h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Was the Arch of Cant on? I was blissfully unaware of TFTD this morning.

Hehe, good night then?

Yes, drawing parallels between the absence of good hearts - commenting that stem cell research may lead to the growth of replacement heart tissue/muscle from your own stem cells in the future, and comparing this to the to positive qualities of the benign heart in terms of personal qualities (in the spiritual sense).

It was well placed for a short homily for Good Friday, I thought, and pitched to be thoughtful rather than preachy.



So ... no Shoulder, eh? Does that bode well for RL?

As good as usual but the morning was enhanced because the alarm was not set for 7:50.

I can imagine RW being relatively soothing in that slot.

As for RL, yes it is good that sometimes it gets between me and the Shoulder.

Whatever it is, I sense something has happened ... good

Nothing too out of the ordinary, but that is also good.

Glad to hear that, thought I'd cornered the market on out of the ordinary ... speaking of which, your post prior to this one here was, shall we say, in that ballpark (clever clogs!)

Which thread?

That discussion has moved on a little since, I see, and been expanded.

There's another scenario which has not been mentioned (yet), in that if such a crime were to be committed, impulsively or at least without premeditation, surely the lack of conspiracy or even forethought would be more likely to lead to the perpetrator being caught? In which case, a custodial sentence would almost certainly follow, if one assumes that the case would go to trial / sentencing.

Were you then to incarcerate the criminal, what in this day and age might befall (say) a relatively young offender who is institutionalised in this way? Speaking hypothetically, of course.

Ah you meant the death penalty thread.

There is an argument for saying that there should be different degrees of murder in law.

In terms of impulsive crimes by young people, I fear the effects of their incarceration depends on the conditions under which they are kept. A lot of work needs to be done on rehabilitation.

Interestingly, impulse crimes and crimes of passion could provide evidence for whether or not the death penalty is a deterrent. The problem with just going off changes in the total murder figures after the death penalty is abolished or introduced is separation of variables. However, if the death penalty does deter more than life imprisonment, one would expect the proportion of murders deemed to be crimes of passion to increase after the death penalty is abolished. As I understand it, in Britain this did not happen after capital punishment was abolished. This implies that there is no significant deterrent effect.

Aren't the different degrees of murder to some extent managed by the sentencing tariffs for manslaughter and murder in British law? For the purposes of this hypothetical case, let us assume that such a case would be tried under British law.

Your point about young offenders is well made. However even in Britain there have been cases recently where juveniles have been inadequately protected whilst in detention. I am not aware what the position is regarding young adults - for instance, those in their early 20s - as I assume that they are similarly at risk. In some instances, a case may not not even come to trial, let alone have some kind of rehabilitation ordered by the judicial process. If the original crime was serious enough to warrant inclusion in a a discussion about capital punishment, then the loss of anyone on remand, let alone sentenced (of whatever age), constitutes a double tragedy.

Crimes of passion, I would allow, are a instance where British law may be due for review; other than what I have read from time to time, I have little to add.

In most other cases, I would have thought the possible sentence is not a consideration. A moral code operates whereby even the thought of committing such a crime is a deterrent in itself; put glibly, and with a dangerous generalisation, those who respect the code in some form or another are not likely to commit such a crime because they try to abide by and within the code.

Like you, I would view a full life term (as opposed to a 'life sentence') as not preferable to a death sentence; but I say this in principal only and on the assumption that the sentence is just.

Somewhere within all this lies the crime of taking a life; how it is prosecuted in law will depend on the evidence relating to intent and method and, if guilt is admitted or proven beyond reasonable doubt, sentencing will be in keeping with whatever guidelines are currently in force.

I've not much to add to that other than there is an argument that even though tariffs give some measure of control over the actual term served for a mandatory life sentence(albeit formulaic in nature), a conviction for murder is harder to obtain in some cases because of the jury being reluctant to convict for a crime that might be more appropriately deemed second degree murder than manslaughter.

Anyway, the meerkats are getting restless, what would they rather we talked about?

I think that, for the time being, the meerkats want a bit of privacy to pick their noses or whatever they do when the cameras aren't focused on them ... come and have a drink, we can annoy them again later

Are we allowed to drink on Good Friday?

Of course, I didn't say it was alcoholic ... hmm, that's very telling. What will you have, tea and hot cross buns? Skips are being served but I'm carefully non-specific about their contents (not for the Good Friday reason particularly, but for others who for their own reasons don't want to be plied with booze).

Tea and hot cross buns sounds lovely. So that means no booze then? (sob...)

Come and help with the snorkies before my personality splits permanently ... don't sob, it's unseemly ... here, catch this box of tissues (yes, tissues!)

Sigh. Ok. [unseemly blowing nose on tissue noise]

Don't tell anybody I blubbed eh?

S'orlright, we can pretend that I created that pile of soggy tissues ... you finished depth charging 'em individually now?

That must have been a bit awful, a little er, um medicine for you: \__/

Quiet you.

Don't you talk to me like that ... and don't look at me in that tone of voice either