When US Americans get painted this way, it feels like a “Humans- Fuck Yeah” story. Like I’m just so used to us having our downsides highlighted that it feels special to be seen for a positive attribute

I interpreted it as a negative, like “Americans are violent,” heh.

I sympathize with the complex though.

We have a hyper sense of justice instilled in us from a young age. It’s like the basis of our country (or so we’re taught).

I’d say it’s more about retribution. There’s a craving for punishment against perceived wrongs.

There’s nothing perceived about someone snatching my wallet. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

So committing a crime yourself, assault (and/or assault with a deadly weapon), in response to the first crime, pickpocketing, is suddenly totes okay then? I don’t get it. Seems like retributive extrajudicial punishment to me. Just because it’s a real thing that happened and not just perceived doesn’t suddenly absolve you of committing violent crime in return. If you hospitalize the pickpocket and give them a lifelong limp, you’ve given them far more severe and retributive punishment than just taking their wallet in return.

I mean, who knew, maybe this is why we have laws and shit.

If I beat the shit out of a pickpocket and give them a lifelong limp too bad so sad, they have a permanent reminder of the principle of fuck around find out or FAFO. I was minding my own business right until they decided to make themselves my business.

Legality is stupid and does factor into 99% of my actions so I will disregard it as a decision making factor.