17 year old girls murder friend to find out what it is like

[Aeson]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
name calling? Wow, you have a thin skin if a negative characterization of your position counts as "name calling." Commie.

"Name calling" is simply when a label is applied without adequate reasoning given in support. It may or may not have an effect on the target. I simply addresssed the act. You're the one who seems to have some sort of emotional association to the term. That you automatically link it to being hurt shows the state of your own psyche, not my own.

As for the thickness of my skin, unless you happen to be a lovely young lady who carries herself with class and dignity, your ability to affect my emotional state is roughly the same as the chances that you're a lovely young lady who carries herself with class and dignity.

I certainly don't support screening people for ungoodthink.

OMG! Such a backbone you have to stand up to dystopian totalitarianism! You really are a revolutionary...

"Ungoodthink" simply doesn't apply. This is a discussion about psychiatric disorders, not thought police. (Unless you happen to think modern psychiatry is a massive brainwashing conspiracy... would that mean you're a Scientologist?)

[Last Conformist]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker

I certainly don't support screening people for ungoodthink.

You're aware this already happens?

[Last Conformist]

I'm not entirely clear why this murder is so especially repugnant, anyway. How is "I wanted his cellphone" a better reason to kill someone than "I wanted to know what it feels like to kill someone"?

[Jon Miller]

Because the aquisition of material goods has been a reason for murder throughout earth's history. Not saying a good reason, but has provided a reason.

The "I want to feel what it is like to murder someone" hasn't, I think.

Not saying that one is more evil than the other. I am saying that one is more strange than the other.

Jon Miller

[Ned]

Last Conformist: At least it is a reason.

Deliberate killing for the sake of enjoying the killing is normally reserved to a great leader such as Timur the Lame or Saddam Hussein.

[Last Conformist]

Originally posted by Jon Miller

The "I want to feel what it is like to murder someone" hasn't, I think.

I'm fairly certain I've heard it before in conjunction with some troubled teens killing an acquaintance.

[Jon Miller]

Pre our current culture? The concern is that this is a 'new' thing that is an out growth of the alienation that occurs in our western culture.

Jon Miller

[Ned]

Alienation?

What does that mean to you?

[Last Conformist]

During my lifetime, so presumably during our present culture. ld:


As aside, even in its American variant, modern western culture has a depressant effect on overall murder rates compared to primitive cultures.

[Jon Miller]

Not saying new thing compared to this culture (like last 20 years), I mean new thing as in last 100 years.

I know that modern culture has less murders than many others. Still, when we try to understand reasons/etc, it is concerning if it seems like we have a new sickness.

Ned, people aren't as close to other people as they use to be. This is somewhat caused by people moving a lot more, communities are weakened, and by lowered family ties. Now don't get me wrong, I hated my home town, and I am partially at fault for my lack of closeness with my family and extended family. But these things are common in our culture. A lot of people pick up freinds in college/highschool, and than make far less throughout the rest of their lives. Somewhat this is because they are focused on work, which, while a place many form relationships at, isn't ideal due to limited size/wanting to be seperate/etc from work.

I know a lot of people who were very social in college and have made few freinds since. Many of them do like one of my cousins, and start activities that they aren't that interested in in order to make freinds (like softball in her case).

I think that it is somewhat the fault of capitalism, where the old bonds have been replaced by money...

Jon Miller

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Last Conformist
I'm not entirely clear why this murder is so especially repugnant, anyway. How is "I wanted his cellphone" a better reason to kill someone than "I wanted to know what it feels like to kill someone"?

We can empathize with the former.

[Last Conformist]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker


We can empathize with the former.

I don't think more understandable equals better.

[Ned]

If you guys don't like my references to Timur who piled severed heads high for pleasure or Saddam who enjoyed torturing people to death, think of the Roman Empire for a moment where killing for sport and fun was the norm.

[Ned]

Jon, I don't think alienation has anything to do with it. It has to do with a lack of respect for human life.

[Jon Miller]

Find out what it is like is different than sadism. Although it could be sadism.

Sadism is a known sickness.

Jon Miller