Hypothetical question: if someone has bad thoughts but doesn't act on them...

[Shawn]

I was discussing this with my friend the other day and we never came to a conclusion. Lets say someone has very sick thoughts. Perhaps they are a pedophile or have other unnatural thoughts such as murdering people, but they go their whole life and do not act on these impulses. Are they still evil people? Regardless, should they be allowed to mix with society? Perhaps everyone has skeletons in their closet somewhat but the difference between a normal person and a sicko is if they act on their impulses? Just wondering what ATOT's take on this subject is.

 

[Babbles]

According to some tenants of Buddhism in their entire eight-fold path thing, then yes the prescence of those types of thoughts would be considered bad. I would have to agree with that as well. Obviously not acting on those thoughts is decent, however to have thoughts such as pedophilia is a sign of some sort of moral and ethical weakness.

 

[aplefka]

If you bring religion into it then that probably changes everything.

To me, I guess they're ok. They're not what I would call a GOOD person, but they're not BAD either.

 

[nater]

Socrates would say that
A) Doing bad things is shameful
B)But knowing the difference between right and wrong and doing bad things, is better than not doing the difference and doing good things, because the latter is a random act.

Given A+B, it seems like the person who has bad thoughts also knows that said thoughts are bad, and therefore does not act on them. This makes him the better person than the one who does not know the difference.

that's my sophomore philosophy minor's interpretation anyway

 

[hookinitup]

i had this dilemma once as well...

Apparently in islamic philosophy if someone has a bad thought but does not act on it they receive "one reward." However, if they DO act on it they receive "one sin." On the other hand, if they have a good thought and do NOT act on it they also receive "one reward," and if they have a good thought and follow it with actions they receive "rewards million times over."

Like many facets of every faith this is just one part of theirs and needs to be placed in context with the other aspects of the faith.

to each his/her own...

 

[KarenMarie]

It would totally depend on the thoughts.

Here is how I see it...

Some things are not a sin, nor a crime just because you think of doing it, but never actually take action. While there is something really wrong with thinking of killing someone.... if you dont actually do it... no harm no foul... I would hope that person would be intelligent enough to realize that it is neither healthy or normal to think about doing harmful stuff and seek help..

However... having said that... and here is where the "it depends' come in.....

I think that if... well totally hypothetical analogy:

Let's just say that I had deep lust for my neighbor... in my mind and in my heart.. I really really lusted after him... imho.. that is being as unfaithful as if I had a fling. IF my b/f really lusted after another woman in his heart... and i dont mean "wow look @ the t!ts on that"... but REALLY lusted in his heart after someone else.. we would be finished. So, in that sense, it does matter.

It depends on the thoughts, and the person.

 

[OulOat]

Minority Report, here we come!

 

[Shawn]

ttt

 

[ProviaFan]

Bringing religion into the picture complicates things a bit. In Christianity, the Bible states that thinking about something is as bad as doing it (roughly quoted, looking at a member of the opposite sex to lust for them is the same as adultery, and the same for murder - I can find references if you're too lazy to look for yourself ). This is where the porn-is-evil thing comes from.

Disclaimer: not saying I agree with everything written in this post, but am just posting it for the general consumption, as I've grown up in this kind of environment and am quite familiar with the basic teachings of some kinds of conservative protestant churches (though I don't agree with all of those teachings).

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Supercharged
Regardless, should they be allowed to mix with society?

If someone has sick thoughts but doesn't act on them, how would anyone know?

 

[Specop 007]

I would say no, as its human nature to have indecent thoughts. The key is to not act on those thoughts.
Which is good for all the nutfvcks I see everyday, cause I really wanna just go psycho, let drool run down my face and mow down the tons of assinine idiots I see with a machete.

 

[Xionide]

Hell I think of fvcked up sh!t all the time. I think we all do.