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If a bad person is feeling pain, should we sympathize with them?

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 1:46 am
by Yukaphile
This is a question for debate I wanna pose. Let's say there's a serial criminal, sex criminal or murderer, doesn't matter. If that person is feeling pain, should we try and sympathize with him, or just shit him down, and refuse to cut him any slack given the sheer evil of his crimes? I've run into this attitude before. "Oh, that poor sadistic freak is suffering, let's try and sympathize with 'em!" But what do you guys think?

Re: If a bad person is feeling pain, should we sympathize with them?

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 4:35 am
by Darth Wedgius
Yes, to some extent, IMHO. This is not a well-thought-out answer, but rather just what I feel, so YMMV and I can't say you're wrong.

I'm liable to give less sympathy for him than if he isn't a serial criminal, rapist, or murderer, but I can't think of anyone I'd never give any sympathy to whatsoever. I didn't want to say "sex criminal" because I don't want to lump hookers in with people who've done genuine evil (IMHO) things.

If Hitler or someone in ISIS was bedridden with agonizing cancer and I could give him morphine simply by pressing a button, I'd press the button. If it cost $200 to give him an hour of morphine... I'd probably walk away. OTOH, I'd pay that $200 for an hour of pain relief for my dog.

Re: If a bad person is feeling pain, should we sympathize with them?

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 5:42 am
by BridgeConsoleMasher
I don't think you should be compelled to sympathize with anybody really. Not by some universal law.

Re: If a bad person is feeling pain, should we sympathize with them?

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 7:52 am
by Yukaphile
People sympathizing with certain people is really scary to me.

Re: If a bad person is feeling pain, should we sympathize with them?

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 8:10 am
by BridgeConsoleMasher
What you mean like, wanting to marry Charles Manson?

Re: If a bad person is feeling pain, should we sympathize with them?

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 11:39 am
by clearspira
Even Hitler had a mother. Should she be forced to watch as others laugh?

Re: If a bad person is feeling pain, should we sympathize with them?

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 11:54 am
by Yukaphile
That's guilt by association, clearspira.

Re: If a bad person is feeling pain, should we sympathize with them?

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 3:18 pm
by pilight
Is such a criminal really a bad person or just a person who does bad things?

Re: If a bad person is feeling pain, should we sympathize with them?

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 4:52 pm
by BridgeConsoleMasher
pilight wrote: Mon Jun 17, 2019 3:18 pm Is such a criminal really a bad person or just a person who does bad things?
edit: wait nevermind. I don't really discern a difference between the two.

I'm inclined to think Yuka's referring to the former.

Re: If a bad person is feeling pain, should we sympathize with them?

Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 5:02 pm
by Yukaphile
I do believe in absolute evils in the world, yes. The unarmed slaughter of a helpless or innocent person, and sexual abuse. Nuff said. And to define murder, imo, it's if it will save no other lives, or in self-defense. There is no gain, that could balance out the bad.