Revenge or Justice?

[Boneasse]

G'day all.

Let's say someone killed one of your loved ones. You find out who it is, and you are given the opportunity to take matters into your own hands.

How do you think you would deal with such a situtation?

Would you go for revenge?
Would you let justice (the law) take its course, possibly negatively affecting the outcome of the punishment?
Or would you go for a third option? [sub]Please specify[/sub].

What is the reasoning behind your choice?

Personally I'm inclined to believe that I would go the path of the avenger. In Denmark you are guaranteed a parol after 16 years (life-sentence, for murder) unless you are a mass-murderer, raving lunatic, and anything of the like. But I just don't think I would be able to be satisfied with that, and if given the opportunity, I would proably decide to punish the criminal myself.

Would it make me as bad as the criminal? Probably, but I find it hard to believe that it would not make me feel better.

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

Vengeance with justice.
Saying we can get revenge implies we can find and hurt whoever it is that wronged us. So I'd say catch the fucker, beat him within an inch of his life, and THEN hand him over to the law.
Justice and personal closure. Win-win.

 

[Catchy Slogan]

Our justice system has been pretty poor lately, so assuming I could get away with it, I'd go for the revenge option.

 

[Telris]

Justice!!! DeathSpank style

 

[Bobbity]

>Implying the law means justice

I would no doubt think about killing the guy, and doing that would be much closer (given that he killed my loved one for a vile reason) to justice than him getting to live, albeit in jail. However, the prospect of being jailed myself isn't too fun.

Maybe just beat the fuck out of him and hand him in to the police?

^^^like

IMO, it depends on the context of the situation. If going out for revenge would screw up my life when justice would produce the same result, then no. If, however, the perpetrator of the crime was going to get off lightly/avoid punishment, then yes, I would quite possibly take matters into my own hands.

On the other hand, revenge really is satisfying, and if I had the opportunity straight out presented to me, I'd most likely take it without thought for the consequences.

 

[Housebroken Lunatic]

The law is one of the most unjust set of rules there is, so I'd go with revenge all the way. The only reason I don't break the law (to an extreme extent) right now is because it doesn't bother me. But if it stands in the way of my revenge on someone who've killed all my loved ones, then the law can go fuck itself.

 

[SmokingMirrors]

I've always said that it is better to let a man live-- albeit it in jail, and be given the chance to repent, rather than ending his life then and there which I feel would achieve nothing.

Besides, like any animal, having to live in a cage is a fate far worse than death I assure you.

But beating the snot out of them... perhaps I could understand wanting to do that, so long as you know when to stop throwing punches. Though then again doing so could get you in trouble too.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

The judicial system may not be perfect(how could it be?). But it does offer a form of consequence for wrong-doing that at least has the potential of restoring a kind of order to a situation. Anarchy is decidedly more poetic and appeals to us all on a base level, but when I give it any kind of real thought, I come to the conclusion that I'm glad that there are systems in place(infuriating or not)to deal with these things.

Watch "Death Sentence" for a Kevin-Bacon-laden example of how taking things into your own hands can go drastically wrong.

 

[FalloutJack]

Depends, really. I believe vigilante justice should only take precidence if regular justice falls on its ass. Understand, I feel the law is important, SO LONG AS IT DOES ITS JOB. Whenever some quibbling little stupidity gets past the radar that could affect me, I get pissed. So, let's just say I'm open-minded.

 

[LarenzoAOG]

So Renegade or Paragon? Paragon for me.

 

[Lilani]

Justice--it's revenge but without the regret (or possible arrest for felony).

 

[Ham_authority95]

Revenge is just petty self-satisfaction.

Justice, however, will be a benefit to society, so I would go with that.

 

[the rye]

If they killed my loved one's then it is my duty to avenge them regardless of the consequences.

 

[DanielDeFig]

Would it make me as bad as the criminal? Probably, but I find it hard to believe that it would not make me feel better.

That's just it though. In all these kind of cases, it's not about YOU or how YOU feel. It's about creating a harmonious society by discouraging law-breaking. I really don't want to say "too bad" especially when a family member is murdered, but you are just creating more devastated family member for each person you kill.

I might want to kill the killer of one of my family members, but that's what the law is there for: to protect ALL citizens, including mass-murdering psychotics (who usually need medical help, rather than imprisonment)

 

[Jazzyjazz2323]

Revenge,cold hearted revenge!

 

[SomeLameStuff]

I'd hand him over to the police. For murder, he'll get hanged here anyway.

 

[iLikeHippos]

If one of my family members were killed, I would never forgive anyone who would stand against the asshole, me and my sword.

... Buuut if it were someone I got close to otherwise outside the family, I'd be quite pissed and hand the assailant over to the court. I can't be bothered to hand out vigilante justice when I can repair the damage by getting to know someone else.

 

[Housebroken Lunatic]

Justice--it's revenge but without the regret (or possible arrest for felony).

Yeah, that's some sweet revenge when the criminal gets away due to a technicality or clerical error of some sort. (happens everyday, because most legal systems are too busy insuring that everything about an arrest and prosecution was handled flawlessly than actually putting murderers and rapists behind bars)

 

[Shirokurou]

RETRIBUTION, that is all.

 

[Stryc9]

Revenge without a doubt. If you hurt someone I love I'm gonna make you pay, simple as that. I also don't trust my 'justice' system to put the dirtbag down like they should in such cases. All you have to do anymore is get some quack doctor to say you're mentally ill and you avoid the needle.