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this post was submitted on 08 Apr 2026
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Somebody immediately blocked me yesterday, despite me never speaking to them or having seen them before, because I said we needed to start using violence against people who do this shit. It's the only way to stop it, because clearly holding them accountable doesn't work in the US. If it did, we wouldn't have a pedophile for a president.
How do we know holding them accountable doesn't work? We've never actually tried it.
Yes, that's the problem, thank you for stating the obvious, you truly are an intellectual.
Anyway, sounds like the real problem is that our laws aren't being enforced. So maybe we should deal with that instead of normalizing vigilante justice.
How many people need to get away with rape before you feel it's justified to do something about it?
Zero. But what I want to do about it is replace the people in charge who are currently not holding rapists accountable.
Coincidentally that might solve some other problems here too, like how we spend $1 trillion a year on the War Department but "can't afford" universal healthcare.
Violence is a circle. You do it to someone, they do it to you. The only way to stop that cycle is to kill your target. Now murder's on the table for anyone who thinks a type of person is unacceptable, which is only sensible until it really, really isn't. Operating under the assumption that violence is a reliable deterrent will ultimately get you killed, man. Unless you plan on being the only guy with the nuclear option at your disposal. Good luck with that one.
Peace should be the standard, even when it's hard. Don't get me wrong, there are people I won't shed a tear for when they get hurt. But I would consider the best case scenario to be "a problematic person course corrected before they hurt anyone" and the next best to be "a problematic person learned from their mistakes". That's what accountability looks like imo, and we don't always meet that mark. That's a shame, but not big enough that violence is the only answer we have. We can and should be better than that.
This is moral relativist bullshit.
Back your words up.
Only one thing ever stopped fascists.
You talk of peace but leave out justice because violence is how laws are enforced. Wake me up when you start preaching that private property is violence because until then this is just hypocrisy.
I actually don't think violence should coincide with justice. It just does because violence is enforcement, and we don't have a better way laid out for peaceful coexistence (at least, not in the US at present). Violence exists, and one of the most reliable methods of regulating violence has unfortunately been to meet it where it is, with greater violence. Beyond that, we have a tendency to go to great lengths to justify violence against one another, so much so that it's an art in and of itself. I'm well aware how idealistic I'm being in wanting peace as a baseline, but nothing worth doing is without challenge.
Private property is a can of worms I can't touch right now. But I have ancestors that were considered private property, and existence itself is being claimed by the highest bidders with little that can be done to resist it. You won't find me arguing that private property isn't at the very least directly supported by violence. I'm not quite sure why I'd have to preach about it to substantiate my desire for peace though? I'm engaged in a system I didn't choose, and I find my rebellions where I can. It's hard to exist in these times without a bit of personal dissonance.
Honestly it helps me understand what kind of peace you are talking about. Property is a very personal thing for people because of the lack of peace. But consider me awake and listening. Any book or media recommendations?
so the only thing we disagree on is whether or not we've reach the last resort?
I don't think we have yet. Not for this guy, at least. He called a kid hot, in front of colleagues who were amused by it, and the proof is undeniable. I'm sure enough local pressure could get him (and maybe his colleagues) fired, and a black mark on his character would be even better. People should let him know what they think of him everywhere he goes.
That said, the president and his ilk...tbh that's where I struggle to find the peaceful option. Can't find a better representation of institutional failure. Violence won't necessarily make things better, but I can't shake the feeling we've been backed into a corner.
Holding people accountable works if they are actually held accountable.
Right, which didn't happen. So it doesn't work. Flushing a toilet gets rid of poop, when it works. When it doesn't flush, it doesn't work.
I'm being pedantic, but the analogy would be more like what you initially said if no attempt to actually flush the toilet was made.
Isn't your suggestion just holding people accountable?
I meant through the legal system, but yeah. But apparently wanting to use violence makes me "exactly as horrible" as a pedophile. 🤷♂️
These are the same people who see rape and murder as the same levelof sin as being gay. I was raised around that type of bs.
"i dont hate you for being gay, its just your burden. Like johnny is pedo, and pam is a murderer, and frank is a thief. We're all sinners and its not our place to judge"
i wish i was kidding..
Idk why punching people in the US is treated exactly as bad as shooting people but its stupid to think a bloody lip is the same as like a bullet hole.
