General Discussion

coalition_unwilling

(14,180 posts)

31. There was this wonderful surreal story a few years back about this

Thu Jul 26, 2012, 02:16 AM

Jul 2012

armed robber\home invader who, while in the process of committing a crime or trying to outrun the cops, bumped into a woman who actually talked to the criminal like he was a human being and made him pancakes and somehow talked him into giving up. The story was only out there for a day and then vanished into the media black hole. The story was surreal b/c it so violently contradicted the current narrative which is that criminals are not human, are beyond redemption and so on. Instead, the woman recognized the criminal's core humanity and by acknowledging it helped to resolve the incident non-violently.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Nichols

I challenge anyone who voted he or she had no sympathy for the perpetrator to read that story and not come face to face with the mystery of what it means to be human.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

52 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Do you usually feel sad for most perpetrators of heinous crimes? [View all] Douglas Carpenter Jul 2012 OP

Sometimes...depends. dkf Jul 2012 #1

I feel sad for the void that's left Nostradammit Jul 2012 #2

I like that expression -- "the void that was left." So much better than "potential," which is the Brickbat Jul 2012 #11

I initially was thinking "potential" Nostradammit Jul 2012 #19

Yeah, I like that phrase, too. hamsterjill Jul 2012 #39

They could turn their anger inward Quantess Jul 2012 #3

another kick for more results Douglas Carpenter Jul 2012 #4

another kick for results Douglas Carpenter Jul 2012 #5

Absolutely not n/t MicaelS Jul 2012 #6

I get sad for whatever events led to it gollygee Jul 2012 #7

try again Douglas Carpenter Jul 2012 #8

Sometimes I do. Avalux Jul 2012 #9

I feel sad for the potential that was lost. I think your OP says it quite well -- no child wishes to Brickbat Jul 2012 #10

I don't believe in evil people, just flawed people doing evil deeds. Tommy_Carcetti Jul 2012 #12

More with the perpetrators family and close friends than with the actual perpetrator. Recovered Repug Jul 2012 #13

^^ This. gkhouston Jul 2012 #16

There's some hope for humanity yet, as this poll seems to be breaking 50-50 roughly. I voted coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #14

I was thinking the same thing. I expected only a few to feel any sympathy for the perpetrators. sabrina 1 Jul 2012 #22

There was this wonderful surreal story a few years back about this coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #31

I remember that story. There have also been a few other stories, although they rarely get sabrina 1 Jul 2012 #38

For the adult that chose to kill? Hell no. DevonRex Jul 2012 #15

Not all of us can be Ashley Smith, eh? coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #32

I could easily do what she did. DevonRex Jul 2012 #40

She made her assailant pancakes. Could you do that? Easily? She coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #42

Of course. Whatever it takes with a smile on my face. Nt DevonRex Jul 2012 #43

Trying not to beat a dead horse, but she actually engaged her coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #44

Of course I could. You think I have no empathy? WTF? DevonRex Jul 2012 #46

Here's how you began this sub-thread (post #15): coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #47

Yes, sometimes....but soccer1 Jul 2012 #17

another one Douglas Carpenter Jul 2012 #18

Bit of a push poll there, Douglas. Behind the Aegis Jul 2012 #20

"a lost little lamb who has gone astray,; bah, bah, bah" Douglas Carpenter Jul 2012 #33

No. Alduin Jul 2012 #21

My reasoning isn't the same as the polls cbrer Jul 2012 #23

Some of them more than others. Chan790 Jul 2012 #24

Once I heard Holmes sent his writings about killing to a shrink flamingdem Jul 2012 #25

No. mzmolly Jul 2012 #26

It depends. wickerwoman Jul 2012 #27

No, their decisions are their decisions. Incitatus Jul 2012 #28

While I think there are those who are monsters for no apparent explanation ... Kennah Jul 2012 #29

I can feel sorry for the family... Kalidurga Jul 2012 #30

Same here. I feel for the vicitms and the family of the shooter. n/t FSogol Jul 2012 #34

Same here. I feel sad and horrified for the perps family, HappyMe Jul 2012 #36

it really depends on the circumstances magical thyme Jul 2012 #35

another try for some resutls Douglas Carpenter Jul 2012 #37

one last time Douglas Carpenter Jul 2012 #41

I feel sadness that our society is such that it holds up a lot of illusions and lies about what life HiPointDem Jul 2012 #45

no discntnt_irny_srcsm Jul 2012 #48

I feel sad for their families and loved ones Tom Ripley Jul 2012 #49

In general, no. Iggo Jul 2012 #50

Kinfolk of Jesus... kentuck Jul 2012 #51

No. Never. zappaman Jul 2012 #52