I found an interesting discussion at the Poe's Deadly Daughters blog. Sandra Parshall asked the question, What would make you kill? This is an interesting question and one I think about quite a bit. That should worry some of you. Actually I think about it because I'm writing a mystery novel and you have to kill people off in mysteries (well, not always but most of the time it makes for a better story).
I'm sure we can all come up with the obvious - I'd kill to protect my children. But what else? To protect your spouse, friends, other family members, a stranger? Could you only do it if you were angry or protecting yourself or someone you loved? Do you think you could plan a murder and carry it out?
The other thing I've often wondered about - don't ask me why - is how many people would protect someone they loved who had committed a murder. I don't mean just not turning them in, but actively working to hide a body and/or evidence and lying to keep it from anyone else. Would you do it? How far would you go - would you just lie to the police, would you help move the body? Manufacture evidence?
So tell us what you think! I'll bravely start. Certainly I'd kill without a qualm to protect my child. There are a number of people I would probably kill to protect instinctively if I had the means and someone was going to kill them. Plan a murder - definitely. Actually carry it out - No.
As far as protecting someone who had committed murder. Yes, I would. There are a number of people I would be willing to do that for. I don't know what that says about me but I've thought about this over the years (I really don't know why - I just think about strange things) & would be willing to do it. Would I be willing to go to prison to protect them? For at least three people, yes I would. Others run a close second but I still have a few doubts. You'll notice I'm not naming names. If you're going to kill someone and expect my help in the cover-up you might want to check first to see which list you are on.
There you have it - my deep dark secret. Let's hear from the rest of you now!
Robin, the lonely blog mistress
8 comments:
I think it's interesting that you say "...I would kill to protect instinctively...." To me, that takes it out of the realm of what you can and cannot control. I think in cases like that, you can't really say for whom you would take such an action. Perhaps you see a woman being attacked by someone and you run over to intervene instinctively with the baseball bat you just happen to be carrying. That was probably not somebody on your list. So, the question then becomes, are you somebody that thinks they would act instinctively, or are you somebody that would carefully weigh the options at each juncture.
For myself, I know I have a tendency to react instinctively at times like that (no I've never killed anyone), but I also know that I have considerable control over what I do and do not do. Now, back to the hypothetical. Presumably the situation is such that the only way to save one of these people (lover, friend, family member, stranger) is to react with deadly force against the person's assailant. Can we also assume that we are gifted with certain knowledge that the situation is what it appears to be, and that we are indeed "defending" the right person? If so, I would not hesitate to use deadly force, regardless of the person. Certainly I would have for less hesitation for someone close to me than for a stranger, but I know for certain that there wouldn't be much in the way of hesitation if it were a stranger.
Now, on to the much more complicated question of would I protect a loved one who had themselves committed murder. A key question here is what it justified? Were they rushing to the defense of somebody? Or were they just pissed off and did something stupid? If the former, I would have no problem doing everything within my power to defend them from unjust prosecution or persecution, even to the point of taking their place. I would not, however, lie for them.
Now let's move on to "I got pissed off and hit him and his head hit the sidewalk and he died." Nope. No lying to protect. No hiding the body. Everybody gets made, but once you cross the line and commit unprovoked violence on another person, then you've entered that segment of society that protection from is one of the key foundations for the organization of government. It's easy to say it's a one time thing, a moment of passion, etc. It that all may be true. It's also true, however, that they could do it again. And it's true that because they let their anger over take them, a person died unjustly.
So in that case, my answer is, "Sorry, I can't help you, but I'll visit you every day in prison."
I'm afraid that unless it were a family member I would probably hesitate. Fortunately I don't know and hope that I never have to find out! I wonder if part of it is a gender thing (I'm trying to make myself sound better). While certainly not true in many cases, men tend to be more confident they can defend themselves or someone else physically. I'm willing to risk great physical harm for a family member but not so sure for a stranger. But back to the instinct thing - if I saw someone hurting a child I don't know that logic would win over instinct. In that situation I'd probably respond without weighing options.
