# Mother sets fire to her daughter's gloating rapist **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 25, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363 "2009-02-25T14:27:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/101 "2009-02-25T19:31:29Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > The actions of this lady are morally inexcusable and illegal… > > That should be the end of that, but I’ll bring up this hypothetical too: > > What if he didn’t do it? What if the woman didn’t do it? Shouldn’t you wait until you are sure before you condemn her? Regards. Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/102 "2009-02-25T19:49:51Z")
In this case, the mother flipped out, but the daughter seems to have moved on, which is kind of my point with regard to the questions I posed to **Skald**. I don’t consider rape to be the “end all” crime. Most victims get through it and get on with their lives with little or no long-term effects. Violent assault is usually far more traumatic. This was not “justice” in any sense of the word. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/103 "2009-02-25T20:00:03Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > The girl was 13. 13 good years and then some jerk-off ruins the rest of your life. I don’t know that the rest of her life was necessarily _ruined_. The girl, who is now a woman, was quoted in the article as saying she has no recollection of the attack. Suppression and all that. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/104 "2009-02-25T20:15:49Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > This was not “justice” in any sense of the word. Sure it was. For the most part, in advanced, industrialized countries, the legal systems do a decent job of punishing the scum that breaks the social compact in a brutal manner. This is indeed one of the hallmarks of a civilized nation. As such, the mother should also be prosecuted to the full extent of the law for this murderous assault. Vigilantism is not an acceptable societal value nowadays. That said, I think it’s a good thing that some piece of shit contemplating the commission of a vicious assault might draw a moment’s hesitation when he realizes that the ponderous grindings of the legal system may not be the worst thing he has to fear. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/105 "2009-02-25T20:20:39Z")
> [@Fuji](#): > > Sure it was. > > For the most part, in advanced, industrialized countries, the legal systems do a decent job of punishing the scum that breaks the social compact in a brutal manner. This is indeed one of the hallmarks of a civilized nation. As such, the mother should also be prosecuted to the full extent of the law for this murderous assault. Vigilantism is not an acceptable societal value nowadays. > > That said, I think it’s a good thing that some piece of shit contemplating the commission of a vicious assault might draw a moment’s hesitation when he realizes that the ponderous grindings of the legal system may not be the worst thing he has to fear. Justice would be if the woman carried out a sentence that society failed to carry out. That is not what happened here. The system, at it’s best, would not have executed this guy for what he did. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/106 "2009-02-25T20:29:12Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > I don’t consider rape to be the “end all” crime. Most victims get through it and get on with their lives with little or no long-term effects. Violent assault is usually far more traumatic. uh? You don’t consider rape violent assault? It is not an end-all crime, but I seriously doubt most victims will have little or no long-term effects. And especially when the victim is a child. ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/107 "2009-02-25T20:32:37Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > For her crime, she should be incarcerated with the likes of that rapist, and be given strict rations of three meals, two matches, and one can of gas per day. Might as well make use of her skill while she is locked up. For some reason, that just cracked me up. Thanks for the laugh. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/108 "2009-02-25T20:34:27Z")
Nothing to add, but this thread is making me reconsider some previously held opinions regarding the difference between the death penalty and killing an offender. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/109 "2009-02-25T20:39:41Z")
That’s bad phrasing due to alcohol, BTW. I’ll probably start a GD thread tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/110 "2009-02-25T20:44:00Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > uh? You don’t consider rape violent assault? > > It is not an end-all crime, but I seriously doubt most victims will have little or no long-term effects. And especially when the victim is a child. Rape, in many cases, is much less violent than assault that doesn’t have the rape component. People can comply with the rapist and come out of it physically unharmed. Obviously not all rapes are non-violent, but not all rapists beat their victims. This child seems to have moved on relatively unscathed. Of course it’s worse when it happens to a child, but I think a violent beating would have been exponentially more traumatic for her (or for anyone). There is an assumption that sexual assault is the most devastating thing that can happen to a person, but that’s not always the case. People often go on to lead well-adjusted, productive lives. