The thing that gets me about these all-punitive-violence-is-right-against-bad-enough-people types. Even when they're talking about what they want to do to people who genuinely *have done* horrifying shit and who I think can reasonably called "evil people," even if we don't agree about what we mean by that--
Their fantasies of ritualized purifying violent punishment are all about the perpetrator. All about the pain they want to inflict on the perpetrator. They *don't* fantasize about, like, comforting a victim, or helping them feel safe again, or just doing something kind for them. They fantasize about inflicting pain, but having it be okay because of who they do it to.
So, why should I believe that fantasy expresses a desire to "protect victims," and not to express sadistic desires within a social context that makes it okay? Like, having base sadistic impulses is fine but don't mistake them for a system of justice.
right !
