morally wrong? What the hell? I find this absolutely _ludicrous_. No, I said saying one life is worth more than another is morally wrong… **to me**. I didn’t say people couldn’t disagree with me and have their own moral code. If you feel one life is inherently more valuable than another, then your moral code is different. That doesn’t make you amoral, and it doesn’t make me amoral, it just means we have different values. I’m also not saying my moral code is perfect, I have a lot to learn and I’m not denying that. But right now, where I’m at, saying anyone is more valuable than anyone else just feels wrong. I apologize for not making this clear. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-killing-of-a-child-automatically-more-heinous-than-the-similar-killing-of-an-adult/631386/24 "2012-08-15T05:55:16Z")
The child does not have dependents, so killing the woman is worse. Also, what **Mnemosyne** said about resource consumption. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-killing-of-a-child-automatically-more-heinous-than-the-similar-killing-of-an-adult/631386/25 "2012-08-15T12:57:38Z")
I think we, at least most of us, are hard wired to protect children more, and I also think that the aversion to violence is proportional to the helplessness of the victim. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-killing-of-a-child-automatically-more-heinous-than-the-similar-killing-of-an-adult/631386.md?page=1)