If you could kill someone by just writing their name in a book, would you?

[Papa Deuce]

I was on another internet forum and this was the topic. Apparently it is the premise of a show that can be found online called "Death Note". I have never seen the show. But this question was asked on another forum, and there are hundreds of responses. Below is a cut and paste from that forum:

For those who have not seen the show, the premise is...

You get a notebook. If you write someone's name in it, they will die. The long and short of the rules are as follows: You can specify the time of death, cause of death, and actions leading up to their death, so long as it's physically possible and does not directly lead to the death of anyone else. You also have to keep the face of the person in question in mind while writing, so that people with the same name are not effected. Which means you need a name and a face.

So you get this book, for whatever reason, and are made aware that it is real, and it works. Would you use it, and for what purpose? Would you be selfish and use it to get ahead somehow? Would you right the world's wrongs by killing criminals? Would you be stealthy with it and make everything look like random diseases or suicides, or would you make it obvious that someone is specifically doing it (masses of deaths of high profile people all with the same cause of death would draw attention, for example). If you wouldn't use it, what would you do with it? Would you hand it in to the authorities? Destroy it? Hide it?

[Steve]

This is a good question to as the Dead Pool players.

[DMT]

This is a good question to as the Dead Pool players.

Dick Cheney
Jake 'the Snake' Roberts
Ryan Buell
Jerry Sandusky
Gary Glitter
Artie Lange
Lil' Wayne
Frankie Muniz
Suge Knight
Justin Bieber
Edward Furlong
Jamarcus Russell

Just win, baby.

[johnnya24]

Dick Cheney
Jake 'the Snake' Roberts
Ryan Buell
Jerry Sandusky
Gary Glitter
Artie Lange
Lil' Wayne
Frankie Muniz
Suge Knight
Justin Bieber
Edward Furlong
Jamarcus Russell

Just win, baby.

Oh right ... that's your Dead Pool team ... at first glance I was like "DMT wants to kill Lil' Wayne as much as Gary Glitter ... waa?"

[Gregg]

No and I would destroy the book.

[GwynnInTheHall]

No and I would destroy the book.

I would absolutely use it.

The Word According to GITH.

[Fresno Bob]

I would use it to kill the kid bullying my son.....and I know it is wrong to kill children

[johnnya24]

After seeing American Sniper, Clint Eastwood.

[Hornsby]

Be honest, none of you here would use it if you actually thought that it would work. It's the 2nd oldest fantasy in the world...revenge. But in real life, almost nobody get's to that point...that's why news stories of murders, and plots, are still news, they're by their very definition highly unusual.

[Papa Deuce]

I don't know Hornsby.... I really think I would use it on some of the most evil people in the world. I'm not saying I would have had the balls to do it, but years ago on RJ, there was a thread about Bin Laden, and I said then that I wish I could have run across him when he was alone so I could have shot him. I meant it.

[GwynnInTheHall]

Be honest, none of you here would use it if you actually thought that it would work. It's the 2nd oldest fantasy in the world...revenge. But in real life, almost nobody get's to that point...that's why news stories of murders, and plots, are still news, they're by their very definition highly unusual.

I wouldn't use it for revenge. I'd use vs those I thought were detrimental to a peaceful future. Consequently, there'd be about 20 million or more less in the world as I'd make general orders to do away with certain kinds of folks, like rapists, those who got away with murder and the like.....

[Pogues]

I can't say for sure if I had it what I would do, but I do know, with absolute certainty, I wouldn't turn it over to the authorities.

There's been a few times in my life it's probably good I didn't have this notebook.

[Hornsby]

I wouldn't use it for revenge. I'd use vs those I thought were detrimental to a peaceful future. Consequently, there'd be about 20 million or more less in the world as I'd make general orders to do away with certain kinds of folks, like rapists, those who got away with murder and the like.....

That would make you one of the greatest mass murderers in history, and likely make you the target of anyone who might have access to such a book. And the phrase: I'd make general orders to do away with certain kinds of folks rings really badly when you look at history.

Don't believe for a minute that you'd do anything like that, based on what I've seen here over the years...

[Kevin Seitzer]

I wouldn't use it for revenge. I'd use vs those I thought were detrimental to a peaceful future. Consequently, there'd be about 20 million or more less in the world as I'd make general orders to do away with certain kinds of folks, like rapists, those who got away with murder and the like.....

How would you know who had gotten away with murder or rape? And you would really be so sure about it that you would be willing to be judge and jury.

For example, I'm pretty sure that Bill Cosby has gotten away with a bunch of rapes. But I'm not so sure of that that I would want to kill him. Even if I was sure...to have that kind of power...wow...I'm not sure I'd use it wisely.

[GwynnInTheHall]

That would make you one of the greatest mass murderers in history, and likely make you the target of anyone who might have access to such a book. And the phrase: I'd make general orders to do away with certain kinds of folks rings really badly when you look at history.

Don't believe for a minute that you'd do anything like that, based on what I've seen here over the years...

I always assume a power like that comes with the innate ability to now the truth in all situations. I would never assume anything, but if I KNEW, you know like being omniscient, then yeah I'd use the book to make the world better.