SQS: Should you ever rat on your friends?

Verbatim · November 08, 2015, 02:24:32 PM

Whether or not you are a law-abiding citizen, it's not unlikely for you to have some laws that you either respect, or actively abide by in some form or another. If you're reading this, you've probably never killed anyone, or have done anything that could be described as heinous.

But let's say your friend has. Your friend has broken one of these laws that you consider a pillar of civilization. If you don't turn him in, he gets away scot-free, and is never punished for his crime. It's in your hands.

Would you ever rat him out on it?

What's the "right" thing to do? Some folks consider ratting your friends out to be an unacceptable breach of trust--the ultimate act of betrayal. Then again, committing a significant crime could also be considered a breach of trust on his part. Is it really your duty to maintain every friendship you have, even at the cost of justice?

Mr. Psychologist · November 08, 2015, 02:28:54 PM

I'd tell them to turn themselves in.

I'm not going to betray a friend, but if they'd done something that serious (i.e Murdered/Raped someone) then they had better own up to it and face the consequences of their deed otherwise that's the end of the friendship.

I wouldn't dob them in, even if I no longer associated with them, but I don't see myself considering them a friend if they did something like that and then refused to answer for it.

Ásgeirr · November 08, 2015, 02:34:02 PM

I wouldnt. But i might snap if its something like rape.

challengerX · November 08, 2015, 02:34:22 PM

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Verbatim · November 08, 2015, 02:37:32 PM

Quote from: challengerX on November 08, 2015, 02:34:22 PM

How did he betray me by killing some random person?

Betraying humanity. Tends to be a big deal for some people, like me.

challengerX · November 08, 2015, 02:38:48 PM

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Verbatim · November 08, 2015, 02:40:03 PM

Quote from: challengerX on November 08, 2015, 02:38:48 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on November 08, 2015, 02:37:32 PM
Quote from: challengerX on November 08, 2015, 02:34:22 PM
How did he betray me by killing some random person?
Betraying humanity. Tends to be a big deal for some people, like me.
I don't give a fuck.

You asked a question, and I answered it.

challengerX · November 08, 2015, 02:41:05 PM

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Kitsune 狐 · November 08, 2015, 02:51:04 PM

Only times I've ratted out my friends was once when they were suicidal and cutting their wrists deeply, and another time because they were addicted to meth, and refused to get help. Both times it was their parents that I confronted, and not the police. In America attempting/committing suicide and meth use are both illegal, but if they were to have killed someone I don't know how I would react. I would probably beg them to turn themselves in, and if not then I might give an annonymous tip to the police. Either way I would stop associating myself with them. Unless, of course, if it was in self defense. Then I would still tell them to go to the police because they would be innocent.

Winy · November 08, 2015, 03:06:17 PM

Well, duh. If a friend does something terrible, they've lost respect from me, and the consequence is that I'm going to make sure they get what they deserve as a result.

challengerX · November 08, 2015, 03:13:20 PM

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Mr. Psychologist · November 08, 2015, 03:20:40 PM

Quote from: challengerX on November 08, 2015, 03:13:20 PM

Quote from: Kitsune on November 08, 2015, 02:51:04 PM
Unless, of course, if it was in self defense. Then I would still tell them to go to the police because they would be innocent.
There's no guarantee of that.

Sadly this^

If they killed someone in self defence and there was no chance of them being caught without you turning them in - like hell I'd risk them getting locked away for decades on a technicality because of some arsewipe lawyer.
No offence best friend flee.

True Turquoise · November 08, 2015, 03:26:27 PM

Quote from: Mr. Psychologist on November 08, 2015, 03:20:40 PM

Quote from: challengerX on November 08, 2015, 03:13:20 PM
Quote from: Kitsune on November 08, 2015, 02:51:04 PM
Unless, of course, if it was in self defense. Then I would still tell them to go to the police because they would be innocent.
There's no guarantee of that.
Sadly this^

If they killed someone in self defence and there was no chance of them being caught without you turning them in - like hell I'd risk them getting locked away for decades on a technicality because of some arsewipe lawyer.
No offence best friend flee.

