Lava,
I have to agree with this one too.
If you are JUST talking about psychopaths - that 1% or so - than absolutely, you are right.
If I had the terrible misfortune to give birth to something like that...I probably wouldn't be able to love that kid. I would maybe force myself to, out of duty, I would try to fix the problem, because this is what we are expected to do, but I will probably not be able to love that thing.
But then again, you got unlucky...you know. Just like some people get lucky when they buy a lottery ticket. You can only pray that it will not happen to you.
I used to be an "idealistic liberal" (now I am just a more down-to-earth one, with some conservative beliefs sprinkled here and there for good measure :) ). So I used to love that type of "Dead Man Walking" movies...oh, if only we were good, loving and merciful, then we would be able to bring out the hidden goodness in ANY human being.
Bullshit. I was wrong. Shamefully wrong and I admit it.
As a matter of fact, I think there is more hidden nastiness than hidden goodness in human beings, generally speaking. But some are much nastier than others.
Since then, I have looked deep into the actions and even beliefs of people (stated anonymously, like some do it with no remorse or excuse on this forum); and today I HAVE NO DOUBT in my mind and my heart that some people are simply born with an evil gene.
Don't ask me to define evil using all kinds of logical crap, bookish definitions and useless medical terminology.
I "feel" evil when I am faced with it. It smells and feels and tastes in a way that sends shivers down my spine and creates boiling bubbles on my brain.
Like you said, anybody who gives clear signs that they have absolutely no concern or mercy for the life of another human being and they would purposefully harm them, tread on them, or fail to help them in times of terrible struggle - is PURE EVIL period.
You can just get close, open your eyes, look at it and smell it - and you will SEE it. I would have no problems turning the electric chair switch on that kind of evil simply to make it disappear.
- I think that all inherent bullies have a seed of evil in them.
- Those dudes who decapitate a human being when he/she is pleading - is evil.
- By the same token, those dudes who say they do not care if they tread on the "weak"on their way to making fortunes for THEIR OWN families - are evil. Like you said, those who have no concern for the well-being of others and push them into misery simply because they CAN (see your comments about why the working poor cannot strike)... especially if those kinds of actions are only to advance their own well-being and interests to the dtriment of others - THOSE are pure evil too.
They won't admit it is to the detriment of others, but they know very well it is true.
It is not enough to dress this kind of behavior with the word "capitalism" and automatically assume it is OK and right because it's just "human nature"; and then point at decapitations and dress them with the word "islamism" - and you're done.
Both types of behavior are EVIL. The latter is in your face, the former is more subtle. Make no mistake about it - the terrorist decapitators are not the only evil in this world. I have seen tons of it right here in the US, even right here on this very forum.
That psychopath Bob moved on the Butterface section , who was equating "poor, unhealthy, ugly...or tenured academics!!!!!!!!!!!" with "bad and undeserving"; and "entrepreneurial, healthy and good-looking" with "good and deserving" ...that guy is PURE EVIL too. Without a doubt. This kind of perverted thinking used to be called Nazism.
I am only afraid that such rotten minds will come out again from their dark holes and will eventually attempt to take over again - because being a nasty, self-righteous, compassion-less bully IS in their blood and they will have to act on that urge sooner or later.
You don't need to actually decapitate somebody to show your evil colors and what you would be capable of if society let you reach that extreme.
But, belive me, I understand exactly what you mean with the child psychopaths. They become tomorrow's psychopaths. You see them more often than you thought you would see them.
I vividly remember one kid like that from my childhood - a boy. Most of the times, they ARE boys. I don't know why. (And no, I don't hate men, I have nothing against testosterone - so much the better, you will be able to protect me, the weak female - and I am not a feminazi).Testosetrone is not evil.
But the reality is thagt a lot of unmerciful, bully psychopaths are simply males. Not sure why.
Now ...this boy was literally hitting hard with big hard objects any kid who was getting anywhere close to his designated territory - the whole block. He enjoyed putting immense fear in other kids, he had developed a reputation in the entire neighborhood and he LOVED making them suffer beyond belief.
Obviously, I didn't know much intellectual and theoretical bullshit as a kid - but I swear I KNEW that kid was DIFFERENT and that it had SOMETHING DARK in him.
Solution? I don't know...
Pre-emptive strikes? ...Poison?...I am all for it.
