Thread: Would You Accept a Murderer?

Originally Posted by Vampyre

Random Hypothetical:

If a loved one (spouse/sibling/parent/child/etc) confessed to you that they'd murdered someone, or even multiple people, would you accept or reject them?


What kind of conditions would affect your response? Would it matter why or who they killed?

We'll presume that the murder isn't recent and therefore it's not a concern over being caught by the police. They just felt guilty about holding it from you so they decided to confess.

If you feel like your religion/culture is relevant, please include that.

Of course everything is relative, and every situation has its conditions.

It would matter to me why they killed that person, most importantly. Was it self-defense, or something more self-centered? Would I accept a murderer who killed someone in cold blood over something like jealousy, status, or unwarranted impulse? No. I couldn't say that I would, unless there was some sort of rationale for it. I expect competent adults to be aware of themselves enough to know when it is or when it isn't acceptable to take another person's life. If it's a crime of opportunity (rather than necessity), I couldn't see myself accepting that person, because any level of trust would go out the window.

what exactly is meant by "accept" here? to be clear..

Originally Posted by rottingteeth

what exactly is meant by "accept" here? to be clear..

I'm not sure what other term to use. It's basically comparing the reaction of abandonment/rejection/disownment to the lack of such a reaction. Like if you just carried on as normal, not really treating them significantly different. Another way to think of it is whether or not you would testify against them.

This question came to my mind a while ago, and after watching the first two seasons of Dexter it made me think of it again. So I decided to see what others think.


To expand on the original question, here are a few scenarios to consider:

Would you accept...
1. A person who killed a thief that stole from you?
2. A wife who killed her abusive husband?
3. A former soldier suffering severe PTSD who killed someone thinking it was an enemy?
4. A serial killer with an addiction to murder?
5. A starved prisoner who killed an innocent for food?
6. Someone who murdered a rapist? A child rapist?

Would it matter if they were a loved one or a stranger?
What if the person they killed was a loved one?

Originally Posted by Vampyre

I'm not sure what other term to use. It's basically comparing the reaction of abandonment/rejection/disownment to the lack of such a reaction. Like if you just carried on as normal, not really treating them significantly different. Another way to think of it is whether or not you would testify against them.

This question came to my mind a while ago, and after watching the first two seasons of Dexter it made me think of it again. So I decided to see what others think.


To expand on the original question, here are a few scenarios to consider:

Would you accept...
1. A person who killed a thief that stole from you? Yes
2. A wife who killed her abusive husband?Yes
3. A former soldier suffering severe PTSD who killed someone thinking it was an enemy?Yes
4. A serial killer with an addiction to murder?No
5. A starved prisoner who killed an innocent for food?No
6. Someone who murdered a rapist? A child rapist?Hell yes

Would it matter if they were a loved one or a stranger?Maybe
What if the person they killed was a loved one?Fry them

Originally Posted by Vampyre

I'm not sure what other term to use. It's basically comparing the reaction of abandonment/rejection/disownment to the lack of such a reaction. Like if you just carried on as normal, not really treating them significantly different. Another way to think of it is whether or not you would testify against them.

I would be indifferent in any case. If someone I cared about was murdered, I'd accept it and move on. and whether or not you testify against a murderer or whether or not you accept/forgive them is different.

I accept all murderers of every kind because I don't believe in free will. no one has a choice in what they do, ever. everything everyone does is determined by previous conditions. like a domino effect.

killers kill because of a genetic defect, psychological trauma, or a mix of both (nature/nurture). knowing that, I can't possibly see them as monsters. in fact, I believe they are no less of a victim than the people they kill. they are victims of circumstance.

having said all of that, I don't believe that murderers should go unpunished. of course it all depends on the details of each individual case, but for the most part people who kill should be locked up. and I don't care if it's a stranger, my best friend or my own mother, if I felt it was right, I'd testify against them.

regardless of the severity of the crime, they are already forgiven. if I couldn't do it, if not by me, then by god.

(ftr...I'm not religious.)