Dexter, Good or Evil?

Aiora · Apr 01, 2008, 09:21 AM

(Note- i apologize if this is in the wrong topic)

If anyone has seen the show Dexter, would you debate that him killing criminals is either seen as good or bad..?

Dexter (TV series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

*Innerhell* · Apr 02, 2008, 01:16 AM

It's essentially a paradox between what is considered right and what is considered wrong. Does killing only criminals make you ultimately a good person? If you were a criminal, does killing other criminals some sort of cure-all penance for your own petty sins? It's all just one big morality lesson. Different people have different ideas on what is morally right and what is morally wrong. Good and evil does walk beside each other. Most people have their morality set with the rule that "killing people is wrong", but apparently, everything is justifiable if the person that is killed is a killer [him/her]self. The ends justify the means; a principle that humanity knows far too well and is the difference between humanity and all other species on this planet.

*Silverskater145* · Apr 02, 2008, 01:49 AM

Not to spoil too much from the series for anyone who hasn't actually seen it... I think Dexter is a bit of both. His actions are distinctively evil. Nevertheless, despite his stoic attitude, and lack of real emotions, based on some of his actions, thoughts, and true inner feelings that occur throughout the series, I don't believe that Dexter is a truly malicious, vile human being at his very core.

It's a bit weird to think of Dexter as some sort of a "good" guy. Even if he only kills killers, he is no better than them. At the same time, I feel like he does have a certain set of morals instilled within him, though one can argue that it is simply due to his father and his own teachings, rather an actual personal set of his own moral code.

Honestly, he's an anti-hero. Not sure if you're necessarily supposed to root for him because of what he is, but you can't help doing it anyway.

NevesElocin · Apr 02, 2008, 06:36 AM

Thats funny to try to contemplate. Lets see. Its wrong to kill, but is it wrong to kill those who do wrong and kill others? Hmmm is there a right answer to that. Not really. I think its interesting at the least but whether its morally right or wrong I have no real answer to that, although I suppose I should come up with one since I'm posting here.... In my mind what he is doing is good. Kill those who kill others. Yes very good.

*Silverskater145* · Apr 02, 2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NevesElocin

Lets see. Its wrong to kill, but is it wrong to kill those who do wrong and kill others? Hmmm is there a right answer to that. Not really.

There is a right answer to that:

It's wrong to kill.

Phew, that was easy.

SasuraiHell · Apr 02, 2008, 12:49 PM

Ha, the good old, "Killing bad people is JUSTICE!" attitude. of course what Dexter does is a bit extreme.(i.e torture) He's got a very twisted sense of justice and personal craze for killing.

I've got only one mindset when it comes to this : It all depends on the circumstance :P

"Kill those who kill others."., sure thats good, but is torture a bit much?., then again if i was related to the victim i'd made sure torture was the least of his worries

*divine_punishment* · Apr 02, 2008, 06:27 PM

This is the same argument my friends and I had about Death Note. Although the victims are not innocent, Dexter (or Light) is still a murderer. There are always extreme cases where the death of a criminal may be required (but they are few and very far between), but I personally do not feel like it is up to a human to take the life of another. One of my favourite expressions is Ghandi's "If it is an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, the whole world will be blind and toothless."

LichGRIFFIN · Apr 09, 2008, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aiora

(Note- i apologize if this is in the wrong topic)

If anyone has seen the show Dexter, would you debate that him killing criminals is either seen as good or bad..?

Dexter (TV series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Kill" is evil so basically killing the ones who "correcting" a mistake with another .. and since that's the view the answer is clear ... Dexter acts = Evil Deeds ...

*Ochi Gate* · Apr 10, 2008, 08:47 AM

its very similar to Light in Death Note. it depends upon the person's morals to daxter and light, they are doing the right thing. to some people and L, it is evil.

Shannaal · Apr 10, 2008, 12:23 PM

The last thing i would let a serial killer do would be to work for the law force. to me that seems like letting a sex offender to be a teacher or babysit your kids.

Steadfast · Apr 10, 2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shannaal

The last thing i would let a serial killer do would be to work for the law force. to me that seems like letting a sex offender to be a teacher or babysit your kids.

I am having trouble seeing the coloration you have made here.

First, Dexter was not hired by the police because he is a serial killer. Second, Dexter has decided to play the role of judge, jury and executioner as a way of letting out his need to kill. Furthermore it allows him to justify, to himself, that he is helping the community by doing so.

Having said that, my question is, how does Dexters actions relate to the hiring of a sex offenders to being teachers and babysitters.

FYI sex offender is a very broad term. In some places a sex crime may not really even have been committed yet a person may be labeled a sex offender.

