# People who say "i don't believe in the death penatly, but in this case..." **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 2, 2008, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-i-dont-believe-in-the-death-penatly-but-in-this-case/466159 "2008-10-02T13:47:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-i-dont-believe-in-the-death-penatly-but-in-this-case/466159/81 "2008-10-05T12:46:55Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Have you ever heard of a fucking question mark? Here’s a helpful tip. Put your finger on the “M” key, then move it three keys over to the right. Then hold down the shift key, and then while holding it down, press that key three keys to the right of M. Another hint - it has a little picture of a question mark on it. I know the shift thing is confusing, but practice makes perfect. > > Anyway, not only do I believe in the death penalty, I think it should be carried out with an ax. Especially to those who don’t use question marks properly. Do you have a little anger management problem??? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-i-dont-believe-in-the-death-penatly-but-in-this-case/466159/82 "2008-10-05T16:09:16Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Seriously - it’s pretty much the textbook definition of an “exception that proves the rule.” And besides, with every year that passes since 1945, the chance of finding a second Nazi war criminal becomes witheringly small. Barring a “they saved Hitler’s brain” scenario, I doubt it will ever come up again. It probably wont (although Israel also has the death penalty for treason in wartime, so…). My whole point though, is this is a thread that criticizes people for saying they’re against the death penalty if they’re willing to make exceptions, and so… ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-i-dont-believe-in-the-death-penatly-but-in-this-case/466159/83 "2008-10-05T17:20:32Z")
> [@BrainFireBob](#): > > If I post a cite, and you’re this hostile, then you’ll simply argue the validity of the cite. Have the courage to do your own research- I’ve told you where to start. In other words, you don’t have a cite, you don’t have stats; it’s merely something that you read somewhere you don’t recall and decided to adopt as part of your worldview. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-i-dont-believe-in-the-death-penatly-but-in-this-case/466159/84 "2008-10-05T17:21:39Z")
> [@rushgeekgirl](#): > > ah come on, show a little faith. > Post the cite and see if he blows up on ya. :d (Smileys are broken! OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!) ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-i-dont-believe-in-the-death-penatly-but-in-this-case/466159/85 "2008-10-06T01:43:16Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > The United Kingdom does not have the death penalty. France does not have the death penalty. Spain does not have the death penalty. Portugal does not have the death penalty. Canada does not have the death penalty. Mexico does not have the death penalty. Germany does not have the death penalty. Denmark does not have the death penalty. Norway does not have the death penalty. Sweden does not have the death penalty. Austria does not have the death penalty. Italy does not have the death penalty. Luxembourg does not have the death penalty. Finland does not have the death penalty. Poland does not have the death penalty. Panama does not have the death penalty. South Africa does not have the death penalty. Mozambique does not have the death penalty. Australia does not have the death penalty. Nepal does not have the death penalty. Vatican City does not have the death penalty. > > Etc., etc., etc. And seriously, so? How may of those countries have limitations on abortion? (hint: most of them). Do you accept as an argument that since Vatican City, which you claim is an example of civilized society, opposes abortion, countries that do practice it are therefore uncivilized and should stop immediately? Why is the death penalty the deciding factor on what makes a country civilized? I disagree with your thesis. The death penalty does not make a country uncivilized or less advanced, and not having the death penalty does not make a country civilized and advanced. Perhaps I should clarify something - there are a lot of good reasons to oppose the death penalty…practical reasons. That reason is not one of the good ones. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-i-dont-believe-in-the-death-penatly-but-in-this-case/466159/86 "2008-10-06T01:55:51Z")
> [@ArizonaTeach](#): > > I disagree with your thesis. The death penalty does not make a country uncivilized or less advanced, and not having the death penalty does not make a country civilized and advanced. I disagree with your thesis. _suprise_ It does make a country civilized or less advanced. Capital punishment is uncivilized, and is less advanced. And, if it helps, I am a **Bricker** of the left. I oppose both the death penalty and abortion. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-i-dont-believe-in-the-death-penatly-but-in-this-case/466159/87 "2008-10-06T16:07:15Z")
> [@BrainFireBob](#): > > 1. Exoneration. The statistics for those on Death Row released due to DNA evidence are falsely inflated. They are commonly reported as being “exonerated,” when in fact, depending on state laws, the presence of new evidence (DNA) grants them a new trial- a new trial where they may be exempt from the death penalty, but still shown to be guilty or convicted. Being removed from Death Row is not the same as exoneration- being exonerated is exoneration. You have to be extraordinarily careful with tracking down the numbers for claims regarding “exoneration” for Death Row, to make sure they don’t suffer from this false bloat. I don’t know what the numbers are, but yes, some of those “exonerated” were not found innocent in their new trial, but simply got the death sentence taken off. Others had their Death penalty commuted due to doubts, which also isn’t quite “exoneration”. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-i-dont-believe-in-the-death-penatly-but-in-this-case/466159/88 "2008-10-06T16:50:17Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I disagree with your thesis. _suprise_ It does make a country civilized or less advanced. Capital punishment is uncivilized, and is less advanced. I guess this is just where the break is. You say it is because you say it is. I think there needs to be something more than that. ---
