[dools]

The the reason you can’t offset violent crime in the same way is that no amount of violence is acceptable but some amount of carbon emissions is acceptable.

Also in some cases damages are used to offset wrongdoing, especially in civil litigation which is a better comparison.

[kadoban]

Another way to put it: CO2 is fungible. If I put a ton in the air and take away a different ton, nobody cares that they're not the same exact CO2.

If I shoot one person in the face and then prevent a different shooting, several people care about the difference.

[rs999gti]

> no amount of violence is acceptable

I would argue this is false and that if you live in a western country, someone else is performing violence for you and your ideals, so that you can live a relatively peaceful way of life

[dools]

I should have been more specific: no amount of assault is acceptable. Although the other follow up that brings up the fungibility of carbon emissions versus the fungibility of assault is better I think.