lawless ‘I am the law not you’ narcissist types who think rules don’t apply to them (ex: rich people, republicans, sovereign citizens etc)
dumbasses who think they know shit because they’re insane (ex: pizzagate guy, qanon murders)
people with real grievances the law can’t or won’t address. (Luigi Mangione, Charlie Kirk’s killer)
Imo, #3 is the only kind that I’ve seen people who aren’t psychopaths express support for and its not just because #3 is more valid but its also because #3 is often carried out against the folks who are in the #1 group so its often a type of vigilante vs vigilante crime.
Plus everybody I’ve seen expressing support for #3 would be far happier if the legal system did the work instead of a vigilante.
This thread so far has been about extra judicial killing, but can vigilantism encompass less drastic actions? Do you think it is fair to say that the reaction on Reddit/Lemmy every time “the rapist Brock Allen Turner” is mentioned falls under the third type of vigilantism, in the sense that he recieved a light consequence compared to the acts he was proved to have committed? Is the social backlash and the (imo deserved) chorus of “oh the rapist?” in response to his name a form of societal vigilantism?
I appreciate your thoughtful and nuanced post in this volatile thread. Your last sentence immediately made me think of that guy that raped a girl behind a dumpster and then got let off because a judge thought consequences might damage his future. I don’t think anyone should kill him, but I’m happy he doesn’t get any peace on the internet, and i wish he was in jail.
Vigilantism has 3 common sources:
lawless ‘I am the law not you’ narcissist types who think rules don’t apply to them (ex: rich people, republicans, sovereign citizens etc)
dumbasses who think they know shit because they’re insane (ex: pizzagate guy, qanon murders)
people with real grievances the law can’t or won’t address. (Luigi Mangione, Charlie Kirk’s killer)
Imo, #3 is the only kind that I’ve seen people who aren’t psychopaths express support for and its not just because #3 is more valid but its also because #3 is often carried out against the folks who are in the #1 group so its often a type of vigilante vs vigilante crime.
Plus everybody I’ve seen expressing support for #3 would be far happier if the legal system did the work instead of a vigilante.
This thread so far has been about extra judicial killing, but can vigilantism encompass less drastic actions? Do you think it is fair to say that the reaction on Reddit/Lemmy every time “the rapist Brock Allen Turner” is mentioned falls under the third type of vigilantism, in the sense that he recieved a light consequence compared to the acts he was proved to have committed? Is the social backlash and the (imo deserved) chorus of “oh the rapist?” in response to his name a form of societal vigilantism?
I appreciate your thoughtful and nuanced post in this volatile thread. Your last sentence immediately made me think of that guy that raped a girl behind a dumpster and then got let off because a judge thought consequences might damage his future. I don’t think anyone should kill him, but I’m happy he doesn’t get any peace on the internet, and i wish he was in jail.
Yep, #3 is a sad necessity due to the gaps and inequities in our legal system.
I did a research report on vigilante justice and the social factors that make it more likely https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5az_rOTb0E