*distant grunting*

eggsalad · November 08, 2015, 03:36:43 PM

I'm not going to turn them in for doing it, I'm going to turn them in if I think they're going to keep doing it.

DAS B00T x2 · November 08, 2015, 03:44:59 PM

I mean... there's a lot of variables.

But, in the end, there are times where I'd feel more than compelled to do so.

Super Irish · November 08, 2015, 03:46:44 PM

I'd ask for the details first, if I haven't witnessed it myself (how else would I know my friend has committed a crime?), then decide from there.

Self defence for murder, I'd turn a blind eye to the law for my friend. If it as rape or paedophilia, or any serious crime that can't be justified under any means, I'd tell them to turn themselves in, or I'd do it.

Word Wizard · November 08, 2015, 04:02:27 PM

Depends on the crime and their reason. Merely the fact that they broke the law isn't enough to warrant snitching.

MyNameIsCharlie · November 08, 2015, 04:16:00 PM

Not for little shit. But felony stuff? Yeah. Especially if it were needlessly cruel.

R o c k e t · November 08, 2015, 04:28:06 PM

Quote from: Mr. Psychologist on November 08, 2015, 02:28:54 PM

I'd tell them to turn themselves in.

I'm not going to betray a friend, but if they'd done something that serious (i.e Murdered/Raped someone) then they had better own up to it and face the consequences of their deed otherwise that's the end of the friendship.

I wouldn't dob them in, even if I no longer associated with them, but I don't see myself considering them a friend if they did something like that and then refused to answer for it.

They'd probably kill you and not own up to it, so that's not a friend at all

Mr. Psychologist · November 08, 2015, 04:44:57 PM

Quote from: Blurg on November 08, 2015, 04:28:06 PM

Quote from: Mr. Psychologist on November 08, 2015, 02:28:54 PM
I'd tell them to turn themselves in.

I'm not going to betray a friend, but if they'd done something that serious (i.e Murdered/Raped someone) then they had better own up to it and face the consequences of their deed otherwise that's the end of the friendship.

I wouldn't dob them in, even if I no longer associated with them, but I don't see myself considering them a friend if they did something like that and then refused to answer for it.

They'd probably kill you and not own up to it, so that's not a friend at all

Then I'd deserve to die for being the kind of moron who makes that sort of friend in the first place.

R o c k e t · November 08, 2015, 04:46:20 PM

Quote from: Mr. Psychologist on November 08, 2015, 04:44:57 PM

Quote from: Blurg on November 08, 2015, 04:28:06 PM
Quote from: Mr. Psychologist on November 08, 2015, 02:28:54 PM
I'd tell them to turn themselves in.

I'm not going to betray a friend, but if they'd done something that serious (i.e Murdered/Raped someone) then they had better own up to it and face the consequences of their deed otherwise that's the end of the friendship.

I wouldn't dob them in, even if I no longer associated with them, but I don't see myself considering them a friend if they did something like that and then refused to answer for it.

They'd probably kill you and not own up to it, so that's not a friend at all
Then I'd deserve to die for being the kind of moron who makes that sort of friend in the first place.

Well, it's a hypothetical really. They kill somebody and won't own up to it, who is to say they won't kill you and have the same results?

Either way a person is dead and they should feel remorse.

Mr. Psychologist · November 08, 2015, 04:49:00 PM

Quote from: Blurg on November 08, 2015, 04:46:20 PM

Quote from: Mr. Psychologist on November 08, 2015, 04:44:57 PM
Quote from: Blurg on November 08, 2015, 04:28:06 PM
Quote from: Mr. Psychologist on November 08, 2015, 02:28:54 PM
I'd tell them to turn themselves in.

I'm not going to betray a friend, but if they'd done something that serious (i.e Murdered/Raped someone) then they had better own up to it and face the consequences of their deed otherwise that's the end of the friendship.

I wouldn't dob them in, even if I no longer associated with them, but I don't see myself considering them a friend if they did something like that and then refused to answer for it.

They'd probably kill you and not own up to it, so that's not a friend at all
Then I'd deserve to die for being the kind of moron who makes that sort of friend in the first place.

Well, it's a hypothetical really. They kill somebody and won't own up to it, who is to say they won't kill you and have the same results?

Either way a person is dead and they should feel remorse.

If they aren't going to own to it, that's their prerogative.

I'm saying I wouldn't turn them in regardless, but that I wouldn't remain their friend from that point on. If they were to turn themselves in, then I'd be there to pick them up when they get out of jail later on.

Loyalty is important, but blind loyalty is the preserve of retards.

And if despite all that, they choose to kill me out of paranoia? That's fine by me, I'll be a little bit busy being dead to care much.

R o c k e t · November 08, 2015, 04:50:20 PM

Quote from: Mr. Psychologist on November 08, 2015, 04:49:00 PM

I'll be a little bit busy being dead to care much.

it's a full-time job

Mr. Psychologist · November 08, 2015, 04:52:01 PM

Quote from: Blurg on November 08, 2015, 04:50:20 PM

Quote from: Mr. Psychologist on November 08, 2015, 04:49:00 PM
I'll be a little bit busy being dead to care much.

it's a full-time job

I know all too well, it's not a lot of fun being dead.

Especially when nobody had the decency to bury me.

R o c k e t · November 08, 2015, 04:52:49 PM

Quote from: Mr. Psychologist on November 08, 2015, 04:52:01 PM

Quote from: Blurg on November 08, 2015, 04:50:20 PM
Quote from: Mr. Psychologist on November 08, 2015, 04:49:00 PM
I'll be a little bit busy being dead to care much.

it's a full-time job
I know all too well, it's not a lot of fun being dead.

Especially when nobody had the decency to bury me.

I'll buy you a headstone best friend

Mr. Psychologist · November 08, 2015, 04:53:55 PM

Quote from: Blurg on November 08, 2015, 04:52:49 PM

Quote from: Mr. Psychologist on November 08, 2015, 04:52:01 PM
Quote from: Blurg on November 08, 2015, 04:50:20 PM
Quote from: Mr. Psychologist on November 08, 2015, 04:49:00 PM
I'll be a little bit busy being dead to care much.

it's a full-time job
I know all too well, it's not a lot of fun being dead.

Especially when nobody had the decency to bury me.

I'll buy you a headstone best friend

Ah thank you.

Elai · November 08, 2015, 04:53:57 PM

Loyalty to the end. I could never betray the trust of a brother.

Sandtrap · November 08, 2015, 09:36:25 PM

For starters, before I did anything, I'd prefer to know the reason why. There's generally two golden rules you don't break around me.

Killing somebody or raping somebody.

If a friend of mine(theoretical by the way since I don't have any) killed somebody, I'd ask for the reasoning, first. And then second, likely talk them into turning themselves in. I wouldn't just stroll up the police all hunky dory and make that proclomation.

Now if it was rape? Thinking about it. I'd probably just kill them myself. No sympathy, no question, no trial or bullshit.

If you're a friend of mine, then I'm hoping you'll be a decent human being. If you never told me about the intention of either raping or murdering somebody, but then were so keen on dropping that on my plate and expecting me not to either question it or act on it, then you weren't my friend.

I'd listen, if it were murder. Because murder can, in some cases, be complicated. Rape? No.

In well over 90% of cases, I wouldn't say anything.

Risay117 · November 08, 2015, 09:38:04 PM

If I would I would talk to them and they are not i will have to tell them in the face before I would do it.

But the closer you are the less likely I will rat you out and more I will take matter into my own hands.

🍁 Aria 🔮 · November 08, 2015, 10:27:56 PM

Depends on why, first of all. Depending on just how severe it is, or how averse they are to JUSTICE, I might have to turn them in. I've started to realize lately, what with having a number of people come in and out of my life recently, that you can never really know a person.

Poll

Is "ratting" on your friends ever acceptable?

SQS: Should you ever rat on your friends?