Mark Norris Lance: [...] There is a long history of differential evaluation of actions taken by grassroots groups and similar actions taken by elites or those in power. This is evident when we discuss violence. If a low-power group places someone under their control it is kidnapping. If they assess their crimes or punish them for it, it is mob justice or vigilanteism. [...]
John Maxwell: Does the low power group in question have a democratic process for appointing judges who then issue arrest warrants?
That’s a key issue for me… “Mob rule” is bad because the process mobs use to make their judgements are bad. Doubly so if the mob attacks anyone who points that out.
A common crime that modern mobs accuse people of is defending bad people. But if people can be convicted of defending bad people, that corrupts the entire justice process, because the only way we can figure out if someone really is bad is by hearing what can be said in their defense.
From Facebook:
Mark Norris Lance: [...] There is a long history of differential evaluation of actions taken by grassroots groups and similar actions taken by elites or those in power. This is evident when we discuss violence. If a low-power group places someone under their control it is kidnapping. If they assess their crimes or punish them for it, it is mob justice or vigilanteism. [...]
John Maxwell: Does the low power group in question have a democratic process for appointing judges who then issue arrest warrants?
That’s a key issue for me… “Mob rule” is bad because the process mobs use to make their judgements are bad. Doubly so if the mob attacks anyone who points that out.
A common crime that modern mobs accuse people of is defending bad people. But if people can be convicted of defending bad people, that corrupts the entire justice process, because the only way we can figure out if someone really is bad is by hearing what can be said in their defense.