day of the Triffids - Inspired by a conversation with twicedead

[davywavy]

Oh no! It's the end of civilisation! The Triffids have risen up and overrun the earth and the necrophagic vegetables are devouring people like it's going out of fashion. You are one of the lucky ones. You are holed up in a safe location with large stocks of food and weaponry and as safe from the Triffids as can be.
One day, a survivor shows up at your stockade and through the kindness of your heart you take him in to protect him from said carniverous cucumbers. However, it quickly turns out that this survivor is a wrong 'un and he's not changing his ways, either - not only does he sneer and spit and call you names, but he also beats up and molests your missus and steals some of your valuable food supplies and clean water. What do you do?

[Poll #730506]

Comments

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

I'm gonna chuck him, but not when there are Triffids nearby, and I'm going to give him supplies and some chances.

If the Triffids are in the area, then he will most definitely be just locked in the cupboard.

On the other hand, I don't see this as a very good parallel for our modern society, where we have many more options thanbnks to a large constabulary and judiciary to deal with such reprobates.

And should Triffids attack I'm off to the island for my multiple wives!

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Ah, the Triffids are everywhere. The only places there aren't any triffids are safe havens for people, and all of them say they don't want him and they won't thank you for trying to foist him on them.

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

Then it's probably into the cupboard for him.

Though I may chuck him out, as an inidividual survival situation is somewhat exempt from my usual morality.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Ah, so the old saw that a Conservative is a Liberal who has just been mugged rings true in this case then?

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

No it's more that one can be more liberal when one has the freedom of a first world democracy to be liberal in. Liberalism is a benefit of civilisation. I've been mugged

When the Triffid start marching, I'm all for a strong leadership with a firm grip, preferably being me.

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

And we maintain those freedoms through the people within it acting with liberality. Someone who isn't prepared to act appropriately within that social structure plainly doesn't want to live within it - and it appears that the majority agree with me. Hurrah for Democrcy!

[jonnyargles.livejournal.com]

What's liberal about it? There is a certain amount of arrogance is in saying that we have a better system of justice and fairness than another country - by allowing criminals in their country safe harbour here, we are effectively making an autocratic moral judgement on another culture (admittedly one that's as bent as a banana before the EU got their hands on them).

And I pshaw those who say that all human life is sacred. I'd rather ensure the safety of the innocent than risk sending the guilty back to their countries. Mostly, there's a REASON they're in danger of their lives in their home countries - the same things that they're doing here. Admittedly, there are exceptions, but then again you wouldn't get Ken Saro Wia (sp) trafficking teenage girls into the country for prostitution.