How would you use the Death Note?

[uc pseudonym]

[spoiler]And Raye Penber, his fiancee, and others working the Kira case committed what crime, again?[/spoiler]
.rai//

I think that he meant in the beginning, with Light's moral deterioration as an assumed factor. But there is still a difference between killing as it benefits you and killing in order to attempt to accomplish an ideal of justice.

A side question that I've been pondering is under what circumstance would it be OK to use the Death Note?

Exodus 20:13 has the most famous verse dealing with the topic "Thou shalt not kill." However, it is clearly not a blank statement saying that under no circumstance should one ever take the life of another. This commandment is aimed more along the lines of murder - the taking of a life without just cause.

Indeed, the Bible goes on to not only use capital punishment for certain crimes but also allows for individuals to avenge the wrongful death of a kinsman. The former can be explained away as the right of a government and not an individual but the latter is much more like vigilante justice.

So is it ever OK to use the Death Note? If so, under what circumstance?

I'm not sure when this will break our theology rule, but everyone should tread cautiously. My answer is probably obvious, so there's no need to reiterate it.

[Nate]

[spoiler]And Raye Penber, his fiancee, and others working the Kira case committed what crime, again?[/spoiler]

In the mind of Light, they committed the crime of trying to stop the creation of an ideal world. What I'm saying is Misa had no problem with killing, for example, the news reporters on TV, whereas Light would never have done that.

[Raiden no Kishi]

In the mind of Light, they committed the crime of trying to stop the creation of an ideal world. What I'm saying is Misa had no problem with killing, for example, the news reporters on TV, whereas Light would never have done that.

I see. Your contention is that Light killed only those necessary to bring about his plan, whereas Misa's methods were "sloppier", in a way. That makes sense. I don't know if I'd go as far as calling it any sort of "morals" on Light's part as much as efficiency, though. YMM, of course, V. I will also grant, as UC stated, that Light seemed to start off with his heart in the right place ~ until some latent megalomania started to set in.

.rai//

[~darkelfgirl~]

I would forget about it and it'll just sit on my desk....gathering dust....
Or I'll accidentally write someone's name and phone no. down in it, only to remember later that it's the Death Note.

Destroying it would be my first motive anyway. Or just giving it back to the Shinigami? *shrugs*

[rocklobster]

I'd kill Osama Bin Laden. Then give it back to the Shinigami. That'd be enough for me.

[Mave]

Use it to kill Light in episode 1 with so the series revolves around Misa instead.

I don't think the series would have lasted as long then. Misa is far more reckless ('sloppier' as someone else said) in her killing spree that she would have been caught pretty quickly. Light was far better in hiding his traces and is far more calculative/manipulative than Misa.

Now, I wouldn't have minded if Light looked like Misa. This has nothing to do with sexism but rather, it's based on the differences in personality (Light vs Misa). I just want that insane Light personality to drive the series.

I don't know if Light had the right heart from the beginning. I didn't feel right about him from Day 1.

[Nate]

I don't think the series would have lasted as long then. Misa is far more reckless ('sloppier' as someone else said) in her killing spree that she would have been caught pretty quickly. Light was far better in hiding his traces and is far more calculative/manipulative than Misa.

Yeah, but Misa had the eyes and Light didn't, so it's hard to say if she would've been caught sooner.

I don't know if Light had the right heart from the beginning. I didn't feel right about him from Day 1.

I think his heart WAS in the right place at first (though obviously I don't agree with what he did). I think the problem was when he saw a report of a criminal, he basically killed them right there, before trial, or he killed people already in jail. The problem is that occasionally the police arrest the wrong suspect, and often times people are wrongfully convicted (just had a guy near here recently get released from prison after like 30 years in it, DNA evidence cleared him).

Light didn't care about that though. He didn't care that maybe the police had the wrong guy, or that maybe this guy in jail didn't really do it, in his mind, they were already guilty, and that's what bothers me the most. I guess what I'm trying to say is his heart was in the right place but his head wasn't thinking properly, or something.

[GeneD]

A Death Note requires both a victim's face and name to be clear in mind.

A Winchester '73 does not.

In any case, I don't think animals have distinct names or facial features, so probably not. Good thinking though.

Ah, darn. The first thing I would do with the Death Note is take out my neighbour's dog, which barks at... what? ... our lawn at 7 in the morning. I would also destroy all living wasps, which in my books are just totally .

[Fish and Chips]

If you want to know a man's true character, give him unlimited power at his fingertips.

[Tsukuyomi]

HAHA, I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT THAT POSSIBILITY

Hmmmm, in that case, I'd burn it and then scatter the ashes u_u/

[uc pseudonym]

For the record, I didn't mean to imply that I agree with Light's goal, even from the beginning. What made me interested in Death Note in the first place was that the protagonist was the villain (that was my assumption from the first chapter, anyway). But there is still a fair distinction to be made between Light's killings and those of the other "Kiras" throughout the story.

Yeah, but Misa had the eyes and Light didn't, so it's hard to say if she would've been caught sooner.

Interesting area of speculation. However, I am inclined to say that Misa's methods would quickly result in her identity being made known. Given that masks are good enough to stop the eyes, she'd be finished from that point.

[Raiden no Kishi]

Interesting area of speculation. However, I am inclined to say that Misa's methods would quickly result in her identity being made known. Given that masks are good enough to stop the eyes, she'd be finished from that point.

Not to mention that Misa did not demonstrate the intelligence and control that Light did. Frankly, I think Misa's too silly to have pulled off anything on Light's level. If she was, I imagine Light would have seen her as a threat like L rather than a tool.

.rai//

[Bobtheduck]

I would only use it on certain world leaders... I thought of this while I was watching Death note, and I felt a little sick afterward, that I was actually seriously thinking about this and almost wishing I had one.

[termyt]

I would only use it on certain world leaders... I thought of this while I was watching Death note, and I felt a little sick afterward, that I was actually seriously thinking about this and almost wishing I had one.

I think this is a more dangerous idea out there than many considering more than one person has the Death Note. If one of the opposite political ilk sees their favored politicians being killed, they would be likely to reciprocate in kind. We wouldn’t have any leaders left.

I wouldn’t use it on any democratically elected leader, no matter how much they may “deserveâ€