Who decides what is justified (well I guess you if you were going to go to prison for it)? Say you throw a stapler that accidentally kills someone - crime of passion or justified? Anyway, I'm pretty sure you aren't the person I'm going to call if I wind up with a dead body!
Ok I have to eat lunch but I'm still thinking. What about for Aaron? Wouldn't you lie to protect him? Even if he had killed someone in anger? Maybe I'm just a bad person, I don't know. I mean the post is somewhat in fun but I've seriously thought about this and I would definitely lie, cheat, steal, etc. or whatever it took to protect at least three people and I'd go pretty far to protect others. Maybe it wouldn't really be protecting them and in the end they'd go on and kill someone else but I'd still do it. I should point out that I'd help you so you should be thankful for that! Although if you're going to kill Kiko I do like her so I'll probably only go so far to help you - you may have to go to prison yourself. Ok, I've got to go I think the cops are at my door.
OK, well here is my two cents (for what it's worth).
Would I kill to save my children or any child for that matter, YES! Would I attempt to save anyone given that opportunity, again YES! Would I probably be killed in the process, once again YES!
Could I plan and carry out a murder????
My first response was yes I could plan a murder (without actually carrying it out) for a short period of time. As I really thought about this though I realized that I really couldn't. The thought of doing so even under the worst situations is incomprehensible to me. To actually sit down and plan to take someones life .... I could never do that.
Would I protect someone who had committed a murder???? I naturally think of my children and would I do that for them. The simplest answer is NO! I don't think I would be helping them in anyway by doing that. As Stephen pointed out I would visit them every day in jail.
Now is it possible under certain conditions that I might help hide a murder? I don't believe so, but I leave that open as one can never be sure. Possibly if I thought it was a "necessary evil" to be done and my child did it, possibly I would go to jail for them if I were certain this was not a character defect in them.
Wow. I'm starting to feel like a warped person. I was positive you'd say you'd kill to protect your kids, so I was right about that. But I kind of thought you'd say you'd protect them if they killed someone.
When I said I could plan a murder I was thinking of doing it for a mystery novel. To put an actual living person's face into the mix might be a little different.
Protecting afterwards though - you've both made good points but I'd still do it. As I said in the post, I've thought about this before. I truly don't know why, maybe it is just reading mysteries for so long that made me think about it. Anyway I would absolutely do it. I wouldn't be particularly happy, but I'd do it.
Thus far what I've learned from these comments is that sibling loyalty doesn't go far! I'm definitely not calling either one of you for disposal help. Hopefully someone will respond & say sure they'd help hide the body - I'll put them on speed dial. I'm kidding actually. I subscribe to the belief that two people can keep a secret if one of them is dead. I wouldn't tell anyone.
Lest you all think I'm about to go out & commit murder, I'd like to point out that I actually think killing someone is really not the best idea.
One of the other things I've thought about over the years - I've actually thought of some weird stuff that I came to conclusions around - I don't know why & I'm pretty sure none of them is ever going to happen but I'm ready just in case - anyway you know how they have these scenarios like there is an earthquake or nuclear war or something & you're barricaded in your house & have to shoot the intruders who want to steal your last loaf of bread and then kill you. I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't kill someone to protect myself. Now you might think I'd do this instinctively but without an appropriate weapon there is no way I could kill someone. Although I've read ways to do it, even if I wanted to I doubt I'd be able. I would never have a gun in my house, am adamantly opposed to guns, knives, bombs, etc. and am truly a very nice person!
It is interesting the things I've thought through so I'd be prepared. They didn't happen - it is the stuff I didn't think about that happens. I think there is a lesson or at least another blog post in that.
About murder as revenge - If you really want someone to suffer you should let them live. About murder and killing in general - I don't think you can truly apprehend your capacity to commit violence until you've worked in retail.
In response to JET - notice how she lets me live - I can only assume so I'll suffer!
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