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Ask HN: Do you consider yourself to be evil?

7 points by bordercases 11y ago

eecks 11y ago
Not at all
J_Darnley 11y ago
Evil? No. Other not nice adjectives? Yes.
explorigin 11y ago
Please define "evil"
kleer001 11y ago
No. Neither do I consider myself good. Life and the world in general is far too complex for simple labels like that. I would also add that I believe using good and evil in high level decision making leads to antisocial behaviours such as stereotyping.
seekingcharlie 11y ago
Is evil something you are? Or is it something you do?
- AnimalMuppet 11y ago
  Or is it something you do because of something you are?
davismwfl 11y ago
Not evil but I have had a number of adjectives assigned to me. Many that are not great, but many that are totally awesome. The best is hearing people tell me they would follow me through anything. But to hear that I am an asshole or other like term is just a note anymore. Generally I work really hard to prevent those terms, so when they are given to me, I wear them as a sign I did the right thing.
weavie 11y ago
I have heard it said that evil springs from ignorance. In which case I can say that yes, definitely I am evil. I cannot possibly know and understand everything, no matter how hard I strive for it. I am sure I have (unwillingly) upset and hurt plenty of beings in my chaotic tumble through this life.
gadders 11y ago
Read "How to Win Friends and Influence People". Nobody in their own heads thinks they are evil. They may act in such a way, but they can internally rationalise it away. I bet even Hitler would claim to be acting with good intentions.
NumberCruncher 11y ago
I am not, because I´m Google, but let see, what other people say about themselves. "Under my coat is a weary heart, but a kind one - one that would do nobody any harm." Two Gun Crowley: http://swordandscale.com/francis-two-gun-crowley/ http://swordandscale.com/francis-two-gun-crowley/ "I have spent the best years of my life giving people the lighter pleasures, helping them have a good time, and all I get is abuse, the existence of a hunted man." Al Capone
ice303 11y ago
I listen to a lot of black metal, so by popular belief, I guess I'm evil.
- apryldelancey 11y ago
  Well, that would make me guilty too then.
ionised 11y ago
I consider myself indifferent, or neutral. I don't buy into the concepts of universal good and evil, or arbitrary morality. There are just a series of events that occur.
joeclark77 11y ago
[Romans 7:14] For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. [15] For that which I work, I understand not. For I do not that good which I will; but the evil which I hate, that I do. [16] If then I do that which I will not, I consent to the law, that it is good. [17] Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [18] For I know that there dwelleth not in me, that is to say, in my flesh, that which is good. For to will, is present with me; but to accomplish that which is good, I find not. [19] For the good which I will, I do not; but the evil which I will not, that I do. [20] Now if I do that which I will not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
ekr 11y ago
http://mindingourway.com/there-are-no/ http://mindingourway.com/there-are-no/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/i0/are_your_enemies_innately_evil/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/i0/are_your_enemies_innately_evil/ As others in this thread, I don't assign a goodness index to people around me, my model of them is much more complex than that, based on evolutionary psychology, mainly. As for myself, I try to maintain a love for the self, in a way, trying to reassure myself that my system 2 thinking will be there for system 1, irrespective of whatever failures I may be experiencing. That's not really compatible with my definition of evil.
insoluble 11y ago
Asking such a question is like saying "Do you consider yourself to be stupid?". You can expect the aggregate result to reflect ego more than anything else. Just like objective tests are needed to measure intelligence, you would need objective tests to measure evilness, or the inverse of altruism. On another note, you would need to define the types of evil with which you are concerned.
apryldelancey 11y ago
What's your definition of evil?
pavornyoh 11y ago
>Do you consider yourself evil? The subject is very vague. Everyone's definition of evil is different. I am a flawed human being but evil no based on what it means to me.

7 points by bordercases 11y ago

eecks 11y ago

Not at all

J_Darnley 11y ago

Evil? No. Other not nice adjectives? Yes.

explorigin 11y ago

Please define "evil"

kleer001 11y ago

No. Neither do I consider myself good. Life and the world in general is far too complex for simple labels like that. I would also add that I believe using good and evil in high level decision making leads to antisocial behaviours such as stereotyping.

seekingcharlie 11y ago

Is evil something you are? Or is it something you do?

AnimalMuppet 11y ago
Or is it something you do because of something you are?

davismwfl 11y ago

Not evil but I have had a number of adjectives assigned to me. Many that are not great, but many that are totally awesome. The best is hearing people tell me they would follow me through anything. But to hear that I am an asshole or other like term is just a note anymore. Generally I work really hard to prevent those terms, so when they are given to me, I wear them as a sign I did the right thing.

weavie 11y ago

I have heard it said that evil springs from ignorance. In which case I can say that yes, definitely I am evil. I cannot possibly know and understand everything, no matter how hard I strive for it. I am sure I have (unwillingly) upset and hurt plenty of beings in my chaotic tumble through this life.

gadders 11y ago

Read "How to Win Friends and Influence People". Nobody in their own heads thinks they are evil. They may act in such a way, but they can internally rationalise it away. I bet even Hitler would claim to be acting with good intentions.

NumberCruncher 11y ago

I am not, because I´m Google, but let see, what other people say about themselves. "Under my coat is a weary heart, but a kind one - one that would do nobody any harm." Two Gun Crowley: http://swordandscale.com/francis-two-gun-crowley/ http://swordandscale.com/francis-two-gun-crowley/ "I have spent the best years of my life giving people the lighter pleasures, helping them have a good time, and all I get is abuse, the existence of a hunted man." Al Capone

ice303 11y ago

I listen to a lot of black metal, so by popular belief, I guess I'm evil.

apryldelancey 11y ago
Well, that would make me guilty too then.

ionised 11y ago

I consider myself indifferent, or neutral. I don't buy into the concepts of universal good and evil, or arbitrary morality. There are just a series of events that occur.

joeclark77 11y ago

[Romans 7:14] For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. [15] For that which I work, I understand not. For I do not that good which I will; but the evil which I hate, that I do. [16] If then I do that which I will not, I consent to the law, that it is good. [17] Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [18] For I know that there dwelleth not in me, that is to say, in my flesh, that which is good. For to will, is present with me; but to accomplish that which is good, I find not. [19] For the good which I will, I do not; but the evil which I will not, that I do. [20] Now if I do that which I will not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

ekr 11y ago

http://mindingourway.com/there-are-no/ http://mindingourway.com/there-are-no/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/i0/are_your_enemies_innately_evil/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/i0/are_your_enemies_innately_evil/ As others in this thread, I don't assign a goodness index to people around me, my model of them is much more complex than that, based on evolutionary psychology, mainly. As for myself, I try to maintain a love for the self, in a way, trying to reassure myself that my system 2 thinking will be there for system 1, irrespective of whatever failures I may be experiencing. That's not really compatible with my definition of evil.

insoluble 11y ago

Asking such a question is like saying "Do you consider yourself to be stupid?". You can expect the aggregate result to reflect ego more than anything else. Just like objective tests are needed to measure intelligence, you would need objective tests to measure evilness, or the inverse of altruism. On another note, you would need to define the types of evil with which you are concerned.

apryldelancey 11y ago

What's your definition of evil?

pavornyoh 11y ago

>Do you consider yourself evil? The subject is very vague. Everyone's definition of evil is different. I am a flawed human being but evil no based on what it means to me.