Apr 01, 2008, 09:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
Aiora x.Broken.x.Tragedy.x Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: In your fridge Posts: 585 Thanks: 3 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts Credits: 4,297	Dexter, Good or Evil? (Note- i apologize if this is in the wrong topic) If anyone has seen the show Dexter, would you debate that him killing criminals is either seen as good or bad..? Dexter (TV series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia __________________ God Forgives, I Don't..
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Apr 02, 2008, 01:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
Innerhell of the AMC Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: hanging out at Gaia's /amc/ as "[Ih]" Posts: 2,011 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts Credits: 5,620	Re: Dexter, Good or Evil? It's essentially a paradox between what is considered right and what is considered wrong. Does killing only criminals make you ultimately a good person? If you were a criminal, does killing other criminals some sort of cure-all penance for your own petty sins? It's all just one big morality lesson. Different people have different ideas on what is morally right and what is morally wrong. Good and evil does walk beside each other. Most people have their morality set with the rule that "killing people is wrong", but apparently, everything is justifiable if the person that is killed is a killer [him/her]self. The ends justify the means; a principle that humanity knows far too well and is the difference between humanity and all other species on this planet. __________________ Have a nice day.
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Apr 02, 2008, 01:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
Silverskater145 Ikorose Shinsō Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Uranus Posts: 1,043 Thanks: 5 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Credits: 5,348	Re: Dexter, Good or Evil? Not to spoil too much from the series for anyone who hasn't actually seen it... I think Dexter is a bit of both. His actions are distinctively evil. Nevertheless, despite his stoic attitude, and lack of real emotions, based on some of his actions, thoughts, and true inner feelings that occur throughout the series, I don't believe that Dexter is a truly malicious, vile human being at his very core. It's a bit weird to think of Dexter as some sort of a "good" guy. Even if he only kills killers, he is no better than them. At the same time, I feel like he does have a certain set of morals instilled within him, though one can argue that it is simply due to his father and his own teachings, rather an actual personal set of his own moral code. Honestly, he's an anti-hero. Not sure if you're necessarily supposed to root for him because of what he is, but you can't help doing it anyway. __________________ \|Read the Rules - Read my Journal\|
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Apr 02, 2008, 06:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
NevesElocin ~The Mistress~ Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hell Posts: 683 Thanks: 14 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts Credits: 9,768	Re: Dexter, Good or Evil? Thats funny to try to contemplate. Lets see. Its wrong to kill, but is it wrong to kill those who do wrong and kill others? Hmmm is there a right answer to that. Not really. I think its interesting at the least but whether its morally right or wrong I have no real answer to that, although I suppose I should come up with one since I'm posting here.... In my mind what he is doing is good. Kill those who kill others. Yes very good. __________________ My love for you only grows with time...I want to create something beautiful with you.
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Apr 02, 2008, 12:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
SasuraiHell Perpetual Perversion Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: A very pink realm?.... Posts: 1,360 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Credits: 9,594	Re: Dexter, Good or Evil? Ha, the good old, "Killing bad people is JUSTICE!" attitude. of course what Dexter does is a bit extreme.(i.e torture) He's got a very twisted sense of justice and personal craze for killing. I've got only one mindset when it comes to this : It all depends on the circumstance :P "Kill those who kill others."., sure thats good, but is torture a bit much?., then again if i was related to the victim i'd made sure torture was the least of his worries __________________ KuroHime will own you! win> [Forum/GallerySupport][Sasu'sGallery][AOLaws][My SimpleSite] 360tag-Epicold
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Apr 02, 2008, 06:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
divine_punishment Shining Star Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Good question . . . where am I? Posts: 1,271 Thanks: 22 Thanked 27 Times in 22 Posts Credits: 59,197	Re: Dexter, Good or Evil? This is the same argument my friends and I had about Death Note. Although the victims are not innocent, Dexter (or Light) is still a murderer. There are always extreme cases where the death of a criminal may be required (but they are few and very far between), but I personally do not feel like it is up to a human to take the life of another. One of my favourite expressions is Ghandi's "If it is an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, the whole world will be blind and toothless." __________________ Bite Me!
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Apr 10, 2008, 08:47 AM	#9 (permalink)
Ochi Gate Level 99 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,666 Thanks: 7 Thanked 15 Times in 13 Posts Credits: 76,720	Re: Dexter, Good or Evil? its very similar to Light in Death Note. it depends upon the person's morals to daxter and light, they are doing the right thing. to some people and L, it is evil. __________________ Yami wo hiraku eikou to hikikae ni Mamoru beki mono wo ushinatte kita
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Apr 10, 2008, 12:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
Shannaal Diamond in the Rough Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wisconsin. SO COLD Posts: 107 Thanks: 3 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts Credits: 3,212	Re: Dexter, Good or Evil? The last thing i would let a serial killer do would be to work for the law force. to me that seems like letting a sex offender to be a teacher or babysit your kids. __________________ The chibis, they want my COOKIES.
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