I believe justice belongs in a courtroom, not on public display.

[Smith_3]

It fosters paranoia and hang-em-higher mentality in the public. I believe in punishing criminals according to laws, not in publicly humiliating people for the pleasure of the public. In this regard, I am less worried about the "feelings" of the criminal than about what this process does to society.

The Roman Empire collapsed, by the way, because the "bread-and-games" public was too busy hanging out in the circus and watching criminals being butchered, to pay any attention to their buerocrats...

[xchrom]

1. i'm with you -- it's horrifying. nt

[Demeter]

2. To What "Public Justice" Do You Refer?

[Smith_3]

3. Just as a small exercise: Think for a moment wether there is an equivalent to circus maximus...

...in american public life ;)

[Demeter]

4. If You Mean TV, I Don't Watch It, and Have No Clue

[Smith_3]

5. Then chances are, it doesn't apply to you.

;-) Yes, I mean TV, countless numbers of courtroom shows, crime and punishment shows with real cases, sexual offender databases that contain people who got caught publicly urinating and statutory rape cases between an 18 and a 17 year old, countless TV reports about how many "insurgents" our military has killed. You can even get a free lawyer if you agree to be on a TV show with your case. A great temptation for poor people. And great entertainment for the public...

[Demeter]

6. Thanks for the Explanation

[Smith_3]

7. I started this thread because i felt a number of posters on this board...

... seem to be supportive of self administered justice.