How do you measure evil? 😈

[DarkRange55]

What is your yardstick?

 

[Dejected 55]

Don't know exactly... but intent is a big part of it. Animals that hunt and kill for food and survival are not evil... but hunting and killing can be evil when it is done for sport or oppression.

That's the easiest example that comes to mind.

 

[noname223]

In Germany we use the so called "Hitler scale". And if you measure Netanjahu with it you are going to jail - it is as simple as that.

A more serious answer. I am not sure. I am not sure I believe that there are good and bad people. On the one hand, people are complex. But would you agree that Hitler or Stalin were evil or is everything relative? I think the answer is in between.

Children can do horrible things to each other. Things we would consider really evil like murder. But most of them count as innocent. Actually, children can be really bad bullies. I can remember a story which I read on here.

A young girl maybe 10 was bullied in school, she tried to hang herself, survived and now has severe brain damage. Congrats to the parents who let that happen. I mean living with extreme brain damage. So her bullies visited her at the hospital to make fun of her. And there are countless stories of the 764 community. People who did undoubtedly evil things. But are all people who do evil things evil? It becomes complex.

My personal measurement scale is my gut feeling mixed with some logic and with the intent to contextualize things. Am I good in that? I don't know. I think I am also pretty judgemental and fast at coming to conclusions. My conscience is the result of a pretty rough biography. I often worry about being a horrible human being. And then I meet people who want to hurt me intentionally and I realize damn maybe I am not the worst person on earth. But many think of themselves often as innocent in conflicts me included.

 

[Dejected 55]

There are evil kids. People say kids that are bullies don't know better or will grow out of this. Know who says this? Adults who actively defend bullying as if it builds character for the victims. Adults don't like thinking about punishing kids the same way they eagerly punish adults for doing the same things. Kids know what they are doing. Any kid you think doesn't know better, you'd see how much they know if they were the victim instead of the perpetrator. Same as with adults. People defend awful shit they do to others but would have a screaming fit if it was returned to them.

There are kids and adults who can be redeemed. It happens. One size does not fit all. But you don't get a pass for evil, or you shouldn't get a pass for evil, because you are young or cute or whatever dipshit reason someone has for defending acts of evil. Many of your worst evil adults started with evil shit as a kid that could have been addressed or curbed if anyone paid attention and did something.

 

[itsgone2]

You could start with love and respect for others. Not having that would be a sign.
Or perhaps the opposite too, not doing the things to protect your family and neighbors from those that would harm.