**Author:** ![Hogwash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e57/32.png) [@Hogwash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogwash)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-i-dont-believe-in-the-death-penatly-but-in-this-case/466159/89 "2008-10-06T16:56:44Z")
> [@Justin\_Credible](#): > > I definately agree with you on that. If I ever got sentenced to life in prison, I would probably try to attack the bailiff in the hope that he would shoot me. It depends - is there a prison library, or at least an old timer walking round with a trolley of books? ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-i-dont-believe-in-the-death-penatly-but-in-this-case/466159/90 "2008-10-06T17:04:11Z")
> [@Hogwash](#): > > It depends - is there a prison library, or at least an old timer walking round with a trolley of books? No, but there’s a 6ft 3", Aryan Brotherhood biker, with a dog-eared copy of Mein Kampf and a sly look in his eye! Still tempted? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hawkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@Hawkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkins)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-i-dont-believe-in-the-death-penatly-but-in-this-case/466159/91 "2008-10-07T06:43:58Z")
> [@Blaster\_Master](#): > > Thanks for over simplifying and misrepresenting the pro-death penalty argument. :rolleyes: Oh, just read it again, twit. The post clearly exposes the convuluted logic of death proponents. :mad::rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-i-dont-believe-in-the-death-penatly-but-in-this-case/466159/92 "2008-10-07T16:50:46Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Are you kill fans in favor of executing the executives who ignored the laws and safety rules that caused Bhopal. They killed off a lot of innocent people. Shouldn’t they be wiped out too. If they were found guilty by an appliccable court of law, yes. I would feel no compunction about meting out the same penalty to a white-collar murderer. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-i-dont-believe-in-the-death-penatly-but-in-this-case/466159/93 "2008-10-08T04:30:20Z")
[Same thread last year](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=411523). ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-i-dont-believe-in-the-death-penatly-but-in-this-case/466159/94 "2008-10-08T13:16:34Z")
> [@TheLoadedDog](#): > > A couple of years ago, the Singaporean government put a young Vietnamese-Australian to death for drug running. There were calls for blood on the internet, with lots of “Hey, they have enough big, fuck-off signs at the airport about how they deal with drug smugglers. He knew the rules, he played the game, let him die.” > > Yeah, well ok, BUT… > > He was a young idiot who thought he was invincible and who thought he would get away with it. The world is full of such young men. . I dont think being dumb and or immature should be a mitigating factor in ANY criminal case,for one anyone who gets caught could claim it in their defence plus someone raped and murdered by a dummy is just as dead and violated as someone murdered by a mature criminal mastermind. Incidently I consider Singapore to be one of the most advanced and civilized countries in the world despite its small size. I’m one of the ranks of those who have no problem whatsoever with the death penalty morally but am concerned about wrongful executions plus guilty men allowed to walk free by timid juries who dont want a murderers death on their conscience and tough titty for any victims and their families that the released murderer goes onto kill. Its surprising though that many of the same people dont go through the same soul searching about people who are killed by their nations armed forces while defending their country(I’m talking ww2 here etc not Iraq)or people killed by police sometimes. As a matter of interest here in the U.K.the people that I’ve met who are most vehemently,instantly and emotionally against reintroducing the death penalty are serious career criminals.(Unfortunately I have family in low places)but when challenged on their subsequent actions were a member of their family to be murdered they lose the moral highground somewhat by saying that they’ll wack the killer themselves. Finally can I just excocise a debating bugbear of mine that has cropped up in this and other threads. Actions in themselves are neither good nor evil. Its the intentions that they are judged by. Aman can stab another man to intentionally kill him. A surgeon can stab a man with a scalpel in an attempt to save his life and fail and the man dies. So can we have an end to these specious arguments along the lines that its like “Killing a man to tell men that killing is bad"which sounds very reminiscent of the Vietnam era slogan dreamed up by the K.G.B.s DEPT.V and spread around by the gullible in an attempt to sound cutting edge and trendy"Fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity” ---
**Author:** ![cedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cedman)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-i-dont-believe-in-the-death-penatly-but-in-this-case/466159/95 "2008-10-08T14:09:25Z")
> [@Hawkins](#): > > If you really think about it, you’ll eventually realize that the pro death penalty stance is based on unassailable logic. > > The government _has_ to kill people who kill people, in order to show the people that killing people is wrong. > > Sheesh. it’s not like it’s rocket surgery, you know. How many more times will we hear this arguement? It’s nothing more than verbal masturbation. Let me clarify one more time… The purpose of the death penality isn’t to instruct, it’s to make bad people dead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-say-i-dont-believe-in-the-death-penatly-but-in-this-case/466159.md?page=4)