posted on Dec, 9 2010 @ 07:24 PM
The problem with vigilante justice is that you become your own moral authority and judge me on what I believe. Well, (let's just pretend that) I
don't like how you think. I don't agree with your perception of justice and even reality. I don't think the people you see as bullies are really
bullies. I certainly do not agree with your politics and I don't agree with where you wish the country (or world) to go. I want it to go another way
entirely and I will work hard to ensure that happens.
Right now our system is such that even though we may disagree about pretty much everything we can still be neighbors, be cordial to and not kill each
other. That's a set of expectations we both rely upon, like agreeing we will stay on the proper side of the center line when driving. It saves a lot
of grief and we can actually get somewhere without hurting each other. If you decide to take matters into your own hands, either because you decide
you want to drive on the opposite side, or because of some perceived social justice issue, we no longer have that social contract between us.
So here you are wondering if 'it's time to take a stand!' and I'm wondering, 'What exactly is he talking about?' Is your stand against what I
stand for? Are you suggesting violence? It's one thing to actually put yourself out to save someone from drowning, but I have the feeling that's not
actually what you are suggesting. You have just become a threat to me because I can no longer trust you to behave as expected. Here's a real world
true story for you to think about.
My neighbor is a very nice guy. We get along. He was helping me out once and came upon my large cache of food. Now if the SHTF I can imagine a
scenario where we would try to cooperate to survive. But he didn't say that. Instead he told me, in a joking manner, that of the SHTF he would know
where to come and TAKE my food. I probably should not have blundered and let him see that, but the damage was done. So a few days later he and his
wife stopped by and I told them about my new firearms, my AK and my AR. I also told him my wife had been trained in sharpshooting skills by her
father, a Colonel in the Army. (This is all true.) The wife, in particular, was visibly shaken by this news. In my opinion, that family will be
inclined to be much more cordial in asking me to share should that become necessary.
So, you see, that's kind of my problem with vigilantism. If you threaten me, I have no choice but to be prepared. And I'm betting I will be more
prepared than you are. Now, of course this is not a real scenario between us so nobody needs to get worried or feel threatened, but it illustrates a
basic problem with the idea. I would surely rather we kept the existing social contract between us because it's a lot safer for both of us.