NationStates Jolt Archive

Hypothetical:

You are tasked with bringing to justice either a notorious serial killer or a highly effective assassin. The assassin is responsible for eliminating several prominent public figures, while the serial killer has targeted more than a few homeless people. You have intelligence that would lead to either; however, committing the necessary resources to apprehend either criminal would preclude the other (Homeland Security has drained much of your capabilities ;) ).

Who do you move against?

I feel this should be realistic:

Did the assassin target people I liked?

I'd put this novel back on the shelf and look for a better one.

That depends on which killer is killing more frequently.

I feel this should be realistic:

Did the assassin target people I liked?

Someone you liked was one of his targets.

Someone you liked was one of his targets.

Sounds like I'll go after the assassin then. He is targetting the rich, after all.

I feel this should be realistic:

Did the assassin target people I liked?
At first, that looks like an important question. If the assassin killed people whom you think are harming society, then you'd rather stop him instead of the serial killer.

But, that's really only relevant if you're preventing future killings by these guys. And the question doesn't presuppose that. As such, the question is, which law am I more concerned about enforcing, and there I clearly have to go with pursuing the assassin over the serial killer, regardless of whether I liked the public figures.

i'd kill the serial killer.

It depends who the assassin is killing. There are a number of public figures whose murders I'd do nothing about.

For what it's worth, I've got reasons for both. Judging from the context of the question, the serial killer has killed more than the assassin.

A. The serial killer. A rampant, unchecked threat to, currently, homeless: however, this may be just the beginning. Besides, serving personal motives, either to rid the streets of those unfortunate enough to be living without enough money or just to satisfy a desire, is a threat to society, cold-blooded murder is unacceptable, especially when those whom he has killed have are not necessarily deserving of their fate.

B. The assassin. A hired hand is perhaps more dangerous, perhaps less, than a freelancing murderer. By nature of his being, the assassin will kill without regard to political interest, so long as the contract is sufficient. The "common" people can be considered relatively safe, as his targets consist entirely of high-profile public faces. Yet, someone who makes himself available to disgruntled customers means that no one in the public spectacle can be considered safe; and if this trend continues, people may begin to be even less willing to maintain or establish a familiarity with the people.

First of all I'd want to know why they have picked a middle-aged sound engineer with a bad back to do this dirty work? What am I meant to do? Feedback them to death?

Hypothetical:

You are tasked with bringing to justice either a notorious serial killer or a highly effective assassin. The assassin is responsible for eliminating several prominent public figures, while the serial killer has targeted more than a few homeless people. You have intelligence that would lead to either; however, committing the necessary resources to apprehend either criminal would preclude the other (Homeland Security has drained much of your capabilities ;) ).

Who do you move against?
Assassin. I don't need the bad publicity that comes from public figures being killed on my watch.

Assassin- If I liked the people he was killing then I would have all the more reason to stop him. If I didn't like the people he was killing (for political reasons, not like if they were pop culture icons or something, and unless they were truly horrible) I would feel guilty for using that as a reason to not stop him, and feel somewhat responsible for their deaths. If I felt ambivalent about the people he was killing then I would still choose him just because these people are probably much more important than homeless people because they contribute more to society. I know that is callous as hell but this question kinda forces that.

In the case where they are like pop culture icons, people I don't care for, but don't have to feel guilty and wondering if some small part of me actually wants them to die, then I may do the serial killer depending on the publicity of the two different ones.

First, go after the serial killer. Track him down, and put him, using whatever means necessary, in the kind of public position the assassin usually targets. Wait for the assassin to strike, then nail him.
Two birds with one stone :)

Faling that, go after the serial killer; the homeless can't really be said to be causing any harm, wheras prominent public figures probably are. Maybe you can give the assassin public funding, or something.

Someone you liked was one of his targets.

Would you rather be the top scientist in your field or get mad cow disease (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1543698031428453097&q=will+farrell+snl+harry&hl=en)?

The assassin. As much as we like to joke about killing our leaders, to actually do so would cause great instability that would be more damaging to everyone than killing the hobos. Solely from a utilitarian point of view it does more good to stop the assassin as the assassination of important figures is a destabilizing force that can negatively impact economics, politics, and cause more fear in the average person. Few people care about a hobo's death, they die all of the time from one thing or another, but many people will care if a number of noted officials start dying.

The assassin. As much as we like to joke about killing our leaders, to actually do so would cause great instability that would be more damaging to everyone than killing the hobos. Solely from a utilitarian point of view it does more good to stop the assassin as the assassination of important figures is a destabilizing force that can negatively impact economics, politics, and cause more fear in the average person. Few people care about a hobo's death, they die all of the time from one thing or another, but many people will care if a number of noted officials start dying.

What if your country was North Korea?

Hypothetical:

You are tasked with bringing to justice either a notorious serial killer or a highly effective assassin. The assassin is responsible for eliminating several prominent public figures, while the serial killer has targeted more than a few homeless people. You have intelligence that would lead to either; however, committing the necessary resources to apprehend either criminal would preclude the other (Homeland Security has drained much of your capabilities ;) ).

Who do you move against?
assassin. why?

the assassin is paid to do his work, thus once the jobs are done, he/she dissappears. so getting the assassin is priority. (will explain when I go over the serial killer.)

also, the assassin is PAID.. thus someone else is behind the killings and that is who would I really want. Get the Assassin and you get a chance for the one who hired the assassin.

now the serial killer won't go away. He's not being paid so this is more like a hobby. Serial Killers, even those that go away, will always return. so when he/she does, I will nab him/her and put that person away for a loooong time. I'll just do that after I nab the Assassin. or if the killer moves, then I share that info with the cops in the area he's now striking in.

