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There are no "good" people versus "bad" people. There is only behavior (how they act). Actions can be termed good or bad, according to society's norms and your personal understanding of ethical and moral behavior.
Many behaviors that are very bad for society are actually encouraged by government, as seen in the explosion of single motherhood (triple what it was 50 years ago), under a welfare system that makes it more lucrative (and with much more leisure time) than work. And many behaviors that are good for society are penalized by government, as seen in a very regressive income tax structure that ONLY hits the Working Class, leaving the truly wealthy to accumulate wealth unencumbered.
And the Legal System adds another twist: many behaviors, though considered "bad" by virtually everyone, are not illegal. Try to get your money back from a scam artist pretending to be a legitimate businessman, for instance. Or wonder why the entire world economy was decimated by certain sociopaths in the Financials Sector in 2008, while not a single CHARGE was brought (let alone a prosecution waged).
And on the flip side, the law designates many behaviors as "criminal," when the behavior itself is not inherently bad (but it conflicts with the State's need for ever-increasing control and self-perpetuation). Like "the King's deer" in Robin Hood times, in America you can't shoot a deer for food, without paying for your license (government permission), and adhering to laws that restrict virtually every possible variable imaginable (certain dates, time of day, explicit geographic boundaries that may not even be knowable, male vs female, size, etc.). In some locations, you are a criminal if you happen to shoot a deer whose antlers don't meet the minimum spread--even though there is no way to measure the antler spread until the deer is shot.
Similarly, look at the "War on Drugs," which has put countless individuals in jail, and destroyed African American families. Why is consuming drugs (as every human society in history, and pre-history did) a crime? The act itself results in nothing more than a relief of pain, or slightly different mood; if it resulted in actual crimes committed, those would be prosecuted. Why prosecute something (and spend TRILLIONS of taxpayer dollars doing so) that isn't harmful? Why is consuming any drug that isn't produced by Big Pharma illegal, except for the heavily taxed alcohol and tobacco industries? Similarly, why is taking ANY medications illegal, unless you have gone through all the expensive and time-consuming bureaucratic loopholes required to get government permission? Exactly what public good is served by making chronic pain patients physically return every 28 days for yet another doctor's appointment, so they can hand-carry a written prescription--other than maximizing cost?
person 1
steals 100$ or more of food from a big chain grocery store on a weekly basis
not married and has no gf, but regularly pays for prostitutes
volunteers every week at a homeless shelter, with old people, and at a women's shelter
works as a social work and cares deeply/ is fantastic at her job
beloved by family and her community
person 2
risk his life to save people who are being attacked or victims of the elements
great father and husband
volunteer fire fighter
military vet with the most honorable decorations ever
decided and carried out being a vigilante for 5 years beating up who he deemed were criminals irregardless of if he saw a crime take place. *never killed anyone doing the vigilante gig, but sent many people to the hospital.
person 3
someone who basically spent their live in service of others (think mother teressa), but at one point later down the line murder 2 people on different occasions in cold blood.
person 4
the person is average in every way possible but regularly pirates songs, movies, tv shows, video games, etc off the internet for their sole use at home. they pirate the stuff even in the instance were they'd have the money to buy it.
reminds me of the constant thread in the History Forum.......: Who was worse, Hitler or Stalin "
1. The one that steals justifies it by thinking corporate America steals plenty from the common man while that is deemed legal. There are many that feel like victims due to the corporate culture. And if you think prices wouldn't rise and there wouldn't be price gouging if no one ever stole a thing, I've got some land for you. Not all strike back most just complain to themselves and shake their head wondering how much more they will be squeezed and how they will be able to feed their family. But this person is also doing for throw away people that many look down on and would never help under any circumstances. So this person has a great deal of compassion for those in pain and the outcasts of society. This person maybe the one to stop and help you when you are in desperate need. Would you still be labeling the person the same way? Cast stones, but what selfless acts are you doing for those that need it in your own community?
