# Now THIS vigilanteism I approve of. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 31, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684 "2003-10-31T17:22:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/1 "2003-10-31T17:22:45Z")
[http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20031031/od\_uk\_nm/oukoe\_crime\_girls&e=2](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20031031/od_uk_nm/oukoe_crime_girls&e=2) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/2 "2003-10-31T17:39:28Z")
Uh, cute story but sorry, I can’t agree that one should ever resort to vigilantism; particularly in this case, where the offender was about to be arrested anyway. BTW, not trying to be inflammatory here, just asking, but do some or most flashers ever physically attack their targets, either in the act or at other times? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/3 "2003-10-31T17:40:49Z")
Being chased by 20 Catholic girls in their uniforms had always been a dream of mine. Of course, in my dream, they weren’t chasing me to beat the tar out of me. Girl Power!!! ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/4 "2003-10-31T17:42:09Z")
On the one hand…good for those girls! On the other, are charges being pressed on them for assault? It _is_ vigilantism, after all, and still against the law.\* [sub]that’s not to say it wasn’t right in my view.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/5 "2003-10-31T17:47:12Z")
_Sigh_. You painfully consistent law and order types give me a pain. When will you learn that it is possible for one to be an outlaw and still be on the side of justice? Simply stated, the flasher got no less than what he deserved and it is refreshing to see that these girls are refusing to be victimized. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/6 "2003-10-31T18:04:01Z")
There’s a world of difference between “refusing to be victimized” and beating the shit out of someone. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/7 "2003-10-31T18:08:37Z")
I don’t agree that flashers are “sexual predators” or that they deserve to be beaten up by angry mobs. The article doesn’t say if this particular guy did more than “flash” people, but if not, then I think the reaction was extreme. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/8 "2003-10-31T18:09:35Z")
Bad: girls’ dads form a posse and shoot the bastard. Good: girls slap the shit out him themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/9 "2003-10-31T18:11:01Z")
Charged with “Corrutping the morals of a minor???” ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/10 "2003-10-31T18:13:12Z")
LOL; should be charged with “awakening the moral outrage of a minor.” ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/11 "2003-10-31T18:13:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cuauhtemoc \* > \*\*I don’t agree that flashers are “sexual predators” or that they deserve to be beaten up by angry mobs. The article doesn’t say if this particular guy did more than “flash” people, but if not, then I think the reaction was extreme. \*\* Well, he’s described as a “known sexual predator” by the cops, but that’s all the detail we have, guess. I think there’s an argument, though, that flashing can be condsidered sexual predation. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/12 "2003-10-31T18:14:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lissener \* > \*\*Bad: girls’ dads form a posse and shoot the bastard. > > Good: girls slap the shit out him themselves. \*\* I’m afraid I don’t understand the difference. ---
**Author:** ![Lucki\_Chaarms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lucki\_Chaarms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucki_Chaarms)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/13 "2003-10-31T18:16:00Z")
Well, **Ilsa** , his actions certainly seemed to cause violent behavior in the kids… 😉 If they really did some damage, then I agree that it’s not a good thing, especially considering that it sounds like he was basically held down while the girls took turns. But if it falls in to the category of “hurt but not injured”, I can’t say I have a real problem with the girls dealing out some nun-style justice on the dude while waiting for the cops. LC ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/14 "2003-10-31T18:16:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andros \* > \*\*I’m afraid I don’t understand the difference. \*\* Then you have a fucked sense of right and wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/15 "2003-10-31T18:18:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hamlet \* > \*\*Being chased by 20 Catholic girls in their uniforms had always been a dream of mine. Of course, in my dream, they weren’t chasing me to beat the tar out of me. > > Girl Power!!! \*\* I am ashamed to admit that was my first thought, too: I wonder if this flasher just had his fantasy fulfilled? If so, I think we’re looking at a win-win situation. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/16 "2003-10-31T18:18:20Z")
Then enlighten me, O Moral One. Why is it bad for the girls’ fathers to fuck the guy up, but it’s good for the girls themselves to do it. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/17 "2003-10-31T18:19:47Z")
(urk . . . that last was directed to **Brutus** , of course.) ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/18 "2003-10-31T18:19:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*Then you have a fucked sense of right and wrong. \*\* Not necessarily, it may be that he simply has not yet reached the level of moral development to understand the difference ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/19 "2003-10-31T18:21:45Z")
Or it could just be that I don’t believe the ends justifies the means. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684/20 "2003-10-31T18:23:29Z")
So, y’all just gonna keep on with the insults, or are you going to actually get off your high horses and explain the moral difference? Something other than “it’s just obvious” would be nice. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-this-vigilanteism-i-approve-of/210684.md?page=2)