If it's already broken, might as well try. If it works, great. If not, well, it can't get more broken! And it's a good way to vent.

While not quite "beating the shit out of" someone, this reminded me of advice I've heard about giving CPR (chest compressions, chest compressions, chest compressions). Some people are afraid of doing chest compressions because they might break the person's ribs. The thing is, you cannot make this person's day any worse. They are already dead. If they have no pulse, then the choice is between keeping them dead or trying to bring them back to life with potentially a few broken ribs. Choose the broken ribs. Be a hero.