2. Vigilante justice is common in countries where punishments are not appropriate for the crime or where the system is corrupt and the guilty party might get off completely. The rage people feel at seeing repetitive offenders serve love pat sentences, probation terms rather than jail and so forth bring out the animal in some that see us losing the war and perhaps too at some point this guys own family member was a victim of a brutal crime. How would you feel if it were your daughter killed by a drunken young rich girl and she got no jail time, just 10 years probation? You might feel like pounding on every person standing near a car with a bottle in their hands. It's easy to say this guy is bad, but if your family and friends are not safe walking in their neighborhood, a long time resident may be frustrated with the police only being around after the fact and feel this is the only way to scare off the punks and take the neighborhood back. This man not knowing whether the target did the crime is what troubles me. If he is a known gang member, well I have little pity for the punk. But to attack someone without knowing for certain they are the one that did the crime, in some ways makes him no better than the criminal. He has crossed the line by doing that.
3. This saint like person murders two people. I'd have to know the circumstances before condemning her. How can people condemn without knowing more facts? I wouldn't want you on my jury.
4. This average person that "pirates" stuff using it only for home use and not selling it to make money. That could be the average person on CD. They are doing like millions do, downloading a show they see posted or an album someone has posted. What about those corporate giants selling seasons of old shows for huge amounts. Aren't they bad people for being so greedy? Yeah it's legal to charge whatever you want, still if they wouldn't price gouge you would see more people buying from them. People view the prices as unreasonable. As that is their game what can they expect the result back to be? How many of you have never downloaded any old films, TV shows, or music from Youtube or other sites? I would bet an overwhelming majority have done so if not all that have replied. So if you condemn someone else for doing it what does that make you?
And those that instantly say they are all bad people seeing it all in black and white, think of your own less than perfect record of being a human being. Add up the good selfless things you have done for people (not family and close friends) without expecting a thing in return. How much have you done (hands on I'm talking about now) for those less fortunate, be it kids, pets, the elderly? Think of all the dumb stuff you have done, your own questionable behavior and even your own dark thoughts. I'm betting you have some as no one is perfect. But judging from at least some of the replies, you'd think CD was full of perfect folks. "A truly good person", isn't one that sits on their hands and watches rather than acts, runs their video rather than do something, goes to church but forget all about it the other 6 days, do nothings that talk a lot without contributing anything positive themselves, that's the norm but they think they are all truly good people. They didn't steal anything (perhaps they weren't hungry enough to have to do so - yet), or ever take the law into their own hands despite the circumstances, yes such truly good folks they think they are. They are in truth part of the problem.
person 1
steals 100$ or more of food from a big chain grocery store on a weekly basis
not married and has no gf, but regularly pays for prostitutes < this is more about ethics IMO, I don't have a problem with prostitution.
volunteers every week at a homeless shelter, with old people, and at a women's shelter
works as a social work and cares deeply/ is fantastic at her job
beloved by family and her community
person 2
risk his life to save people who are being attacked or victims of the elements
great father and husband
volunteer fire fighter
military vet with the most honorable decorations ever
decided and carried out being a vigilante for 5 years beating up who he deemed were criminals irregardless of if he saw a crime take place. *never killed anyone doing the vigilante gig, but sent many people to the hospital. Intentionally caused harm to others without provocation
person 3
someone who basically spent their live in service of others (think mother teressa), but at one point later down the line murder 2 people on different occasions in cold blood. Same as # 2
person 4
the person is average in every way possible but regularly pirates songs, movies, tv shows, video games, etc off the internet for their sole use at home. they pirate the stuff even in the instance were they'd have the money to buy it. Although it is illegal this person is taking someone else's bread & butter. Ethically wrong.
It depends on what you define as a "bad" person and all 4 fit the description IMO.
How about this one:
Buys 100$ or more of food from a big chain grocery store on a weekly basis to give to those in need.
Is married
volunteers every week at a homeless shelter, with old people, and at a women's shelter
works as a social work and cares deeply/ is fantastic at her job
beloved by her community
Beats the crap out of her kids on a regular basis
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