Poll: The Ends Justifes The Means

[Xvito]

That's not really what I meant... If someone has stabbed someone else then sure; put them away. But you can't use that as a reason to put them away for future-crimes.

...Yeah, exactly.
That's what I was agreeing to.

Oh... Okay, sorry then.

I seem to have misinterpreted you.

 

[CoziestPigeon]

It depends on both the end and the means.

"I left for lunch a bit early to get the last cupcake" Could be an example of the end justifying the means.

"I killed 5 people to get the last cupcake" Is not.

What if it's a really, really awesome cupcake?

 

[Lomeneck]

As for the thought-crimey conversation earlier, although it digresses a bit, the Minority Report's a good example of how well that would work.

As for the thread, I'm with the majority, depends on both the ends and the means.

 

[Aardvark Soup]

This completely depends on the situation. If you say yes, you would also say killing everyone on the planet is a good way to stop war, poverty and diseases.

E: Wait, I'm repeating something a lot of people have already said. Just ignore this.