Because it's
"Inhumane".
*sighs*
So's committing terrible crimes, but people seem to forget that.
( Cawl, Mon 11 May 2009, 11:25, 2 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

It's "inhumane"
So we'll waste shit loads of money and space keeping these people somewhere in, from what I've heard, pretty nice conditions.
( Captain V, Mon 11 May 2009, 11:35, Reply)

see my reply below
also, I really doubt you would like to be in prison.
(Bazongaloid, Mon 11 May 2009, 11:36, Reply)

Now that's not true is it
lets examine this. People do bad things. Some people do really bad things. Is the best way out of this situation to do really bad things to the people you think might have done bad things?

But that makes you as bad as those people, so then what gives you the authority to dole out punishment? Surely then other people are justified in doing equally bad things to you?

And of course the biggest reason of all, what if you either got it wrong, or worse, the people who are in charge of doing the bad things are corrupt. Then were are you? You're doling out punishments to the undeserving that cannot be retracted.

Locking people up isn't perfect, but it stops them doing bad things again, and leaves the possibility that, if you get it wrong, there is the opportunity to redress the balance.
(Bazongaloid, Mon 11 May 2009, 11:35, Reply)

For the record,
I wasn't being serious.

I think prison is a far better solution than the death penalty.
Mostly because there's no going back on a death sentence. If it's a case of mis-trial or whatever, and you've killed the "guilty" party, that's fucking awful.

I think sometimes rehabilitation of criminals is the answer, but in some cases people can be kinda "broken", and there's no way to fix 'em.
( Cawl, Mon 11 May 2009, 11:46, Reply)

I think Al hit the nail on the head with
"Doling out punishments that cannot be retracted".

How many times has our legal system been proved to be occasionally fallible? It's bad enough for someone who's conviction has been overturned to have to adjust to normal life again without factoring in any trauma or long term health issue from compulsory medical testing.

This isn't China.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Mon 11 May 2009, 11:50, Reply)

I agree with you entirely
I was just messing around as I happened to consider that society could get more out of these people (in moral ways) than we currently do and thought about inmates with tumors, missing eyes and three arms.
( Captain V, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:08, Reply)

Well I'd rather not live in prison, you're right
But based on what little knowledge I have (ie from the major media outlets, the internet etc) the conditions seem nicer than those endured by people living in poverty besides the restrictions on freedom of movement.

I'm not a supporter of capital punishment but the only one of your arguments I really agree with is the issue of getting it wrong. You can release somebody if you realise you were wrong but you can't bring them back to life.

(Can't be arsed to get into the morality of the other stuff right now, too much typing involved - corner me in the pub sometime)

Penal labour is an idea I'd like to explore if I ever have the time.
( Captain V, Mon 11 May 2009, 11:53, Reply)

You spelled it wrong.
It's "penile".
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Mon 11 May 2009, 11:55, Reply)

Penile labour?
So... Giving birth to a massive cock?
( Cawl, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:00, Reply)

Ask your Mum
She'll tell you exactly what it's like.
( Captain V, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:04, Reply)

God fuckin' dammit.
You win this one, V...
( Cawl, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:06, Reply)

You missed couple of easy comebacks too
1) The size of your cock
2) You have a brother
3) She gave birth to a male chicken?!
( Captain V, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:09, Reply)

It's a Monday...
*yawns*
( Cawl, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:12, Reply)

Nah,
V's considering breaking into the prison porn industry. I think you've told him he has a purty mouth so often that he's started to like it.
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Mon 11 May 2009, 12:05, Reply)