brighid

I really don’t think I could actually do it, not even for millions or billions of dollars. I would know and that knowledge would eat at my psyche forever and eventually it would drive me insane. I don’t like hurting other people if it can be avoided and I too would be thinking about the family and I would probably think what if that were my child (everyone is someone’s child) and some person murdered him and then I found out it was for no reason other then money? How can any moral person randomly kill a stranger for no other reason then personal financial gain?

Brighid

fando

I would be tempted to do it for free just for the thrill of the kill, but probably wouldn't do it no matter the price. In my opinion, once the fear of consequences is removed, the only real thing holding a person back from commiting the crime is personal squeamishness. Ask your self if you would take the opportunity to cave in a cattle's head if it were destined for the slaughterhouse. How about hunting and killing a Deer? Now substitute an animal for a Human and ask yourself what the real difference is given that you will not be caught and punished.

So what keeps us from killing? Not very much in my opinion. Humans are capable of <a href="http://www.crimelibrary.com/thecriminalmind.htm" target="_blank">commiting crimes of grevious proportions</a> while still remaining functionally Human. I wouldn't call certain serial killers insane, maybe they believe they're invulnerable or simply don't grasp the consequences of their actions. Do you trust yourself enough to say for certain that your morality will hold you back? I'm honest enough to admit the temptation. But I'm also very squeamish, so I probably wouldn't do it.

[ July 26, 2002: Message edited by: fando ]</p>

brighid

Fando,

And that is the type of person that truly scares me, someone who is able to separate the real consequences, feel no remorse and do anything for their own personal gain and satisfaction regardless of how it harms others. What is the proper medical term for someone like that – psycho or sociopath? These type of people are a danger to society and I sure as the hell don’t want someone like that as my neighbor, coworker, child care provider or just the sick pervert who murders people for the thrill of it.

Brighid

fando

Sorry, I edited my post to flesh out my thoughts. First reading scared me.

southernhybrid

Sometimes you people scare me. I wouldn't kill anyone for money. I have too much empathy and compassion. Loving my life like I do, it would be impossible for me to end the life of an innocent, for money. It would be too much of an emotional burden to know that I had destroyed in another that which I embrace for myself. Sometimes money is not worth the price one must pay for it.

I doubt that one who would kill an innocent for money would use that money to benefit humanity. There are many ways, using one's time alone, that an individual can benefit humanity.

So, Tron, Thanks for perpetuating the sterotype of the amoral, sinister atheist.

ManM

I do not know the future, and I could be the one to be killed the very next day. Given my lack of knowledge, I would not be able to justify acting in a utilitarian manner and killing a person for money, even if I intended for that money to save others.

-RRH-

Personally, I feel a difference between human life and animal life. I would easily hammer a cow, etc. I think cockfighting should be legalized. But I wouldn't feel right killing a person for money.

Maybe it's just empathy for fellow humans that I don't feel for animals.

MzNeko

Well now, how do we define innocent?

If it was some stranger that I knew nothing about, I probably wouldn't do it for any amount of money.

However, if it was that kitten-grilling freak in Missouri or any of his little friends, I'd be willing to do him in for a cool million or two. Hell, I'd probably do it for free as long as not being caught or punished was still part of the deal.

Those guys might not be innocents in the strictest sense of the word, but none of them have done anything to me personally, so would that apply?

Just a thought.

[ July 26, 2002: Message edited by: MzNeko ]</p>

brighid

Fando,

I do not hold that it is immoral to kill an animal for the purpose of food, population control, disease eradication or when an animal becomes a danger to society. I do have a problem with any cruel and unnecessary measures taken in that process, such as bashing it’s head in when a less brutal method could be used. I also have a problem with those who hunt for sport and kill just to kill and do not use the animal for food, clothing, shelter or medicine. Animals are not moral agents, but I do value them as they are important members of the global community and necessary to the health of our ecosystems. I would also no randomly kill any animal for any amount of money just to kill it, or for my own personal, financial gain.

Brighid

southernhybrid

I used the term innocent because the original proposition was to kill someone randomly. I'm assuming the person is innocent because I would not know otherwise. The old innocent until proven guilty theory.

A few other points to consider:

Would you consider giving your own life, if it meant that many others might be saved, many others who you do not know? If not, why believe that it's okay to kill an annonymous person for the same end?

Would you still accept the morality of the proposition ( end justifies means, using all or part of the money to benefit humanity ) if the randomly killed person turned out to be the person who means the most to you? Why not, you are willing to kill someone else who might be a young mother or beloved husband of someone.

Where would the morality be if the randomly chosen person was on the brink of making some dramatic scientific discovery that would wipe out some disease or help alleviate world hunger? If you kill someone randomly, you have no idea what potential that individual may have for the benefit of humanity. The blood money you might use for charity, would only have a small temporary effect compared to the contributions of a significant scientific discovery.

Basically, you're saying that you would be willing to kill an innocent person for money. Perhaps many would do that. I don't see how you can justify this from a moral perspective.