[JoeAltmaier]

You do them too much credit to call them idiots. They were armed robbers, who beat two men severely, and stole things of enormous value. They surrendered their right to be regarded as civilized people.

I would reserve 'idiot' for a citizen with poor reasoning powers. For instance, someone who pays too much for a used car.

[marvin]

I am pretty sure _quasimodo's point was, idiots or not, it's barbaric to celebrate someone else's slow and painful death. Regardless of whether said person is civilized or not.

[JoeAltmaier]

That goes a bit far. I can certainly feel excitement and amazement at their folly and not be barbaric. I'm thinking folks are transferring their horror at the predicament these criminals got themselves into, to the spectators reaction which was a pretty natural one.

[seszett]

Well, these thieves are citizens with poor reasoning powers.

Being "regarded as civilized people" might be of interest to you, but I don't really like this habit of dehumanizing people when one doesn't like them.

[JoeAltmaier]

You projected that; I admit they are human. So was Hitler etc. What they lose by violating the rules of a civilized society, is the protections offered by that society. That's got to be the case, else why would anyone follow the rules at all?

So yes, they Were citizens with poor reasoning powers, and that led them to violate the bounds of civilized behavior, which put them in their predicament - no protection/assistance/sympathy from those who continue to abide.

Its a spectacle to be sure - their painful death. Some will enjoy it and some be repulsed. Make your own choice there. But don't confuse that with 'dehumanizing'.