More answers

[ailbhe]

If you were in a position to retaliate in kind (or to some proportionate degree) against someone who severely injured or hurt you or someone close to you, would you want to, why (or why not), and would it help you achieve closure if needed?

I assume that by "retaliate in kind" you don't mean "chase with the full force of the law and a very toothy prosecuting lawyer." In that case...

I find fantasising about that sort of thing useful in the initial stages of hurt, but I don't think it does any good long-term. I don't think I'd actually do it. There are various reasons, the main one of which is that I don't want to reduce myself to their level. It wouldn't actually reverse the wrongs done to me or mine, and it would undoubtedly involve legal repercussions so that I'd end up dealing with shit for a decade longer than if I just learned to live with the hijjus facts and moved on with the rest of my life.

Comments

[oldbloke.livejournal.com]

There are certain classes of hurt that'd make me go after the perp and, basically, eye-and-a-bit for an eye. Being mindful of Macchiavelli's advice that you may need to take out the entire family to avoid a never-ending vendetta, of course.

retaliation

[pir-anha.livejournal.com]

"retaliate". hm. no, i don't think i would. but under certain circumstances i'd fight tooth and claw against somebody like that, not in retaliation but to protect me and mine from more of it. those would be extraordinary circumstances though, and i am talking serious malicious injury, and society falling down on protecting us.

i've fantasized about revenge at times, but i've never actually taken any. i cut nasty people out of my life instead; they don't get another chance to hurt me the same way.

if somebody actually presented a deadly threat, all bets are off as to what i'd do. i know that i can lose the veneer of civilization if threatened that way, and i don't even think about possible legal repercussions.