An Rgument Over Public Executions- Who Is Right?

[Zazzy]

I was arguing with my mother about executions in the US the other day. We are both VERY anti-death penalty.

She said that if we're going to spend tax payer dollars to execute people, we should televise it so the people paying for it and voting for it would know exactly what happens there. She feels that this would wake people up to what a horrible thing it is for the state to kill people, and that it would effect change.

I disagreed vehemently. I think if we were to televise such things, it would rapidly become entertainment- a la the Hunger Games- and coarsen people instead of shaking them up emotionally.

She said I am underestimating people. I said she was overestimating them. We then drank wine and shifted topic to how gorgeous Paul Newman was in his prime, always a safe topic.

Who is right (about executions, that is- everybody knows that Paul Newman was gorgeous)?

[Polaris]

Having seen Democrats in America get their rocks off watching Sadaam's execution, I really don't have any faith in them changing their views on execution with something like that.....it's a form of entertainment and has been that way for countless centuries.

[Raven]

Zazzy, you have far too much faith in your fellow humans. In the 20th century, lynchings were all too common, and the whole bloody town would come out to see it, and have a fucking picnic. Even brought the kids. That's who we share this planet with. And yeah, lots of people watched that nasty vid of Sadam getting hung, of all political stripes. I keep hoping we get past that savage stage, but we aren't there yet.

[Owlix]

Don't forget about the coliseum. Emperors made man fight man, and man fight other animals.

[Mxwll]

You want to get the average person to turn against the death penalty, making them watch will only work if it is not turned into infotainment, and will only work for some. Mostly it will be "Murica, fuck yeah!". I say make people do it. If a person feels another person deserve to die, then make then do it. Someone has to. That will change most people's minds. Any that are eager, put under observation. I am against the death penalty. I am a vegetarian and feel the same way to a lesser degree about meet. You want to eat a cow look it in the eye and put a bullet in it's brain.

[Minimalist]

She said I am underestimating people.

It is not possible to underestimate people that much. But you'd quickly find that lethal injection was too passive for the ratings. The networks would push for the electric chair.....or stonings.

[Zazzy]

Zazzy, you have far too much faith in your fellow humans. In the 20th century, lynchings were all too common, and the whole bloody town would come out to see it, and have a fucking picnic. Even brought the kids. That's who we share this planet with. And yeah, lots of people watched that nasty vid of Sadam getting hung, of all political stripes. I keep hoping we get past that savage stage, but we aren't there yet.

I'm the one who said this would become entertainment!

It's my mother who's naive as hell. Glad you agree.

[Psykhronic]

Raven - put down the bong and re-read

Zazz - History has shown you to be correct. Naivety on your mother's part, but what she wants people to gather from viewing executions is understandable - albeit, unrealistic.

[Doubting Thomas]

Yes, I don't think that public televising of lethal injections would do much. Something hideous like an electric chair execution might wake the public up, but unfortunately most Americans would probably make the executions into a big entertainment spectacle. And the condemned prisoners would probably get turned into celebrities, only if temporary and posthumous.

[Optimistic Mysanthrope]

Exactly, televising executions would desensitize people to it.