It's hard to self-reflect well enough to answer that! but I think something like: (1) it's good to occasionally (but not often) have emotional and human elements show up here in ways that differ from what usually shows up here. (Those elements may be good or bad, btw), and (2) if I have to choose between HN punishing people for past crimes vs. HN giving someone a second (or third, or Nth) chance, then I have to choose the latter, even though I don't like either of those choices.

(1) is about not getting too stuck in any pattern and (2) is about not reinforcing a worse pattern.

Fair enough. That makes sense to me. I appreciate the insight!

Keep up the good work. :)