Other than being a particularly painful and nasty way to die, was there any additional function to stoning that made it preferable in certain cases to other forms of execution?
I mean, it appears to be present in many Mediterranean cultures of bronze and iron age, and was frequently used with respect to women, and not just for adultery (for example, Odoacer's wife was stoned to death by order of Theodoric). Is there any reason for that? I can only speculate that it being a form of execution usually performed collectively, by a group of people rather than a single executioner (and with no person being clearly the one who struck the killing blow) it could have been some measure of dividing/avoiding responsibility but I cannot think of any other particular justification for it.
Quote from: Martinus on September 20, 2012, 09:46:28 AM
I can only speculate that it being a form of execution usually performed collectively, by a group of people rather than a single executioner
Yeah, that's probably what the appeal was. Also, it's cheap and requires no specialized equipment, so small villages could join the fun.
As well as responsibility for actually killing someone its also collective justice I guess.
And its pretty low tech and easy to do.
It does take a shit ton of weed though.
What would make more sense to throw?
Do not forget the entertainment value of it.
Quote from: Grey Fox on September 20, 2012, 10:19:52 AM
Do not forget the entertainment value of it.
This.
Don't forget that humans have a morbid fascination with executions (as long as they're not the ones getting whacked). France stopped having public beheadings in the 1930s exactly because massive crowds gathered to watch the executions, and beacuse members of the public still wanted to drench their handckerchiefs in the blood of the executed after the deed, even though it was already the XXth century.
(just think of what would happen if an execution was made public/aired live on TV today: the attendance would be enormous).
So, while executions were always a source of entertainment and example, stonings also provided a low-tech interactive experience, where everyone could see if they could hit the wretch at the wrong end of the throwing area. I suppose it was used mostly on women because stoning was done by males, adding a sort of sexual tension to it.
Quote from: Martim Silva on September 20, 2012, 10:32:53 AM
(just think of what would happen if an execution was made public/aired live on TV today: the attendance would be enormous).
Not with lethal injections. Yeah, watching at the heart rate monitor is soooo exciting. :rolleyes:
Quote from: Martinus on September 20, 2012, 09:46:28 AM
but I cannot think of any other particular justification for it.
fun :secret:
Quote from: Martim Silva on September 20, 2012, 10:32:53 AM
So, while executions were always a source of entertainment and example, stonings also provided a low-tech interactive experience, where everyone could see if they could hit the wretch at the wrong end of the throwing area. I suppose it was used mostly on women because stoning was done by males, adding a sort of sexual tension to it.
A big part was guys getting their rocks off.
Quote from: DGuller on September 20, 2012, 10:35:44 AM
Not with lethal injections. Yeah, watching at the heart rate monitor is soooo exciting. :rolleyes:
I admit that's not the coolest execution ever, and ratings would be better with an electric chair, but even so, I think even just waiting for the guy to croak, and seeing his anxietey, would make a lot of people watch it.
(just the thought 'it's not me' would give confort and internal pleasure to many)
Quote from: Alfred russel
A big part was guys getting their rocks off.
It was where hard rock started :lol:
all that plus the participation effect you get by having the entire society take part.
Quote from: Viking on September 20, 2012, 10:47:36 AM
all that plus the participation effect you get by having the entire society take part.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpbfcomics.com%2Farchive_b%2FPBF238-Capital_Punishment.jpg&hash=73d13f45b3f3569f10a6273c6118c1efa09225c6)
It's simple and direct. Collision of rock-to-skull is probably the method of death in the first ever instance of one human killing another.
"All I said was that piece of halibut was good enough for Jehovah."
well somebody had to do it.
http://youtu.be/hsVAYFSEBrA
It is simple and easy to do. You don't need sharpened weapons, which may or may not be available. Everybody can throw a stone. Not everybody can cut bone with a weapon. There is sharing of responsibility among the participants, but I think it goes beyond that. It is easy to compel everybody to join the stoning, so that few can stay out of it. Makes sure that everybody is on the same side and no one can claim neutrality.
I don't think I've been stoned since 1999. :(
Quote from: Josephus on September 20, 2012, 08:57:54 PM
I don't think I've been stoned since 1999. :(
I'm stoned. Thanks to prescription drugs. :)
Quote from: Martim Silva on September 20, 2012, 10:40:27 AM
Quote from: DGuller on September 20, 2012, 10:35:44 AM
Not with lethal injections. Yeah, watching at the heart rate monitor is soooo exciting. :rolleyes:
I admit that's not the coolest execution ever, and ratings would be better with an electric chair, but even so, I think even just waiting for the guy to croak, and seeing his anxietey, would make a lot of people watch it.
Personally, I think the best method for executions as public entertainment would be hanging. Heck, the state could probably offset the cost of executing someone with paid admissions and TV rights, and maybe even turn a small profit.
Quote from: dps on September 20, 2012, 09:37:51 PM
Personally, I think the best method for executions as public entertainment would be hanging. Heck, the state could probably offset the cost of executing someone with paid admissions and TV rights, and maybe even turn a small profit.
Nobody reads Camus anymore. :rolleyes: