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Culture War Roundup for the week of January 22, 2024

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What I mean about revenge are the people saying "hell yeah they should suffer, I'd be fine with it if they were tortured to death" and the likes. That has nothing to do with deterrence or even punishment. And it's people who have no relationship to the murder or the offender saying it. I understand a parent or spouse or close family member wanting to tear the offender limb from limb. Someone sitting in their chair miles away with no connection going "put it on TV and I'll pay to view" is not healthy for society in the long run, is what I'm saying.

That has nothing to do with deterrence or even punishment.

There are five (or six, depending on how you count them) purposes for punishment generally recognized. Deterrence (specific and general), rehabilitation, restitution, and retribution. Retribution actually covers the desire for punishment of the crime for both those near the victim and society at large.