When will people learn they cant stop bad behavior?

[Jagers1994]

By bad behavior I mean generic bad behvior but specifically drugs.

Illegalization, Age limits, Jail time, Fees.

All these actions we have put in place to keep people from speeding, murder, drug use, drunk driving, rape, abuse.

Yet all these things happen. So when will people with power learn that we cant stop these things? Should we be more liberal or should we crack down even more? What should we do? Should be more liberal with some or all of them. Or none.

 

[Ace of Spades]

We might not be able to stop them, but I guarantee that there are less instances of these with laws in place.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

If something's illegal and very strictly prohibited then it's more fun and thrilling to get away with it. Be more liberal but secretly be trying t oget rid of it

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

I'm sure if let people rape others without any punishment hot females could walk the streets easier.

 

[Taerdin]

I'm sure if let people rape others without any punishment hot females could walk the streets easier.

/thread

Okay people, nothing left to see here... move along.

 

[This-is-Hip-Hop]

Well, these laws do have the 'Double Edged Sword Effect' of ironically encouraging the crime by punishing it.

But if there is no punishment at all, there would be much more crime in the world, because people could live out there wildest fantasys, without any fear of reprecussion.

I.e. "Man, that guy hit me and called me a dork, no matter, when he turns around I will stab him in the back with my pen, death will teach him."

 

[willard3]

If something's illegal and very strictly prohibited then it's more fun and thrilling to get away with it. Be more liberal but secretly be trying to get rid of it.

That makes no sense. Pass a law with the sole purpose of undermining it?

Things are illegal for reasons, not because the government hates you. Get over it.

 

[insectoid]

You can't stop bad behaviour, but it's simple psychology that most people will learn from the consequences of their actions, or by watching what happens to other people who suffer those consequences.

Sure, it doesn't work on everyone (e.g. people who like the attention, or consider the consequences out-weighed by the thrill of their actions), but it's certainly a better system than having no punishment.

 

[edinflames]

Law are never the solutions to problems. Laws are what people come up with when they can't solve the problem; its like nailing a sign on the wall saying "You! Dont do this!", it doesn't address the root causes of the problem and offers no solution. Generations of drug-convicts shows that deterrence is not an effect of law.

Nobody seems to ask "why is such a huge percentage of society using drugs (legal and illegal)?" or "does this self-medication (in some instances) or desire to get wasted have anything to do with the rise in depressed school-age kids and their sense of alienation from society's institutions and authorities?". Probably because the answers might reveal how contemporary Western Culture is totally f*cked. Remember, drugs (booze included) are either the symptom of a deeper sickness OR perhaps New Scientist was correct when they hypothesised that chemical-escapism is the fourth desire of intelligent life (after food, sex and water) - remember that even chimps and bonobos bury fruit in order for it to ferment and create primitive alcoholic drinks.

Either way making up some laws and putting some people in a jail isn't going to fix the root of the 'problem'.

Some chump will quote me now saying "yeah but there would be more people murdered if it wasn't against the law", so I will preempt you with this: No, law doesn't factor into the decision making process. Most murders are not pre-planned, they are committed in the heat of the moment. The upbringing of a child is what will stop the child from killing; teach him that it is wrong to kill and he probably wont (like most people), teach the child it is OK to kill people and he's going to rack up the body count.

 

[BubbleGumSnareDrum]

We might not be able to stop them, but I guarantee that there are less instances of these with laws in place.

XFD no.

Drug enforcement and prohibition are the exact same thing. Drinking actually became more common during prohibition.

 

[MelziGurl]

Some people will be repeat offenders, while others will learn from their past mistakes. You can't stop bad behaviour, but you sure as hell can reform at least some of those who behave badly. Something is better than nothing in my opinion.

 

[RebelRising]

What we need is Dirty Harry back on the streets. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[EchetusXe]

Legalize drugs (apart from heroin) and bring the death penalty out for murderers, rapists, peados and general trash.

Make less stuff illegal and make the punishments for what remains illegal much harsher.

 

[Joselyn]

We might not be able to stop them, but I guarantee that there are less instances of these with laws in place.

You took the words right out of my mouth...figuratively speaking that is....

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

If something's illegal and very strictly prohibited then it's more fun and thrilling to get away with it. Be more liberal but secretly be trying to get rid of it.

That makes no sense. Pass a law with the sole purpose of undermining it?

Things are illegal for reasons, not because the government hates you. Get over it.

I'm not saying they hate me just that the added thrill of getting away with things is an adrenaline rush and may cause people to do illegal things more often.

 

[Sir_Montague]

We might not be able to stop them, but I guarantee that there are less instances of these with laws in place.

Agreed. There will always be stupid people, even with rules in place they'll break them. But with the rules in place, it keeps the smart people from taking advantage and endangering others for fear of repercussion and common sense (if it can be called that).

 

[meglathon]

Fallout 3 said it best "War...War never changes." it the same with bad behavior. No mater what you do/say shit stil happen, all we can do is dicourage it, with punishment.

 

[GruntOwner]

Not all criminals are thrill seekers or doing it for the adreniline. Rapists rape so that they can orgasm and feel dominant and superior. Not that I waould know form experience, but "Ooh, arn't I a naughty devil" is probably the last thing that they're thinking.

The legalisation of drugs is bad for a simple reason. Kids. It's a choice to do drugs if you make the choice during adulthood, but when you're 12, have the media making drugs seem awesome and peer preasure, you will not be making an educated decision, and in some cases, you will get addicted. And that's not including the external costs such as the hell it inflicts upon public healthcare should such a thing exist in your nation.

As for the execution of murderers, rapists and other such filth: Agreed, however it is not unheard of for folk to admit to these crimes of which they are innocent. I seem to recall a few days back there was a wonderful video concerning why you should not speak to police in which they highlighted 2 cases from the 50s or such. 2 african/american gentlemen with mental dissabilities admitted to rape and murder in one case, and a selection of other crimes for the latter. The only thing that saved them was capital punishment not being practiced in the state at the time. Unless it can be proven beyond all shadow of a doubt that they were responsible, we can't see them executed. What passes as proof is subjective to a degree, so there goes that plan.

Now some folk seem to be drawing near the bullseye with upbringing, and yes: The upbringing is important, though the government don't know their arse from The Northern Lights where enforcing a good upbringing is concerned. They seem to think that compulsory citezenship lessons are a good idea this side of the pond, which as anyone who's been through them will assure you, are a total waste of time. This may come down to a proper upbringing, once again, being subjective. To me, a good upbringing is one involving the refrained, though effective, use of the backhand. Could you honestly be negotiated with when you were a brat? Did you care about the state of anything? No. Because you were too young to be expected to look after it. So you looked out for yourself.

I realise now that this is becoming a rant, and I apologise for it. I'm sure that there's some poor semblance to a point somewhere up there.

 

[Jack and Calumon]

Never, and for suggesting such a thing, your going to jail!

 

[Osloq]

The world isn't perfect and there always going to be people who want to push the envelope but at the end of the day humans have the same base instincts as other animals and the only thing that stops some people from just picking up a rock and bashing someone's head in is fear of the law and the punishment that comes with it. It's a sad fact of the world that that is the way it is with some people. Sure some laws are too harsh or need to be re-assessed in modern times especially in regards to pot which is illegal when ciggarettes aren't but most laws aren't made for shits and giggles they're put into place because there are people in the government who feel that it will benefit society.