When is it ok to punish one person for the actions of another?

Question

1. Is it ok to punish Joe for something Bob did?  
2. What if the thing Bob did indirectly benefits Joe? Then is it ok?  
3. What if Bob and Joe are both male and the thing Bob did wrong was to a female? Then is it ok to punish Joe for what Bob did?  
4. What if Bob and Joe are both white and the thing Bob did wrong was to a black person? Then is it ok?  
5. What if Bob is dead and therefore can't be punished? Then is it ok to punish Joe instead?
6. What if we substitute the name "Joe" in the questions above for the phrase "someone else in like Bob"? Would that change anything?
7. Are there other circumstances that would make it ok to punish Joe or anyone else for something Bob did?

∅ · Answer

none of the things you mentioned make it okay.
in MOST scenarios, punishing one person for the actions of another is NOT okay.
the exception is, if JOE is BOB's superior in some way, such as a boss or a parent, and they ORDER Bob to do something illegal, saying they will take responsibility.
then Joe is TOTALLY at fault, although Bob may still get in some minor trouble.

? · Answer

If Joe recommended Bob for the job and turned out to be a disaster then yeah, Joe deserves some punishment

Anonymous · Answer

Apparently when my kid refuses do do something at school, I'm guilty too.

When is it ok to punish one person for the actions of another?

3 Answers