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People behave more sadistically when they’re bored

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Re: People behave more sadistically when they’re bored

#51

Post by mnw21cam »

simmanian wrote: post #36
quacked wrote: post #2

If this is indeed true, it is yet another piece of evidence in the case for prison reform. Prisoners are universally bored, yet in many cases insufficiently protected from one another. Read accounts of any long-time convict's time in prison and you'll hear about excruciating boredom punctuated by acts of outrageous sadism.

I believe we should focus on separating criminals from non-criminals instead of punishing and torturing them. Give them an environment where they can thrive without being harmful to themselves and others. Let them re-join the society ONLY when they pose acceptable risk. This means violent criminals may never get to re-join the society, but that's okay given that they are still given a humane environment where they ca…

Isn't that basically how Australia was populated?

Re: People behave more sadistically when they’re bored

#52

Post by AlexTWithBeard »

simmanian wrote: post #36
quacked wrote: post #2

If this is indeed true, it is yet another piece of evidence in the case for prison reform. Prisoners are universally bored, yet in many cases insufficiently protected from one another. Read accounts of any long-time convict's time in prison and you'll hear about excruciating boredom punctuated by acts of outrageous sadism.

I believe we should focus on separating criminals from non-criminals instead of punishing and torturing them. Give them an environment where they can thrive without being harmful to themselves and others. Let them re-join the society ONLY when they pose acceptable risk. This means violent criminals may never get to re-join the society, but that's okay given that they are still given a humane environment where they ca…

so... what do we do with non-criminals? All the small things like bike theft, not paying child support, fare evasion and urinating in the streets?

For extra credit: assume the offender has no money.

Re: People behave more sadistically when they’re bored

#53

Post by dang »

lkasdjfb09u wrote: post #27
sleepysysadmin wrote: post #4

Pleasure is fleeting. It must be or else you'd still be glowing from your first orgasm. Inevitably the search for pleasure will require variety and inevitably that variety brings you to inflicting pain on others. We do it publicly. The romans fed people to the lions. We have lots of violent sports. Nascar isn't about driving left. It's about the crashes. Hockey is about the fights and checking. Lets not even evaluate…

Did you just try to criticize gaming on HN? See you at the bottom.

Could you please stop creating accounts like this? It will eventually get your main account banned as well.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Re: People behave more sadistically when they’re bored

#54

Post by dang »

I have a similar thought about flamewars on the internet, or rather about why generic discussions so often turn into flamewars: the mind resorts to indignation to amuse itself in the absence of anything more interesting.

https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&sor...

Re: People behave more sadistically when they’re bored

#55

Post by quacked »

tristor wrote: post #38
lostcolony wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd be happy if we'd just get over this vindictive need to deprive prisoners of basic pleasures. I've seen outrage over the idea that prisoners have access to TVs, or gaming consoles, or similar, stories of wardens confiscating books and pen and paper and such. I understand there are some other concerns that may warrant keeping usage of some of those under surveillance or similar (keep a pencil from being used as a s…

> I'd be happy if we'd just get over this vindictive need to deprive prisoners of basic pleasures. I won't argue that there aren't some people who have such a vindictive need, but in most cases where I've had conversations with folks about things like this, it's more that they oppose someone having a similar (or maybe "better") quality of life to what they have, without working to pay for it, and rather being paid fo…

I understand their frustration, but I think it's a win-win situation to provide a nice life in prison. They get out of society so we don't have to deal with them and they also aren't subject to torturous conditions.

Re: People behave more sadistically when they’re bored

#56

Post by Borrible »

I'm burned by social sciences so I'll wait for a replication study. But as an aside, grinding maggots is not exactly my idea of sadism. I prefer when they feel physical pain. Or at least think they look like they do. Although, mental atrocities are actually my specialty. They must excite my empathy, I'm more the sensitive type. The icing on the cake is, when they like it.

Confiscating one of their most important holds on reality, their smarthphones, stealing their time and making them watch boring 20-minute videos about waterfalls on the other hand...

There I sense a really sneaky kind of evil. A bit like that Milgram stage drama.

Yeah, I know, I'm such a bore.

Re: People behave more sadistically when they’re bored

#57

Post by throwawayboise »

lostcolony wrote: post #24
mc32 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So put them to work and pay them the going rate [in the normal economy] and use that toward victim restitution? If you pay them the market rate and this activity improves their well-being compared to being sedentary, I think it’s a win for all involved.

I'd be happy if we'd just get over this vindictive need to deprive prisoners of basic pleasures. I've seen outrage over the idea that prisoners have access to TVs, or gaming consoles, or similar, stories of wardens confiscating books and pen and paper and such. I understand there are some other concerns that may warrant keeping usage of some of those under surveillance or similar (keep a pencil from being used as a s…

That all depends on whether one views prison as a deterrent, a punishment, or an attempt at reformation.

Re: People behave more sadistically when they’re bored

#58

Post by throwawayboise »

ppeetteerr wrote: post #7

Scientific proof that "The devil makes work for idle hands to do" is accurate Edit: not in a religious sort-of-way

Yes, these old sayings are often grounded in reality, even if they are part of a larger philosophy based on faith.

Re: People behave more sadistically when they’re bored

#60

Post by elliekelly »

tristor wrote: post #38
lostcolony wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd be happy if we'd just get over this vindictive need to deprive prisoners of basic pleasures. I've seen outrage over the idea that prisoners have access to TVs, or gaming consoles, or similar, stories of wardens confiscating books and pen and paper and such. I understand there are some other concerns that may warrant keeping usage of some of those under surveillance or similar (keep a pencil from being used as a s…

> I'd be happy if we'd just get over this vindictive need to deprive prisoners of basic pleasures. I won't argue that there aren't some people who have such a vindictive need, but in most cases where I've had conversations with folks about things like this, it's more that they oppose someone having a similar (or maybe "better") quality of life to what they have, without working to pay for it, and rather being paid fo…

Is there a word that means the opposite of schadenfreude? Displeasure at the advancement of others?
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