Would reintroducing coats of arms help reduce crime?

[purplepoppy]

Back in the day if you were a naughty boy your families coat of arms would be marked. This is where we get the phrase "a stain on the family name" from.
But would something similar work today? Commit a crime and we'll change your families crest to reflect your dishonour for all to see. A negative mark could seriously affect your children's future employment chances or your brothers ability to find a wife for years to come.

[God_of_Thunder]

I would rather we didn't, personally.

It's a good idea, in theory, but the people staining the family honor are generally pretty selfish, so they wouldn't much care about the consequences. If they did, they wouldn't be criminals. Then the only people who would be punished would be those people that did nothing wrong.

Case in point: my father, and two of my cousins, have been in and out of prison for years. Several family members have tried to help them, but they just keep going back. I've since disowned all of them, and haven't spoken to my father in almost 20 years, now.

Meanwhile, I've never been in trouble a day in my life. Why should I pay for his crimes? Fuck him, and my cousins. If my father's actions negatively affected me, in that way, or my children, then I would be in prison, because I would have murdered the son of a bitch.

That would be at least one relevant example of an increase in crime, due to that policy.

[Lliam]

I never heard of "marks" on a coat of arms. How interesting. I'm glad that my paternal and maternal (Irish) coats of arms aren't marked.

So how would people know if someone's coat of arms was marked? Who would issue or approve coats of arms? Would everyone be required to wear their coats of arms in public?
Your question brings up complicated issues. I don't have an answer.

[SaoirseS]

No, there's no reason to pass on dishonor to your heirs. Let the one who has dishonored the family alone pay the price. Have them restore family honor by committing Seppuku, just like my mother's Feudal Japanese ancestors. If they need a Tanto, they can borrow one of mine.

[SaoirseS]

Thanks for MHO!

[DJB72]

I doubt it would reduce crime, but it'd make job interviews more entertaining. I wouldn't mind being able to carry sword and shield with me in some areas I've lived in irrespective of the heraldry marks on it. No wanker with a hammer is going to argue with a guy carrying a claymore or a katana...

[AviatorTom]

Interesting idea, but I'm not sure how it would work. Most people don't have family crests let alone display them. Maybe we should just laser a letter on them when found guilty of a crime, like Hester Prynne's "A".

[molonski2]

The idea has merit , but some just wouldn't give a sht , they'd try and get as many black marks as possible , and would basically be saying to sister ( and others ) " Fck you bitch " --------------

[SomeGuyCalledTom]

These days people wear their dishonour like a badge of pride, if the average Tiktok feed is anything to go by. So I'm not sure this would be effective as a detterent lol

[Sixgunsound]

Wouldn’t promoting coats of arms somehow promote toxic masculinity? I mean if duty and honor and fighting for the family name were to become main stream again, that poses all sorts of problems for single parent households.

[Fuentes]

As a kid I found it cool to pull my cards. When we had the green, yellow, red system. I feared it until I had to pull it. Then it became a challenge. So no I think it would increase it.

[jshm2]

No need. We have criminal records, these days.

Back then, a piece of parchment was a days wage, and you still had to buy the ink and quill and someone to write.

[Anonymous]

It might have worked if we had always done these things and involved the plebs in it too but these days people would just treat it like Pokemon or an 'achievement unlocked' and 'try to catch them all'.

[PositiveNote]

I think that straight jackets may help a little more there, PurplePop!

[Zolly99999]

I doubt that would work today. Today's society doesn't give a shit any more.

[Alex8736]

Look at the state of California with the liberals and high crime rate and the criminals get release and recognizes regardless of the crime and the victims involved but then again the LAPD is infamous for corruption even Long prior the Watts riots

[bean2k21]

[Anonymous]

System of control of nobles had little to do with crime for almost no one outside of said nobles had a coat of arms.

[exitseven]

Nah, nobody has any shame about anything. That is part of the problem.

[captain_voidwalker]

Nope, you wanna reduce crime tell everyone to buy a gun and learn how to use it.

[Pudsmucker]

I like your comments about the family coat of arms.

[Jennz6]

I don’t think so. Nice try

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I imagine that this would work

[panamared1]

Might be a step in the right direction

[Jamie05rhs]

I think that would be an excellent idea.

[MiseriaCantareAFI]

nope

money would

[Jenny-Marie]

It is never right to punish the innocent.

[maximumpower]

Nope.
Most don't give a damn.

[Andres77]

Graffiti?

[msc545]

Silly idea.

[Anonymous]

prob not