Hitting a man who has broken into your home with a cricket bat = fine.
Chasing a man who broke into your house down the street when he's trying to run away, along with up to three relatives and/or friends, and then hitting him with a cricket bat, and a metal pole, and fists and feet, and hospitalising him with severe enough brain injuries that he cannot stand trial - not fine.

Simples.
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Tue 15 Dec 2009, 11:16, 4 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

You are just not cut out for being a vigilante are you?

(Tugnut Ex of this parish, Tue 15 Dec 2009, 11:18, Reply)

It's easy enough, you just need to take the South Park approach.
No brutal revenge-motivated violence without shouting "He's coming right for us!" first for the benefit of any witnesses.
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Tue 15 Dec 2009, 11:19, Reply)

And get his favourite band to taunt him.

(Tugnut Ex of this parish, Tue 15 Dec 2009, 11:21, Reply)

I like this
(have got to watch that show some day)
(MichaelS wasn't picked again, Tue 15 Dec 2009, 13:02, Reply)

Calm down, you're getting hysterical.

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Tue 15 Dec 2009, 11:19, Reply)

*breathes deeply*
I'm ok.
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Tue 15 Dec 2009, 11:20, Reply)

Brain damage = no more robbing.
Simples!
( girlinthehole, Tue 15 Dec 2009, 11:19, Reply)

As the old adage goes
"Well he won't do that again will he?"

Unless you can get arrested for drooling with intent
(Halfy By light alone, Tue 15 Dec 2009, 11:21, Reply)

it's not that difficult a concept really
it seems fairly obvious where the line between "get out of my house" and "I'll fucking teach you to come into my house and tie me and my family up you fucking cunt, have some of this. what's the matter, can't take a bit of your own medicine?" is.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 15 Dec 2009, 11:21, Reply)