Well, if there is no way out of it, I guess I would need to choose based on my communication with the two individuals. In this case I am not related to them so I have no understanding or intimate details of their backgrounds beyond what I have established over the course of the hour in speaking with them. I would base my decision on the impact on the lives of others in each situation. That really doesn't make it any easier but I dont think I could choose the center position switch option.

Thank you for answering.

I realize that I am responding a little late, but here goes...

In my humble opinion, the terms "good" and "evil" are identical to right and wrong with an added measure of religion. Now then, all of which are simply environmental products. The fruits of learning from others by assimilation.

The reward for the need for acceptance.

It is all relative to experience, as has been mentioned earlier(the sum total).

Concerning the specific example provided...

I do not entertain such notions... and would not wish it for anyone else either.


Peace...

Thank you for ... your viewpoint.

I don't see how the torturing of children could ever be seen as "good" regardless of how "non-egocentric" and regardless of the justification because it lacks compassion for the children.

That you have little compassion for "stupid people, weak people and whiners" and actively despise them is indicative that you would easily turn to the dark side.

(I wish you could tell me why you think the statement is politically motivated, unless you think everything is political. I am far removed from politics.)

A rabid dog is not evil, it is simply sick and delusional. Perhaps you can view evil as sick and delusional, but I don't.

Yes, "evil" is a religious term as is "sin" and I am not religious. But I do know what is meant by it.

There are those on this earth who would, by my standards, qualify as "evil." They are cold and calculating and without conscience. They have little care or feeling for others and they even delight in torture and terror in an effort to feel more powerful and dominate. They enslave others. They want absolute power and that corrupts absolutely. They want to feel superior and they hate anyone who they fear is superior to them. They convince themselves they are superior and they fear they are not.

There are men in powerful positions who employ torture and mind control (MK Ultra) and who, for fun, will hunt a human being through the jungle just because they can, and rape and torture children on a regular basis.

jb

If you can't see it, perhaps you should consider making this statement more specific. Just sayin.



I don't know what you would consider to be "the dark side", but I will tell you honestly that I am a Satanist. Whether that is "dark" to you or not, is not a consideration for me. (I only look for signs of "out of control attack reflex" or a cute a$s. Everyone else can join me in Hell. )



You can wish and here your wish is fulfilled: I think it is a political statement because it has no substance, but sounds good on the surface.



None of these statements is connected by logical process. No one can know what takes place in the mind of a rabid dog--a rabid person is not a rabid dog. Only a rabid dog is a rabid dog, and from my point of view, it is neither evil NOR good--however, if it tries to attack me, I will kill it.

How can you say that a rabid dog is "delusional"...? That seems like a very strange statement to me. If one is infected by a virus, one may of course become delusional, but delusion is the product, not the process, of the disease.



And it also absolutely rocks!

If you want to believe that I personify this thing you call "evil", then I don't have a problem with that (get in line, no shoving!). However, your own delusion removes you even further from the possibility of being able to aid those who truly suffer.

If you want to save the world, stop looking at me, tear the veil from your eyes, and go out and start saving. Really--it's just that simple!

Scarlett_156,

Dear Scarlett,

I certainly am not on a mission to "save the world." I believe that everyone is responsible for their own situation and reality.

I was answering the O.P. on how I see "good and evil" in this reality.

I'm not impressed that you are a "Satanist." If you are one of Anton Levey's groupies, more power to you. I think he is a guy taking a shot at Christianity, nothing more. I actually like his philosophy although I see it as a huge prank that caught on.

I say that a rabid dog is "delusional" because domestic dogs don't normally go around attacking everything in site, it is my opinion that the dog is delusional in his sickness.

Everything is opinion anyway.

As far as "power" is concerned, people who desire and need power over other people are insecure and live in fear.

People who have power over themselves have self mastery and faith in themselves.

You can have compassion and you can practice kindness without becoming a bleeding heart and without thinking you must "save the world."

I don't believe in hell, so I won't be "joining you there."

jb

POM


And Krimsa as well agreed with her primate activity.

You are both correct and my view was, obviously, not stated aptly. The actions of the animals you both spoke of were reactions to 'feelings'. They were emotional outbursts. Yes they were destructive, and they were intentionally so, but as soon as the emotion was settled the destruction ceased.

Humans, however, are capable of destroying for the sake of self fulfillment, and not, just, because of an uncontrolled emotional outburst.

Also, humans will continue an action, even after it becomes known that the danger of continuing to do so causes irreparable damage to humanity and/or to life on this planet.

