Originally Posted by: Jolly McJollysonAm I being hypocritical, then? In that I wouldn't pull the hangman's switch, but I think he deserved death? I don't feel like I'm acting out of some bloodlust, nor do I think my presumption that man's justice should dictate life and death is somehow playing God. But at the same time, I couldn't do it myself. Perhaps it's hypocrisy; maybe it's just respect for death itself.

Or maybe you just don't want to think of yourself as a killer.

I feel kinda the same as you. I wouldn't want to be the one to pull the switch. It would bother me for the rest of my life knowing I'd killed a man, even if he did deserve it.

In fact, I feel the same way in terms of animals. I don't oppose eating meat, but if I had to get my own meat, I'd probably be a vegetarian. Kind of ironic, seeing as I used to love hunting.