History Main / MakeAnExampleOfThem

* ''Literature/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'': As part of his plans to integrate the monster-populated kingdom of Tempest with the rest of the world, Rimuru advocates a policy of pacifism against humans and builds up Tempest as a prosperous new trade hub through what was previously a dangerous forest. However, this inadvertently threatens the kingdom of Falmuth, whose economy was reliant on being a major trade hub themselves that circumvented the forest. With people flocking to Tempest as the new superior trade center, Falmuth decides to respond by [[spoiler: masacring hundreds of civilian monsters and threatening to declare war on a flimsy "monster extermination" pretext, intending to take the city for themselves]]. Tempest responds in kind by [[spoiler: completely anihilating the entire 20,000-man invading army and letting Rimuru devour their souls]], half because [[spoiler: they needed the souls to resurrect their fallen and let Rimuru evolve into a Demon Lord]] and half to send a message to the other nations that they should not [[GoodIsNotSoft mistake their pacifism]] [[MartialPacifist for weakness]].

** His first claim to fame as a lieutenant was quelling the piracy in the Greater Seswenna sector, first by planning the trap that allowed the capture of the pirate queen Q'anah and her Marauders... And then putting them all men in a container rigged with broadcasting equipment, [[HurlItIntoTheSun putting the container in a slowly decaying orbit over a sun]], and broadcast on the holonet both their slow deaths and those of anyone who tried to save them. Piracy in the Greater Seswenna almost disappeared overnight.

*** Tarkin is the prosecutor at the trial for the bombing of the Jedi Temple, and blinds himself at the idea [[spoiler:Ahsoka]] is innocent and the faults in the evidence because by obtaining a death sentence he would prove, to the population and the Jedi themselves, that everyone, even the Jedi, were accountable before the law. [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone He is appalled at himself when Anakin barges in with the real culprit and proves he almost got an innocent executed]].

This is for when the benefit of what you do to someone isn't so much in and of itself as about the message it sends to others, about what could happen to them. As is implied from this, what happened needs to be known in order for it to work. While the [[DeadGuyOnDisplay most common]] "example" is [[PublicExecution death]], more cunning punishment forces realize that [[DontCreateAMartyr this can backfire]], and will go for the HumiliationConga and/or FateWorseThanDeath.

It is often associated with governments, especially the more tyrannical of them, but not exclusively; see also the deterrence argument for the use of this in the context of more democratic societies. Also, even forces outside the law, like terrorists, [[TheMobBossIsScarier criminal syndicates]], and {{Serial Killer}}s, apply this as well. It's also very common with [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized revolutionary forces]]; with prisoners, [[HangingAround stringing up]] or dumping their mutilated remains serves as a warning to soldiers of the current regime, while population centers that they suspect of being in league with the regime or even just not being supportive of them are likely to be [[RapePillageAndBurn brutalized]] as a "stand with us or else" message.

* ''Literature/BootCamp'': Higher ranking kids at Lake Harmony normally punish lower-ranking kids by slapping, twisting, or squeezing them, which doesn't leave visible injuries. But after [[spoiler:Garrett is brought back from his escape attempt]], Joe temporarily suspends the rule against leaving marks, and Jon and Ron beat Garrett bloody so the other kids will see what happens to [[spoiler:escapees]].