Can Punishment Be Moot?
Deep Kimchi
24-06-2006, 20:08
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GERIATRIC_LOVE_TRIANGLE?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US
79 year old woman kills her boyfriend.
Ok, the penalty for murder is sometimes death, but most often life imprisonment.
Think about it. You're already 79 years old. What are they going to do to you? Kill you? Put you in prison for a couple of years?
If you get old enough, would any conventional punishment really deter you?
Dinaverg
24-06-2006, 20:11
...hmmm...
Well, the kids never call anyways, prison can't really be that bad...
Free Farmers
24-06-2006, 20:13
Yes it can. Almost any time you give someone a situation where, "You have a week to live, what will you do?", the person will do something against the law, knowing there would be no real consequences.
If you get old enough, would any conventional punishment really deter you?
Of course. Old people are closer to death and therefore most likely more afraid of it. Their health is poorer, as is their stamina, and prison is not nice to people just cuz they've got arthritus.
Of course. Old people are closer to death and therefore most likely more afraid of it. Their health is poorer, as is their stamina, and prison is not nice to people just cuz they've got arthritus.
I remember reading a story where an old man robbed a bank, and wanted to get sent to jail because his health insurance ran out and while in jail he could then get treatment for his condition.
(it was years ago.)
Haradwaich
24-06-2006, 20:24
Both sides of this argument are interesting, but it's pointless arguing, because it really all depends on the old person themselves. If they think it's worth it or not.