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This is the Journal of Pattern-chaser
<< Musings on certainty
Nothing is certain, therefore nothing is impossible. >>


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Subject: Law-breaker!
Posted Feb 20, 2004 by Pattern-chaser
Post: 1

What happens to someone if they 'break the law'? Why? ... What is the *purpose* of what they do to you if you break the law? The "penalty", it's called. What is it supposed to achieve?

These aren't difficult questions. Even the answers aren't *too* demanding. The problem we normally have is that we don't bother asking the questions. We all assume we know the answers, and that everyone else agrees with us.

Then we get involved in a discussion about crime, criminals and/or prison, and we can't understand why people don't seem to understand what it's all about. doh

There are a number of possible purposes for the penalties imposed upon law-breakers:

1. Revenge. An eye for an eye, and all that.
2. Deterrence. Discouraging potential future criminals by example.
3. Reparation. Trying to make amends for the offense.
4. Reorientation. Train or condition offenders not to offend again.
5. Protection of potential future victims.

You will almost certainly agree with one or more of the above. Just remember that not everryone shares your view. For example, *I* think the single, most important, purpose of penalties for breaking the law is 5: the protection of potential victims who have yet to be harmed:

We can't un-murder the poor bloke he got yesterday, but we can protect the woman he plans to kill tomorrow, by (for example) locking him up.

Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"


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Subject: Law-breaker!
Posted Apr 20, 2004 by logicus tracticus philosophicus
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Post: 2

6. Because it suits a purpose, or a means to a ends.

by that i mean often a change in the law ,will mean loss of Rights or the chance of procecution, for (x or y) for doing what they there children excetera....


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Subject: Law-breaker!
Posted Apr 20, 2004 by Pattern-chaser
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Post: 3

<6. Because it suits a purpose, or a means to a ends.>

This surely applies to all penalties for breaking laws? I.e. reparation, revenge, and so forth, as I prefixed my original list. They all have a purpose. It was to discuss these various purposes that I originally posted. ok

<by that i mean often a change in the law ,will mean loss of Rights or the chance of procecution, for (x or y) for doing what they there children excetera....>

I (truly) mean no offence when I say this, but what you've written is not English - although it comprises English words, in the main - and it doesn't actually make any sense. This is my best guess at what you might have meant to write:

"By that I mean that a change in the law will often mean loss of Rights, or the chance of prosecution, for (x or y) for doing whatever it is they have done to their children, etc."

Am I close? I hope you don't mind me saying this? Spelling and grammar are good ways to start a fight - *not* my intention ok - and minor lapses are ignored by most readers. But some of your posts just don't say what you intended them to, and I would like to address better the points you make. ok

Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"


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Subject: Law-breaker!
Posted Apr 20, 2004 by logicus tracticus philosophicus
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Post: 4

I Would agree my grammer is atroucous,
"By that I mean that a change in the law will often mean loss of Rights, or the chance of prosecution, for (x or y) for doing whatever it is they have done to their children, etc."

Meant custom and practise, I pick up wood from beside a country path as my parents parents-parents,backwards custom

children children's children forwards practise/right

Law changes ,now for doing something I now am breaking law.Often will either have to pay repatriation or negociate for rights.
erm grammer-grammar !winkeye
no offence taken or intended.
This is my best guess at what you might have meant to write:

At least it made you stop and think, sometime i do tend to notice ,word wrongly spelt but will leave as sumbliminal prompt.

By the way "pears"shaped refering on so many levils as in going wrong
peers :betters , pears group of companys being freeholder of home, all crosslinking visual reminders should i refer back.ok


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