3 ms·
> Sometimes I wonder why things like vigilanteism and other bad behaviors were so prevalent in the past, For vigilanteism it seems simple to me: it was the ori
by MaulingMonkey 3y ago
> Sometimes I wonder why things like vigilanteism and other bad behaviors were so prevalent in the past,
For vigilanteism it seems simple to me: it was the original counterforce against anti-social sociopathic and predatory behavior such as murder - predating law enforcement, predating law, predating humanity. Even animals arguably engage in "vigilanteism" when retaliating against another pack's attack, or when pack leaders are overly cruel and tyranical. The deterence of "don't hurt us - or we'll hurt you".
We rightfully look down on vigilanteism now as it tends to short circuit things like the due process of an assumed-to-be effective, functional, and ethical legal system... but those are some pretty big assumptions, and I have several bridges to sell you if you think they're always true, or if you think everyone agrees on which legal systems rise to that level. Vigilanteism is merely the default form of "justice" that we sometimes rise above, given the right circumstances.
Circumstances which are often lacking online.