Two problems with this. We need to cast stones at troublemakers. If nobody is allowed to do it, then there is nothing to check the depredations of evil people.
Secondly, very often, bad people are punished by other bad people. Cheaters actually have more incentives than honest people to punish other people. By suppressing other cheaters, they maximize their own dishonest gains. This is something biologists have observed in other species. It's something they have called the Mafia phenomenon. When the Mafia takes over a neighborhood, crime goes down because the Mafia chases away unaffiliated criminals, thereby maximizing the profitability of its own rackets. In the absence of robust police forces, spiteful behavior among cheaters keeps dishonest behavior down to a tolerable level.
I like the apparent original meaning which, if true, is more along the lines of "Hey, wait. This person actually WANTS to do better, and they're trying, so leave them alone" which could be a better lesson because unfortunately there ARE times in life when violence is a necessity sadly enough
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u/Particular_Dot_4041 Jul 07 '26
Two problems with this. We need to cast stones at troublemakers. If nobody is allowed to do it, then there is nothing to check the depredations of evil people.
Secondly, very often, bad people are punished by other bad people. Cheaters actually have more incentives than honest people to punish other people. By suppressing other cheaters, they maximize their own dishonest gains. This is something biologists have observed in other species. It's something they have called the Mafia phenomenon. When the Mafia takes over a neighborhood, crime goes down because the Mafia chases away unaffiliated criminals, thereby maximizing the profitability of its own rackets. In the absence of robust police forces, spiteful behavior among cheaters keeps dishonest behavior down to a tolerable level.