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Post 0

Tuesday, September 13 - 11:54pmSanction this postReply
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If one makes an honest error, one that is completely devoid of benevolence and, with all the information available at the time, is that person still responsible for the error made?

Example: some friends and I were discussing the complicity of Germans to the Nazis. I said that if you voted for Hitler or failed to speak out against his evil knowing full well what he intended to do (i.e. if you had read of or heard Mein Kampf), you are complicit and guilty for what his government did. My logic, sanctioning something with your vote is as good as doing it yourself.

However, they approached me with a hypothetical: suppose that you investigated as well as you could, in a small town with limited resources (as in, Mein Kampf, radio, etc. are not available), and therefore came up with nothing to oppose the offensive candidate on, and therefore voted for him? You are guilty of an honest mistake, obviously, but are you complicit in the actions of said government and its aftermath?

I feel that the punishment of honest errors, regardless of intent, is to still treat is as an error, and hold those who make mistakes responsible so they do not do it again. What does everyone else think?

P.S. There are some serious issues attached...please respond thoughtfully.



Post 1

Wednesday, September 14 - 6:01amSanction this postReply
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Steven,

Do you mean punishment from men or punishment from reality?

Reality does not bestow any mercy for certain mistakes and punishes both the evil and the stupid alike with death and/or destruction.

Men can show mercy for honest errors of judgment that result in an evil situation.

Which one are you talking about?

(I finally have some time the next few days and will see you at the other thread.)

Michael




Post 2

Saturday, September 17 - 11:43amSanction this postReply
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Steven, an honest mistake can be interpreted as such  only in the context of one's life and convictions.
A mistake, is a mistake, only if the end doesn't justify the means.
Our senses are the only tools of information which can help  man  not to err  reasoning.
when we err among men, there is a judge who gives the final sentence. The justness of a court is to find out
 who is right or wrong, but it should be also to fix as much as possible the damage caused by the parts.
With nature is a different story. Nature wants you to pay now in cash.
You pay for your mistakes on every wrong move.

A person who makes  an honest mistake should not  be punished. If one can realize that he made a mistake, the damage caused by the  mistake is his punishment.
I had a friend, his name was Antonio, his mother accidentally pulled  the shot gun out of his hands while he was cleaning it loaded. A shot was fired killing him instantly. Do you put her in jail for her mistake?
I had a brother, his name was Ciro, I was named after him, he drowned  in a lake, my mother thought  that he was not strong enough to open the gate and go out and  play near the lake. She underestimate his strength.
My mother was never the same since that day, don't you think that she paid for her mistake by losing her own son?

 


(Edited by Ciro D'Agostino on 9/17, 5:39pm)




Post 3

Saturday, September 17 - 4:07pmSanction this postReply
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Sure, the person is responsible. To what degree would it be best to punish the person though? For voting one out of a million votes toward a man whom was made out to be just as good as the next candidate... what should the punishment be? Probably something simular to telling the person "That was a mistake. I have less confidence in your ability to choose candidates now."



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