Serial Killer. If these figures are that important, they can hire bodyguards. A homeless person can't.

assassin. why?

the assassin is paid to do his work, thus once the jobs are done, he/she dissappears. so getting the assassin is priority. (will explain when I go over the serial killer.)

also, the assassin is PAID.. thus someone else is behind the killings and that is who would I really want. Get the Assassin and you get a chance for the one who hired the assassin.

now the serial killer won't go away. He's not being paid so this is more like a hobby. Serial Killers, even those that go away, will always return. so when he/she does, I will nab him/her and put that person away for a loooong time. I'll just do that after I nab the Assassin. or if the killer moves, then I share that info with the cops in the area he's now striking in.

What if the assassin is not paid? An assassin is simply one who assassinates. The person could just be someone with a vendetta.

What if the assassin is not paid? An assassin is simply one who assassinates. The person could just be someone with a vendetta.

an assassin, not being paid for his killings? Muhahahahaha!

Murder doesn't have a limitation, thus getting the assassin could nab me all of his previous employers as well.

The assassin. Put him on a long term contract. Implement 'loyalty' program (remote bomb in skull). Set him on the serial killer.

What if your country was North Korea?
Then I obviously wouldn't be posting now would I? An assumption here is that the nation in question actually has money to have people who can afford an assassin. In North Korea though, there would not be the same question as all resources are already going towards protecting the people at the top anyway.

Then I obviously wouldn't be posting now would I? An assumption here is that the nation in question actually has money to have people who can afford an assassin. In North Korea though, there would not be the same question as all resources are already going towards protecting the people at the top anyway.

Main Entry: as·sas·sin
Pronunciation: &-'sa-s&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin assassinus, from Arabic hashshAshIn, plural of hashshAsh worthless person, literally, hashish user, from hashIsh hashish
1 capitalized : a member of a Shia Muslim sect who at the time of the Crusades was sent out on a suicidal mission to murder prominent enemies
2 : a person who commits murder; especially : one who murders a politically important person either for hire or from fanatical motives

It could be a fanatical type assassin. They might not have employers. Or their employers might be foreign governments.

Main Entry: as·sas·sin
Pronunciation: &-'sa-s&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin assassinus, from Arabic hashshAshIn, plural of hashshAsh worthless person, literally, hashish user, from hashIsh hashish
1 capitalized : a member of a Shia Muslim sect who at the time of the Crusades was sent out on a suicidal mission to murder prominent enemies
2 : a person who commits murder; especially : one who murders a politically important person either for hire or from fanatical motives

It could be a fanatical type assassin. They might not have employers. Or their employers might be foreign governments.

but the assassin has been killing several people with a purpose. that tends to point to being Hired.

The assassin. As much as we like to joke about killing our leaders, to actually do so would cause great instability that would be more damaging to everyone than killing the hobos. Solely from a utilitarian point of view it does more good to stop the assassin as the assassination of important figures is a destabilizing force that can negatively impact economics, politics, and cause more fear in the average person. Few people care about a hobo's death, they die all of the time from one thing or another, but many people will care if a number of noted officials start dying.

And if the public figures are merely famous, eg Britney Spears, Tom Cruise, et al?

Or if they are famous, but conduct charitable work, like Bono?

Or...a mix, some celebrity eye candy and some political figures?

Serial Killer. If these figures are that important, they can hire bodyguards. A homeless person can't.

Perhaps, but would an upstart politician, whose ideas are gaining popular support but rub the wrong men (or women) the wrong way, at say, a state level afford such protection?

but the assassin has been killing several people with a purpose. that tends to point to being Hired.

Not really, points equally to him not liking people. If I was totally crazy but a good shot, several politicians probably would not last the week. After all, killing several politicians in a row would suggest that there was but one employer, but if said employer had all the skills an assassin would need and was a little nuts, he/she could be his/her own assassin.

I'd go after the serial killer, as the assassin has been most likely been hired by someone and taking him out wouldn't stop the killings, it'd just mean that whoever hired him would have to hire someone else. If I had a choice between the psycho serial killer and the guy/organization who is hiring assassins that'd be harder. If mr assassin man was just a fanatical killer with bigger targets than he'd qualify as the higher priority, cause like someone said taking down our infrastructure and government is really just not cool

Not really, points equally to him not liking people. If I was totally crazy but a good shot, several politicians probably would not last the week. After all, killing several politicians in a row would suggest that there was but one employer, but if said employer had all the skills an assassin would need and was a little nuts, he/she could be his/her own assassin.either way, it still doesn't refute all my points. a Serial Killer will be back, he can be profiled, an Assassin is much harder and stands a better chance in getting away, paid or not.

if law enforcement can't or won't defend those who have no means of defending themselves, what moraly legitimate mandate does it have to exist?

i should think the answer should be obvious, if not neccessarily popular with whatever powers might otherwise happen to be.

=^^=
.../\...

The Serial Killer
We Have Enouph Fat Pompos Polititians in the World
:upyours: Up Urs PM Jhon Howard and Pres GW Bush Up urs:upyours:

The Serial Killer
We Have Enouph Fat Pompos Polititians in the World
:upyours: Up Urs PM Jhon Howard and Pres GW Bush Up urs:upyours:

Mature, the comedy, and may I also commend your spelling...

Or if they are famous, but conduct charitable work, like Bono?

If Bono was who the assassin was after, I'd go after the serial killer.

If it was anyone else, lol, I'd go after the assassin.

I hate U2