Idk, but somebody who does shit like he did definitely deserves a few guys taking them out back behind the building to give them a real good beating.
If saying that makes me "exactly as bad" as them then so be it, I'll be the bad guy and take one for the team. 💪
might have something to do with the fact that when you punch someone, they can shoot back. but yeah, i agree that this person should be handled by the community. i would think that the kid has a father and he has some friends...?
That is a symptom of the exact problem I'm asking about.
"Exactly as horrible" is unfair to you. But it sounds like you're advocating to give up on rule of law and just have the strongest most violent people be the ones to decide what's right. And I'd argue that you'd just get back to where we are right now: wealthy people would control the system, they'd employ strong violent people to enforce their personal whims as "law", and you'd be complaining that nobody is willing to beat up the pedophile (because his friends would hire goons to kill them).
I mean, presumably that's what's stopping you personally from implementing your own recommendation, right? Because if you showed up and kicked this guy's ass you'd be beaten and arrested by the police.
oh no, I'm a leftist. the plan is to murder the rich people. then they can't do anything to stop you. I'm a big fan of a firing squad, but one of the other AN admins suggested slow roasting over a fire. I'm also partial to putting them on wooden stakes like Vlad the Impaler, but we can figure it out as as we purge them, I suppose. maybe a little bit of everything?
Oh OK. Murdering rich people might effect social change. Though I'm skeptical because not a lot of people actually do it, which is an important component of that change.
I think you still end up coming around in a circle: in your fantasy of mob-justice, what prevents the wealthy from ending up being the ones who control it? (Like Vlad the Impaler!)
How did you know they blocked you?
Piefed, which I use, has actual blocking, unlike Lemmy. You cannot reply to someone that has blocked you on Piefed, the option is greyed out and you are given an error that says "you are blocked by this person" if you try. if that person is a mod, you also cannot post to any of their comms, if I remember correctly.
also, they said they were going to block me.
Ah, I see! That's a nice feature.
that's a shitty feature and i wouldn't participate anywhere where they have that. you are free to ignore whomever you want, but this is "i have a last word" button and that is retarded.
you can't have the power to say whatever bullshit you want publicly and then prevent people from calling you out.
You make a good point, upon thinking about it more!
i mean it really can go both ways. you definitely can have some troll that is bothering you in a way where having such block power could be useful, but it can also be abused in a way i described. assholes will weaponize anything i guess.
But if you don't see their comments, who cares if they're shouting into the void?
just because i don't see their comments doesn't mean they are shouting into the void. most of the time when you have discussion ~~with~~ alongside someone who is really crazy, it is not for them. you are not going to convince some antivaxer/election liar/other type of mental, it is not to convince them, it is just not to let their bullshit go unopposed, because there are few people out there who see the topic being discussed for the first time, and if no one contradicts that bullshit, it might seem that the bullshit is generally acceptable take.
it is tiresome, but if no one opens their mouth, they won.
and that is why i prefer "ignore" over "i have last word" button. if you want to opt out, that is fine, but you shouldn't have the option to censor other people.
Whatever you say, Batman. Are you the one who's going to deliver the punch?
Plenty of other countries have more vigilante justice and still have corrupt leaders, so clearly that doesn't work either. Maybe instead work to make your government better. In a democracy, it represents the will of the people.
I hit my step-father over the head as a child with a cast iron pan for trying to force himself on my mother while drunk, so yeah, I'll fucking beat him up for you, if you're too much of a feckless hand-wringer to do anything to defend your community from predators. wouldn't want you to break your nails or muss up your hair gel.
the United States is not a democracy, and the will of the people is ignored. so basically, you're advice is to sit back and do nothing, same as always.
There are a lot of problems with the US that more cast iron pans would fix. Good on you.
Unlike you, I do things that work instead of just putting myself in jail. I was lucky to grow up in a household with education and without violence, so that's why I'm more likely to make correct decisions.
News to me.
is to call for his resignation, raising embarrassment until he does. I'm active in local politics, so I know what works. It's the people who aren't active in politics who think action movies have all the answers. Rand Paul is still in office. Tony Gonzales will not be.
Because you don’t have the will to throw a punch, you’re just going to project insincerity onto those who do? Weak shit.