Know Thy Self, know Thy Enemy

There are consequences when going after another man's wife.

Great story. Pratt was warned and Jim always kept his promises. Kate will never sleep well again.

Good one, a bit unclear to me as to how long after Jim was released did Pratt die.. Maybe should read it again some day.

Utterly fantastic story! Not only did the cheaters get theirs but with one gone now the hubby can concentrate on his ex-wife. I'm glad this is a fiction because there are several things a person could use in Jim Scott's case if they were in that situation. ahhh, as they say: "LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!" lol

Despite what someone commented, Jim was NEVER "psychotic." His grasp on reality was never impaired at all, thus the word "psychotic" never fit.

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That his actions once he CORRECTLY assessed what that reality was might be different that what others think might be called atavistic in the societal sense (a throwback to an earlier time). Actions that persisted for millenia, until Code Duello replaced vendetta, and then the advent in the 18th century of the "police force" as a profession (other than tax-collector).

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And as we drift away from a shared moral structure, and our multi-tiered system of "justice" continue to fracture, I expect to see Code Duello, or Vendetta to return. Sadly, there is far too much historical narcissism today, thinking that because "it's been that way all my life" must mean "that's how it's always been."

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The modern western civilization (which more people should seriously study) was built on shared values and high trust, enforced as needed by a corresponding legal system fairly applied. That in some (most?) places, the marriage contract has become one of the few contracts that the courts refuse to enforce is to the detriment of marriage. Jim's actions were quite simple: Steal and pay the consequences. While there are many things one could call that philosophy, "psychotic" does not fit.

Thanks for an excellent look into an alternate viewpoint.

In my view Dan bought trouble - but - there were other ways for him to get it, and without Jim earning a jail sentence. Jim has the money, a few thou in the right places could buy Danny boy a future with zero gonads and wouldn't that be enjoyable to Scotty - if not Dan and Kate ......

I'm worried about the morality of my actions, not the legality.

Oliver Wendell Homes said that This is a court of law and not a court of Justice.

Justice has no place in our courts. That has to change and it's not going to change by electing attorneys to political office.

Holly crap that’s one bad ass dude. Luckily he is in the marshal islands

Anonymous from 7 months ago (code duello mentioned) is on point. Society’s legal system doesn’t appear to value the institution of marriage, infidelity to the ‘contract’ is of no import in a no fault world.

Where does the male go for redress / legal remedy where a predatory seducer of married women has fouled his marriage? Yes the wife was co-responsible, but the Dan character was a determined seducer - with a smirk! What remedy was there for Jim for the wilful damage done to him .. it was emotional as opposed to a financial loss so no ‘civil’ law damages remedy exists (on the face of it .. but the financial consequences would have followed in the ordinary course of a divorce, maintenance/alimony even absent kids, but that wouldn’t be Dan’s liability or actionable against him) alienation of affection suits are judicially worthless even where they are still permitted. What Dan did was not a criminal offence so there are no remedies there.

So what’re the options .. walk away, turn the other cheek? .. even where the smirking shyster has turned up to attempt to publicly humiliate you at your company event … grrrrrr, .. meekly accept such provocations without response? .. nope not happening; beat the sleazy bugger senseless? .. aye, that’s the old fashioned way, and none would have said Dan’s conduct didn’t bloody merit it (until recently!).

5* … Jim

Great story and the revenge that just keeps on giving. I was satisfied with the way things turned out with the exception of the very last part. Kate didn't get off scot-free, she lost all her personal items, her money and lost her lover. Guless that's not enough to satisfy her ex though. I bet she wet her panties when she read that card lol.

In Early Modern English, THY is to THINE as A is to AN.

Very good story. With a deep message.

A study in contrasts between a man who was PERFECTLY honest (perhaps on the spectrum) and a civilization that is not any longer (if it ever was). Jim Scott kept his word at great personal price. His wife did not. And the culture he was in is dishonest, in that the marriage "contract" is a contract no longer. Predation and breach of contract are not punished by the legal system.

To pick a nit with the prior Anon - Jim Scott was ***not*** "psychotic" in any way. Psychosis (which a person identified as psychotic is affected by) is the difficulty or inability to identify reality. Jim Scott perfectly identified objective reality in many, many ways. He correctly identified Pratt as a sexual predator. Jim Scott correctly identified his wife as Pratt's target. Jim Scott correctly identified Pratt as Scott's enemy. Jim Scott correctly identified that the legal system was not on his side.

So he took what are, TODAY, extralegal actions , to whit retaliation, to end the affair. And he even warned Pratt that involving the legal system would result in further retaliation. While in jail, Jim Scott never denied his actions. As such, his grasp of reality was unwavering.

That Jim Scott's behavior was atavistic was never indicative of a psychosis. In many thousands of years of history, his behavior would be perfectly acceptable. Code Duello persisted for a very long time precisely because in the absence of police forces, it was far more functional than families feuding for decades. And with the breakdown of integrity and the end of "shame" as a behavioral control -- to say nothing of various perversions in the so-called "legal" system that actively rewards or dismisses misbehavior -- code duello is likely to return. The problem with the loss of "justice" in the system is that people begin to create their own forms of justice -- thus the lesson.

Really enjoyed it. Not so much for the specific actions Jim Scott took than for his steadfastness and honesty. Thank you.

The writing's quite good, covers Writers' Workshop criteria very well.

Any way you look at it, though, the creativity of the plotline rests upon one singular fact--Jim Scott was a psychotic personality whose judgement had gone from "impaired" (as he learned of his wife's affair)--to essentially non-existent by the time of his physical attack upon his wife's lover (Dan). The recitation of events from start to finish lacked any sense of drama--and eroticism was totally missing. I'm reminded of the monologues of Sgt. Joe Friday of the old TV series Dragnet-; this story was about as interesting as reading a recipe out of a Betty Crocker cookbook.

But hey! You wrote the recipe with competence. So keep writing.

MLJ

Jim has a way of making a point.

That's the way to do it 5*****

Story that is so realistic its scary. Jim beat Dan he went prison for it. Dan got shot dead and with no evidence Jim cant be put away. Dan got what he deserved but Kate needs a harsh lesson too. Extreme revenge for Extreme betrayal.

Very Enjoyable Very Realistic Read . 5/5