Re:Richard Stallman is coming back to the board of the FSF
by jrochkind1 on Sunday March 21, 2021 @10:30PM
(#26536241)
So I'm not sure there are any "heinous crimes" here, so what we're talking about is hypothetical, not this situation.
If you believe your friend has committed a heinous crime (assuming this isn't just a quote "crime" but actually involves heinous harm to others), the right thing to do is support your friend as a human being and support and encourage them to take accountability for the harm they've done and try to repair it, and either way support what is necessary for them to be taken out of a position where they can continue to do harm, while trying to make sure your friend is okay too (as far as still having a roof over their head and food to eat and emotional support and dignity etc).
I know this isn't the way our society works right now. It is the right thing to do.
Come to think of it, it's the right thing to do even if the harm is less heinous.
Part of the problem is that our society has taught us that the only choices are a) total abandonment of someone, throw them away completely or b) that "supporting" them means helping them deny the harm they've caused avoid any consequences and continue to do harm.
Neither one will work to reduce the amount of harm done or build a culture where we can be human.
If you believe your friend has committed a heinous crime (assuming this isn't just a quote "crime" but actually involves heinous harm to others), the right thing to do is support your friend as a human being and support and encourage them to take accountability for the harm they've done and try to repair it, and either way support what is necessary for them to be taken out of a position where they can continue to do harm, while trying to make sure your friend is okay too (as far as still having a roof over their head and food to eat and emotional support and dignity etc).
I know this isn't the way our society works right now. It is the right thing to do.
Come to think of it, it's the right thing to do even if the harm is less heinous.
Part of the problem is that our society has taught us that the only choices are a) total abandonment of someone, throw them away completely or b) that "supporting" them means helping them deny the harm they've caused avoid any consequences and continue to do harm.
Neither one will work to reduce the amount of harm done or build a culture where we can be human.