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/111 "2009-02-25T20:46:34Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Justice would be if the woman carried out a sentence that society failed to carry out. That is not what happened here. The system, at it’s best, would not have executed this guy for what he did. I disagree. Justice is a very personal notion. What society agrees upon is a compromise, and a very necessary one for whose existence I am quite grateful. And I agree that a civilized society would probably not have immolated this man. But I put myself in the mother’s shoes, and I cannot say that her murder of him was not morally justifiable. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/112 "2009-02-25T20:58:19Z")
This story reveals three important facts about the world. 1. The Punisher is real. 2. The Punisher is, in actuality, an elderly woman. 3. Don’t fuck with The Punisher. ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/113 "2009-02-25T20:58:56Z")
> [@Fuji](#): > > But I put myself in the mother’s shoes, and I cannot say that her murder of him was not morally justifiable. By the same token, the guy’s mother (as a hypothetical) could set fire to this woman, right? I mean, she did kill her son. And the circle of life continues… ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/114 "2009-02-25T21:05:30Z")
> [@Fuji](#): > > I disagree. Justice is a very personal notion. What society agrees upon is a compromise, and a very necessary one for whose existence I am quite grateful. And I agree that a civilized society would probably not have immolated this man. But I put myself in the mother’s shoes, and I cannot say that her murder of him was not morally justifiable. I agree that moral justice is an individual call. However, I think her actions are far worse than anything the perp did. She’s obviously off the beam. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/115 "2009-02-25T21:08:32Z")
> [@LilShieste](#): > > By the same token, the guy’s mother (as a hypothetical) could set fire to this woman, right? I mean, she did kill her son. > > And the circle of life continues… A good question, and I must speak theoretically as I have no kids, but I’d like to think that if I raised a child who became a human savage, that I wouldn’t deem him specially exempt from the reach of extra-judicial action by the aggrieved. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/116 "2009-02-25T21:16:01Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > I agree that moral justice is an individual call. However, I think her actions are far worse than anything the perp did. She’s obviously off the beam. Agree. Disagree. Agree. I think the perp’s actions (presumably raping a 13-year girl with threat of force, if not actual use) _are_ worse than what the mother did, but not by much. I see murder on behalf of a severely wounded close relative or friend as being justifiable in some cases. The perp had no moral justification at all for what he did. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/117 "2009-02-25T21:16:30Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Rape, in many cases, is much less violent than assault that doesn’t have the rape component. People can comply with the rapist and come out of it physically unharmed. Obviously not all rapes are non-violent, but not all rapists beat their victims. So if a victim complies with the rape, doesn’t fight back, and thus doesn’t get beaten – then the crime is less severe than if the victim fights back and gets beaten, but not raped? I’m not trying to ask a loaded question; just trying to understand your point. In this case, the girl was threatened at knife point. I would assume that itself is a crime independent of the subsequent rape. I would also consider these both violent assault crimes. ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/118 "2009-02-25T21:17:33Z")
> [@Fuji](#): > > A good question, and I must speak theoretically as I have no kids, but I’d like to think that if I raised a child who became a human savage, that I wouldn’t deem him specially exempt from the reach of extra-judicial action by the aggrieved. I don’t have children either (yet), but I don’t think I could ever accept the possibility of someone killing a child of mine; regardless of what they did. To me, saying that this guy had it coming is akin to saying a woman who dresses whorish is just asking to be raped. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/119 "2009-02-25T21:20:05Z")
> [@LilShieste](#): > > To me, saying that this guy had it coming is akin to saying a woman who dresses whorish is just asking to be raped. What? Raping a 13-year-old is a heinous crime. Do you consider dressing like a whore to be a heinous crime? ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363/120 "2009-02-25T21:20:53Z")
> [@LilShieste](#): > > To me, saying that this guy had it coming is akin to saying a woman who dresses whorish is just asking to be raped. Women who wear slutty clothes = men who rape 13-year-olds? Am I hearing this correctly? ETA: RNATB has got my back. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mother-sets-fire-to-her-daughters-gloating-rapist/487363.md?page=7)