When are we not responsible for our beliefs or behaviors

[ikschultz]

Personally, when discussing behavior I believe that every single person is responsible for their own actions regardless of the type of background they grew up in. Every person, whether taught it or not, knows the difference between right and wrong. In "In Cold Blood" both of the two men made decisions and acted a certain way to get themselves into jail. No one forced them to commit a crime they chose to do it themselves. In today's world we have the harsh reality of peer pressure which influences people to do things they wouldn't normally do. However, just because someone wants you to do something doesn't not mean you have to do it. You're behavior is 100% controllable. I do on the other hand believe that you are not responsible for your beliefs as a young child or teen. Parents shape their children to match their faith and whether the child believes it or not they are forced to partake in the belief. It's once we get older as adults we begin to form a personal identity and belief system all our own.

[ellievancuren]

I agree with Isabella on some extent. I do not think that peer pressure is a viable excuse for a person's wrongdoings. I do think that people should be held accountable for their behavior and the way they choose to treat others. I agree that a person's behavior is one of the only things a person has complete control of in their lives. The killers in the novel chose to commit murder just as the Clutter family chose to help out kids in their town. Both groups of people made decisions about how they wanted to live their lives and they did so accordingly. So I agree with her on that aspect. However, I partly disagree that children and teens should not be held accountable for their beliefs. I agree that children are still to young to sometimes even understand what they are told to believe, let alone be able to make a decision about whether they choose to believe it or not. However, I feel that teenagers are able to decide what to believe independently of their parents. I would say that teens are the ones that grow apart from their parents in this aspect. AS they prepare for adulthood, they begin to decide what to believe in and what they believe is true. This is the time in one's life, not later during adulthood, where they begin to develop their own beliefs and really think for themselves.

[annajowaisas]

I believe that the home or society one might grow up in can determine one's beliefs or behaviors. In Cold Blood has an example of this: how Nancy and Kenyon were raised Methodist. If someone were born into a family who goes to church or has specific beliefs, as a child, they don't have any reason to question if that's what they believe personally. It's only when they're older that they can start making their own decisions on what to believe, like how Nancy isn't against seeing Bobby because of his differing faith. Society can also shape one's behaviors. No one wants to stand out and so they might go against what they believe to fit in. In most cases this becomes less of a problem as people grow up and mature. Kenyon sees no problem with being alone or not having a girlfriend to hang out with. Though boys his age are chasing after girls, Kenyon chooses what he believes to be best for him, which is tinkering in the basement with his "inventions". I believe that society and/or home life can shape one's beliefs, but that it becomes less and less true as one grows older.

[Kamryn Balson]

Izzy, I would have to slightly disagree with you about an individuals background not having an effect on their behavior. If someone's parents are never around to teach them what proper behavior is how can that child be made responsible? It's important for children to learn and see what is right and wrong in order to distinguish improper behavior from proper. No doubt improper behavior is someone's fault, but is it appropriate it place that responsibility on the child if its the parents duty to teach their child and they failed to do so?

[mollyfernandez]

I agree with you that the killers knew what they were doing and therefore had 100% control over their actions from our point of view, but in the story it talks about how the one killer, Dick, is still in love with his first wife. He believes that killing the Clutter family and stealing some of their money will make him well off and maybe even respected in her eyes. So because he thinks this is the only way to win her back, he feels that this is the only option. Can we really blame the guy for doing what he think will make his life better? Yes I agree that what he did was completely wrong and inconsiderate to the family and the loved ones of the family. But is doing a bad thing worth it if it will make your life better? Don't we feel sympathy with illegal immigrants who come to this country since they are just trying to escape evils in their own country. Both the killers and the immigrants are doing something illegal and both hurt people indirectly or directly just to better there future but why do we feel bad for one and not the other? I agree that what the killers did was wrong and they should be punished for it but if we say that we also have to punish and not feel sympathy for every person that commits a crime to help themselves.

[ikschultz]

I never said or meant to imply that I didn't feel bad for the killers even though I don't at this point in the book. I just believe that they are responsible for their actions as adults and were fully aware of what they were doing was wrong and shouldn't be doing it. Money is a big issue in the world and causes people to do crazy things they might not normally do. However, Dick didn't seem to have money issues. He bought himself and Perry a steak dinner with baked potatoes and other luxury food. They bought tons of supplies for the murders so I don't believe money really is a good reason for dick in particular to murder a family.

[ellievancuren]

In response to what Molly said, I understand that some might feel sympathy for certain criminals when they learn of the actual, intended motives of committing these deeds. But should we excuse Dick's vicious crime because it was all for a good cause? I would have to disagree because I believe that killing four strangers for money is inexcusable. And I agree with Molly that the killers deserve to be punished for their crimes. Why should Dick get a happy ending but not Nancy or Kenyon? Why should Mr. Clutter not get to see his wife get better or see what his kids will accomplish in life? As I do sympathize with immigrants that flee to America in search for a better life, the hardships they cause hardly compare to the hardships caused by the killers. They take up space in our country and our jobs, but not every immigrant is killing random people in order to acquire wealth. So, I think it depends on the severity of the crime and the circumstances of the criminals' intentions. But I believe that we can have sympathy for certain people, if we choose to, and none for others. I personally have no sympathy for a man that kills four people in order to impress a girl with the wealth he steals from them.

[ikschultz]

Does anyone think that maybe the killers are born with a natural evil side? Or do you think every person is born good and made into an evil person?

[mollyfernandez]

I believe that the killers were not born evil. I believe that everyone is born good and is good for that one moment where nothing else influences them but the moment outside factors come in people start to be directed toward one path or another. Personally, I wonder what the killers were like before they came to prison. Was prison one of the environments that changed them the most? I have no clue what prison is like but I wondering if the harsh and cut throat world of prison was one things that turned them into a person who feels the need to kill. Also I wonder if the killer felt that his childhood contributed to why he wanted to kill. I think that he saw a perfect family and became jealous and thought if I could not have a good family then I'm going to take away the most perfect family for someone else. I think this is sick and twisted but am just trying to come up with possible reasons why he would do such a thing.

[ikschultz]

That's a really good thought. Sometimes people do things without thinking and I wonder if this was one of those spur of the moment things. I don't believe it was but you never know what people are thinking when they do anthing.

[benseiter]

I too have a hard time blaming their actions like murder on peer pressure. When the choice is of extreme preasure it can be shifted with with others opinions but when talking about murder, that is a moral trait that only ourselves can make make. Those decisions shape our character and in my opinion, are innatly made for us. I think peer pressure can force our hand on some small choices or on the timing of things like teenage drinking, but not a choice in murder.