Thanks for correcting me.

And yet you deny that your statements are politically motivated. (ROFL)

To me, political means politics. I'm not running for office nor do I care about politics in the least.

So how are my statements "politically motivated?'

What does political mean to you?

jb

Oh hey Redy. How are you? I didn't even realize that was your quote. I wasnt starting any arguments. Just that chimps (our closest relatives) do have very similar behaviors though not quite as elaborate as humans.They dont think abstractly as humans are capable of doing. Thats the main difference and what sets humans apart from primates. There are just more similarities than we initially suspected. After all, we do share something like 98% of our DNA with them although now Eljay is trying to tell me he found somewhere that it was only 95% and the initial DNA sequencing testing completed back in 2005 was incorrect. He's a stickler for the details. Those dam dirty apes!

HMMM?? Maybe we should call them "" Homo-Apeiens""

Scarlett,

I thought this was a discussion forum.

If you think my response to your post was an attack then I will refrain from responding to you because you apparently are only interested in expressing your own viewpoint and not caring to listen to anyone else's and you don't care to discuss it.

So be it, so it is.

jb

A very old worn out joke and does not apply to me or this conversation.

I meassure good and evil like a rock amongst the waves. *nods to himself knowningly*

Take any act. To someone it is evil. Helping a poor dieing child is evil to some. There are those that believe the child should die (faiths or religious views) or that you personally shouldn't be helping the child (prejudice) or that the paticular child should die (hate)

You could catagorize both what they are doing as evil, and what i'm doing as evil. Just depends on who's shoes you are in.

I always figured that there is a time to be evil, and a time not to be. Yes, there are times when i would let a person die (if its against the persons wishes to live) So i guess i factor in their values and mine. I believe in nessisasry evils, but i also think most people use that as an excuse.

That being said, i've only met one person who i felt was truely evil. The difference was a presence you could feel. Things sucked around that person. Naturally it was my ex's mom!

Though if you want to dig deeper... are expierences dictate what is evil and good and the verying degree's. Teachers, scripture, problems you face, all of them make it up. It also shows how hard your willing to fight against it. Thats why there isn't a single 'hero' that has fought against 'evil'. They simply fought for something that reflected the same values as the community to which they where a hero form.

p.s. jeaniebeanie is not a whore, and thats a mean joke!

This has been quite an interesting thread to me for several reasons... some confidential and some not...

Pleasing it is for me to be able to find common ground which promotes a furthered understanding...

I actually found myself wanting to take up for another while reading through this again. Ironically enough, it is a person with whom I have been "at odds" with in the past as a result of differing opinions concerning other concepts.

THAT feeling alone is good to me!


Regarding the OP and extrapolating upon my earlier response...

The personal sense of ought is what determines right from wrong, or good from evil, or acceptable from unacceptable, etc.

This is learned from and accepted by others, and will later reflect the sum total of all experience. In addition, it will also display the product of all of that which lives inside of each of us...

It seems to me that the ones who are truly connected to the who of them have an inner knowing and live from a place of compassion and care for all.

The ones causing harm are disconnected from themselves. The more harm ... the farther they are from the who of themselves ...

No evil ... as though it were something separate and sinister inflicting itself on humanity ... no ... just humans lost...

imo

Good and evil as interpretations of the mind alone...hmmm. Maybe. But what you caste out into the world is probably going to come back at you sooner or later in some form or another and then you can decide for yourself. For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction is a law of physics governing the material world. Does it apply to the spiritual also. What if you are totally conscienceless and a sociopath? If there is no heaven or hell will you torment yourself eventually? Or will you get away with it?

I think we all kind-of value another through their act and or their actions through their lives they have lived.
If their tendencies lean towards over-all good intentions. Then we will see them as good.
If their tendencies lean towards the norm for being bad or evil(mean), then we will see them as bad.
Sometimes I have met a person and just felt a inner peace about them, especially with elderly people. But I have also felt an inner warning about someone I have just met that causes me to think a fear from them.
I can't truly explain this inner feeling except its like a Pause, when forgetting something, as you turn to walk out your door.
Something this person has provoked through their looks or words to cause caution or calm.

Thanks to everyone for commenting. Especially those who actually answered the questions. (You know who you are - and aren't. )

So the general consensus seems to be that the determination of right and wrong or good and bad is pretty capricious. It's either instinctive (“I just feel it in my bones”) or trained (“my mama taught me what’s right and what’s wrong”), but almost never examined or thought out using logic or reason.

Very interesting.