State of Nature: A Thought Experiment

[Adagio]

I have thought of this many times myself and just noticed that they had done this in the Chronicles of Riddick when I saw the movie a few weeks ago

I'd say there's a high chance that a lot of gangs would be created, fighting to be the rulers of "the underworld". You would quickly realize that being alone in a world with lots of murders will make your chances of surviving low
In a world like this there would be rapes, murder and suicide every day
A quick guess would be that at least the weakest 10% would commit suicide within short time of arriving

If this experiment would be used in real world it should only be used for the worst criminals (murders, rapists, etc)! I'm tired of reading in the news that some guy, who was in jail for raping some 10 year for several years then killing the kid, is released from jail after a few years, then end up doing the same thing again, so I'm all for trying this experiment on those people

[Zkribbler]

I have been repeated astonished on how willing members on this site are to torture their fellow human beings and look for any excuse to either justify it or at minimum fantasize about it.

Penal reform should be about:
(1) Punishment that fits the crime, and
(2) Rehabilitation of criminals so that, when they return to society, they can support themselves and their families and contribute to the general welfare of society.

Throwing prisoners into a pit not only deprives those prisoners of their own humanity, but also abandons our own.

[Elok]

I assume you are not addressing me. If you are, I think you're misreading me pretty badly.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I think he was responding to Adagio, actually.

Regardless, I think Adagio's beliefs as to what would happen probably is correct.

[Adagio]

I have been repeated astonished on how willing members on this site are to torture their fellow human beings and look for any excuse to either justify it or at minimum fantasize about it.

I don't call the worst criminals "humans" anyway, so it's ok

I just want to protect the "normal" humans in this world, is that wrong?

(1) Punishment that fits the crime

Agree... which is why I hate the punishment system in Denmark. Kill a few people in cold blood? Oh, just a few years in prison, then you're out again ready for some more killing

If they don't want to be thrown into this pit, they shouldn't run around killing people

(2) Rehabilitation of criminals so that, when they return to society, they can support themselves and their families and contribute to the general welfare of society.

As I said, this should only be for the worst criminals, which also means that it seems like it would probably be impossible for them to return "normal" to society
I'm all for rehabilitation (or at least trying to rehabilitate the criminals), but I have no respect at all for people who go to jail for doing something very bad (like raping someone), then as soon as they come out they rape another one. In cases like this I'm all for throwing them into "The underworld" without any hesitation

In most cases the criminal should be given a second chance, to prove that they have learned from their mistake... if they haven't then throw them down there



I would of course prefer not to have to use methods like this, but some criminals are only on this planet to hurt other people and for those people we only have these choices:
1) Let them run around freely, so they can kill/rape more people (then send them a few years in prison every time they do something bad)... result: Lots of people will be raped/killed... lots of expenses for catching him again
2) Send them to prison for life... result: Lots of expenses for guards, prison, food, etc... risk of him escaping so he can kill/rape more people
3) Kill them... result: Instant death, but they usually spend many years in prison before they get executed, which also has lots of expenses...risk of him escaping so he can kill/rape more people
4) Throw them into the pit... result: expenses for food

But as I have said: This should only be used in the rarest of the rarest cases, not for all criminals as the opening post mentioned