A good reason not to murder is 'cause you'll go to prison.
(This would be the pessimistic side of humanity. I.E. The only reason not to murder is prison-time.)

On the flipside, a good reason not to murder is because... (I'd like to see an optimistic answer here)

I couldn't come up with anything, nor could my friend.
So, I ask: Other then prison, what is a reason to not murder another human being?

Because you respect the rights of others and see life as a valuable thing? Of course, I actually err on the pessimistic side, and would be a serial killer if prison time was not a possibility.

Without religion, I would see no reason why not to murder.

There's always the M.A.D. (Mutually Assured Destruction) idea where we don't nuke each other because the other side could nuke us back in effect killing all of us. Not murdering each other follows a similar principle, and could be seen as a reason not to kill others.

Ooo, rights of others, I like that... Sorta... Well not really, that's still not really what I'm looking for.
Seeing life as a valuable thing... Well that's kinda what I woulda said: "Life should be cherished!"... Why? I refuse to believe that 6.4~Billion people don't murder because "Life is valuable." I personally don't think life is that valuable. Especially since there really isn't a meaning to it.

Because I wouldn't wait anyone to murder me.

Also, it's is mean to their family and friends.

Ok, religion could keep some people from doing so, because of Heaven being this great place to sit back and chill for the rest of ...forever.


You murder the moron that cut you off and almost got your entire family killed in traffic, their spouse hunts you down, and kills you.
Still more of a... Well not good for humanity answer, if the only thing keeping us from murder is fear of being murdered in retaliation.

Assuming wait = want... Self-preservation. Ok reason. Still not really optimistic.
It's mean... I'd have to say that's... Hmm... Wouldn't want to hurt other peoples, because of the victim's stupidity (assuming stupidity). I kinda like that...

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Jan 13 2009, 11:49 pm by SFSKabam.

i tend to live my life by a principal; the golden rule basically; dont do anything to anyone else that you wouldnt want done back to you. so like imagine if you were cloned 100000 times and you and your clones all lived together in a city and if you go and murder, then the rest of you will be out murduring also, and it'd be complete chaos.

so i definatly would like to keep living the way i am, so if i go out and murdur then i think its okay to do it to me

and another reason i wouldnt go murdur is because we didnt get this far in our evolutionary cycle by fighting each other and nuking each other. the cavemen helped each other out so that everyone could live and it turns out that we became the most intellegant species on the planet.

Not going to jail? Feeling better morally? Rings no bells?

Given the chance to be immune to all legal repercussions, I would do it, and enjoy every moment.

You are very much so not the only person who would do so.

Are you asking us questions so you can decide if its a smart enough idea to go murder someone?

I'd love to 'murder' (more like cleanse the tainted) people but I have a belief that we souled humans are not aggressive like our biological comrades who run on instinct instead of a 'conscious' (just another word for soul, if you ask me)

This thread is kind of retarded if you ask me...

QFT

I do not murder because of empathy (and legal reasons, of course). I admit, at times I wish I could completely turn it off, but I always ask myself "How would I feel if that were me?" In the 5th grade, my scrawny self almost came to blows with the class's football star because I was determined to stop him from squishing a spider on the playground. I remember pleading, "What if that were you?" He said, repeatedly, "But it's not!" I still managed to talk him out of it. He probably didn't want to get in trouble for having to beat me up in order to get to the spider. Don't overestimate human nature.

Indeed, I'm sure that empathy gives most of us pause before taking any action that we know might be harmful to another. But then, the question arises, does this other person's (or thing's) survival and comfort outweigh my own or of those I care about? I've had many cases where another's comfort was not as important as my own (or others that I was in a position to protect), but so far there has never been a case where I deemed it necessary for someone to die. I'm sure if it did come to that, I would again consider the legal consequences. Like I said, don't overestimate human nature.

Do your own homework.

I've personally never murdererd anyone and I don't PLAN on murdering anyone as i'm a very socially accepted person. Society, the bringing together of humans and the order we've created is what makes us more then just primative animals. Those who defy the social order or considered in my opinion... more primative... However in the act of survival I would murder someone, however that's not primative. You have to look at murder as more then one way. Could you kill someone if you needed to? Versus... Would you kill someone if you wanted to?

I have no urges to kill someone... I've developed past that point. However if someone of lesser development is attacking me and my life is at risk, of course I will drive a knife through his heart.

Also.. if you're looking for an optimistic reason as to why you don't kill someone, as some sort of way to talk to your friends and say 'You know what's funny... there's no real reason we don't kill people other then the law, deep down we're all serial killers' you have to remember you ARE talking about murder... it's not an optimistic topic... What were you expecting... 'I don't murder cause santa clause won't bring me presents on christmas...'

No I did not make this thread to make up my mind.
I made this thread as a sort of survey, just to see what people could come up with. Not surprisingly, nothing good came up until Doodan wrote his reply.
Oh, and by the way, noone asked you. Go away if you have nothing to add.


This is by far the first response giving a good reason. Thinking about someone else for a change. How would it effect their families if they were to just die... I know if my Mom, Dad, Dog, Cousins, were to just die because they made the mistake of pissing off some psycho, I'd be devastated...(Well if it was my Mom, Dad or Doggeh). Lul.


I'm not talking about just walking up to some random person and saying "Hi." then stabbing him in the face, I'm talking about someone that has pissed you off so much, you'd want them dead. If that HAS happened to you, what woulda kept you from doing it, other then fear of imprisonment.

I personally don't have a happy outlook towards humans, they do way too many stupid things. Yet I thought I'd be able to come up with a reason (other then prison) to not kill some asshole that nearly kills me and my family, because she doesn't want to wait 10 minutes to talk/text somewhere, say, not going 60MPH through a red light. (that's just an example)
Marijuana is illegal, but texting in a car isn't? Cmon now, America... Way off topic. LoLwut

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Jan 14 2009, 1:12 am by SFSKabam.

That would just increase my desire to kill the person. I would harm others on an emotional level without being anywhere near them. It's like a chain reaction. Ugh, damn laws, if it weren't for law enforcement and physics I'd be unstoppable.

""How would I feel if that were me?"/"What if that were you?" He said, repeatedly, "But it's not!""
NerdyTerdy: "rights of others"
Toothfairy: "i tend to live my life by a principal; the golden rule basically"
Doodan basically elaborated on the Golden Rule, with a personal anecdote on the side.
Myself: ~"Inconvenience and/or trauma it would afflict on relations?"
[approximation of one of my responses to SFSKabam on AIM prior to this thread]

I already added something thank you

And Doodan just rocks like that, he's 1337.