# So... have you killed anybody? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 5, 2010, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021 "2010-12-05T07:33:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/1 "2010-12-05T07:33:54Z")
So… have you killed anybody? Me - not that I’m aware of. Do you know anybody that killed anybody? A guy I dated killed somebody in the line of duty (military). And a classmate whom I never hung out with was put on trial for murder of his parents, but it’s a famously controversial case, so not sure about that… I’m assuming no one will come out and incriminate themselves for actual murder unless they have already served a sentence for it, but any stories are welcome. Especially with regards to that fictional trope of how “once you kill someone you are changed forever”. Is that true? Not that I would personally kill a human (highest life form I’ve personally killed on purpose is a bug, highest due to possible neglect is a pet (debatable) and indirectly for food is a cow. Except given very unusual context. But I imagine if I was in an unusual context (self-defense, line of duty, etc) I would be able to compartmentalize, given extrapolation from feelings I’ve had about funerals I’ve been to. Or in the case that I became overly obsessed due to some feeling of responsibility, I imagine I’d try to make amends or perform some other positive action rather than torture myself about it. ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/2 "2010-12-05T08:30:03Z")
The highest form of life I’ve ever killed was a suicidal raccoon – I still cringe when I recall the sound it made. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/3 "2010-12-05T08:34:56Z")
I have to confess: I was kind of hoping for juicier poll results than this. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/4 "2010-12-05T08:45:20Z")
OK Mr Profit spill your details… ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/5 "2010-12-05T09:13:39Z")
I voted other; I have taken patients off life support multiple times leading to their death. All in accordance with the family and/or patient’s wishes of course. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/6 "2010-12-05T09:22:43Z")
I voted no, but to answer the question “Do you know anybody that killed anybody?”: My cousin’s son killed his ex-girlfriend before offing himself. ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/7 "2010-12-05T09:29:11Z")
On second thought (I voted "no)… perhaps kind of. During college, a bunch of friends and I were at a bar. This kid we went to high school with was there - drunk as hell and being annoying as fuck - and ultimately asked for a ride home. All of us (myself included) found a reason that we couldn’t. He ate a gun that night citing the “people don’t like me” thing. We all felt like dicks, but it strikes me as though the suicide was inevitable… we just may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/8 "2010-12-05T09:55:41Z")
You missed one choice, ‘possibly’. When you are shelling someone you don’t necessarily know what happens at the other end to your particular shell, especially when there are others doing the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/9 "2010-12-05T10:52:02Z")
Earlier this year, just before she died shortly after her 90th birthday, my great aunt said “I’ve not been the same since that party you organised for me, Jim.” So, perhaps… ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/10 "2010-12-05T11:50:25Z")
> [@GiantRat](#): > > … we just may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back. Anyone know when Mythbusters will be breaking a camel’s back with a straw? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/11 "2010-12-05T11:50:48Z")
You forgot the choice “Yes, accidentally”. As in a car accident, for example. Not that I have killed anyone at all, even like that. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/12 "2010-12-05T11:54:39Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > You forgot the choice “Yes, accidentally”. As in a car accident, for example. I thought that would be the most likely. My father was involved in an accident where a motorcyclist doing about 60mph in a built up area ran into his trailer and was killed. The motorcyclist was found to be entirely responsible, but still… ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/13 "2010-12-05T12:13:35Z")
I am not a vegetarian. And have had to do one or two mercy killings of animals. And who is to say, really, how much less that counts? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/14 "2010-12-05T13:36:20Z")
A guy I went to high school with supposedly slit a bartender’s throat because he wouldn’t cash a check. He seemed crazy to me at the time I knew him, so I don’t disbelieve it. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Am\_The\_Lorax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19adc/32.png) [@I\_Am\_The\_Lorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Am_The_Lorax)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/15 "2010-12-05T13:58:02Z")
A girl I was friends with in high school was in an abusive relationship that would leave her bruised and crying all the time. Another friend and I were constantly trying to get her to bail, she finally did and the guy blew his head off on Christmas. I don’t think I killed him really, because someone who would kill themselves is probably just waiting for an excuse, but I was part of the catalyst. At least he didn’t go on to beat and torment anymore nice girls (or any girls). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/16 "2010-12-05T16:12:37Z")
We need a “Not yet, but the day is young” choice. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/17 "2010-12-05T16:59:33Z")
How about a “not yet, but I do have a list” option? ---
**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:** [December 5, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/18 "2010-12-05T17:02:48Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > I am not a vegetarian. And have had to do one or two mercy killings of animals. > > And who is to say, really, how much less that counts? I am. _Anybody_ means “any person.” Non-human animals are not persons, not even the obviously-or-probably sapient ones like dogs, pigs, elephants, horses, and dolphins. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/19 "2010-12-05T17:10:41Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Do you know anybody that killed anybody? My brother married into a family with a rather notorious serial killer. We met him a few times before the ugly surfaced. ---
**Author:** ![Deflagration](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ab097/32.png) [@Deflagration](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deflagration)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021/20 "2010-12-05T17:36:41Z")
A friend of mine’s related to [Albert Pierrepoint](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Pierrepoint) executioner of 608 people. Does that count? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-have-you-killed-anybody/563021.md?page=2)