# What is the greatest human cruelty? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 9, 2006, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658 "2006-02-09T05:29:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drmark2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@drmark2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drmark2000)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/1 "2006-02-09T05:29:21Z")
I say it’s contributing to the inflicting of a lifetime (however long) on another sentient being. In other words, being a part of the production of a human child. What do other people think? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/2 "2006-02-09T05:34:48Z")
Don’t we already have a poster named Silenus? ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/3 "2006-02-09T05:37:10Z")
Hmmm, how ironic. I would say it’s the death of a child. An actual child that has lived on the earth for a period of time, not abortion. With the loss of potential and the extreme agony that the family must go through, especially if it’s sudden, it strikes me as being the worst thing that could happen. ---
**Author:** ![drmark2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@drmark2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drmark2000)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/4 "2006-02-09T05:40:25Z")
> [@trublmakr](#): > > Hmmm, how ironic. I would say it’s the death of a child. An actual child that has lived on the earth for a period of time, not abortion. With the loss of potential and the extreme agony that the family must go through, especially if it’s sudden, it strikes me as being the worst thing that could happen. Okay, but I’m talking about the decision to bring the child into this word in the first place. Is that not the cruelest decision of all? ---
**Author:** ![drmark2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@drmark2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drmark2000)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/5 "2006-02-09T05:42:32Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > Okay, but I’m talking about the decision to bring the child into this word in the first place. > > Is that not the cruelest decision of all? I meant “world“, damnit. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/6 "2006-02-09T06:05:13Z")
Personally, I’m rather enjoying being here. WMMV, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/7 "2006-02-09T06:13:30Z")
In some circumstances I think it might be cruel to bring a child into the world. If you know they’re going to be severely disabled or there’s a high risk they will, then yes, maybe it is cruel. But under normal circumstances, no, it’s just biology. ---
**Author:** ![drmark2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@drmark2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drmark2000)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/8 "2006-02-09T06:18:31Z")
> [@trublmakr](#): > > …under normal circumstances, no, it’s just biology. What the hell are you saying? That it’s biologically wired that we inflict life upon others? ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/9 "2006-02-09T06:26:09Z")
I say it’s Crazy Frog. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/10 "2006-02-09T06:27:11Z")
Inflicting religion on an innocent child. ---
**Author:** ![JohnnieEnigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@JohnnieEnigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnieEnigma)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/11 "2006-02-09T06:29:57Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > I say it’s contributing to the inflicting of a lifetime (however long) on another sentient being. In other words, being a part of the production of a human child. > > What do other people think? Indifference is the greatest human cruelty; whether it is toward your fellow man or life in general. There is nothing more dehumanizing than viewing another person as insignificant. ---
**Author:** ![elfbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b782af/32.png) [@elfbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfbabe)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/12 "2006-02-09T07:05:12Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > I say it’s contributing to the inflicting of a lifetime (however long) on another sentient being. In other words, being a part of the production of a human child. > > What do other people think? Wow, you must be a hit at parties. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/13 "2006-02-09T07:11:55Z")
American Idol. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/14 "2006-02-09T07:16:44Z")
> [@JohnnyEnigma](#): > > Indifference is the greatest human cruelty; whether it is toward your fellow man or life in general. There is nothing more dehumanizing than viewing another person as insignificant. Oh, I’d say flaying someone alive, dipping them in salt, raping them, then eating them alive is just a _little_ worse. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/15 "2006-02-09T08:21:56Z")
> [@Der Trihs](#): > > Oh, I’d say flaying someone alive, dipping them in salt, raping them, then eating them alive is just a _little_ worse. Someone’s been watching too much _Firefly_. 🙂 Having said that - back to the OP: I don’t agree. “Inflicting” life on someone isn’t cruel, it ceratinly isn’t done with any bad intentions, which I think are neccessary to really make for the greatest cruelty. I don’t think any unthinking cruelties (“inflicting” life, religion or whatever) can really compare to say genocide or torture. Or Crazy Frog… ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/16 "2006-02-09T10:36:27Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > What the hell are you saying? That it’s biologically wired that we inflict life upon others? Well, [yes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_attraction). I hope you’re not a real doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/17 "2006-02-09T10:48:13Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > Okay, but I’m talking about the decision to bring the child into this word in the first place. > > Is that not the cruelest decision of all? Only if you subscribe to the notion that life is nothing buy suffering. Marc ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/18 "2006-02-09T10:49:38Z")
> [@MG](#): > > life is nothing, buy suffering. Special offer at Mistress Cynthia’s House of Pain. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/19 "2006-02-09T11:10:31Z")
> [@drmark2000](#): > > I say it’s contributing to the inflicting of a lifetime (however long) on another sentient being. In other words, being a part of the production of a human child. > > What do other people think? Interestingly, libertarian philosophy agrees with you. Birth is a coercion against the child, and is the reason that parents are bound parties to a unary contract in which the child is a non-consenting party. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658/20 "2006-02-09T11:16:37Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Interestingly, libertarian philosophy agrees with you. Birth is a coercion against the child, and is the reason that parents are bound parties to a unary contract in which the child is a non-consenting party. OK, I can sort of see this, but in your opinion, does that equate to “The greatest human cruelty”? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-greatest-human-cruelty/343658.md?page=2)