• enkers@sh.itjust.works
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    11 months ago

    That’s not exactly what it’s trying to say… It’s a detante of a subtler version of the aphorism “An eye for an eye leaves the world blind.” Regardless of if the person deserves it or not, “If I kill you in cold blood while I have you at my mercy, it will change me for the worse.”

    Once the wretch is powerless and begging you for their survival, would you really just end them? You’re the one that has to live with that.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Once the wretch is powerless and begging you for their survival, would you really just end them?

      Yes, if the “wretch” is responsible for a huge amount of murder. And, as Stamets says, also if the hero has killed a bunch of people to get there anyway.

      If the hero lets the guy who is going to destroy the world with his special neutronium bomb live because it will change him for the worse if he kills him, I think that’s a ridiculous resolution for a movie.

      • enkers@sh.itjust.works
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        11 months ago

        Usually the situation isn’t so black and white. It’s not Jack Bauer killing a terrorist that will otherwise go on to blow up a maternity ward. The villain is defeated and they probably already have to deal with the normal societal punishment for what they did wrong, or otherwise live in some equivalent purgatory.

    • winterayars@sh.itjust.works
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      11 months ago

      Is there any indication they’ve actually changed? Usually not. They just don’t like that consequences are happening to them, personally, and so they’re crying about it. Most of the time they had no problem killing innocent people or sending their own goons to die trying to stop the hero from getting to them, the tears and emotional manipulation are just the last ditch effort.

      And if you spare them they’ll probably do it all over again.

      • GreenMario@lemm.ee
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        11 months ago

        Think of all the lives Batman would have saved if he just killed the Joker on first contact.

        • winterayars@sh.itjust.works
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          11 months ago

          Batman at least has a code. He doesn’t kill the minions or the Joker. He isn’t judge, jury, and executioner of Gotham.