> The conclusion is: no, authors write about what seizes their attention. But he doesn't really seek to absolve himself. It's more like an addict talking about

> The conclusion is: no, authors write about what seizes their attention. But he doesn't really seek to absolve himself. It's more like an addict talking about addiction: "I took another drink, because that's the compulsion I felt." This is an important point. On some level, it seems like Russo believes that right and wrong are not the most important thing here. It really all comes down to this: I had the power to do so, and I wanted to, so I did. But, at least he is thoughtful about it, and recognizes how fraught the situation is. I don't know if he is even wrong. A lot of things in life are about power. A lot of times, something that is within your power to do will make other people unhappy. You can be paralyzed by thinking about all the different ways that someone might disapprove of what you do. There's no final arbiter to tell you when you should consider those people's feelings above your own desires. On the other hand, prosocial behavior is also important. It's something we all have to balance for ourselves.