NationStates Jolt Archive

What is Evil? This is a question which has fascinated mankind since we were able to form thoughts and words, and mold society to our liking. I ask of you, inhabitants of Earth, what is evil? I am very interested in your opinion. Just no "Bush is evil" or "abortion is evil" or "pudding is evil," please. This is a very serious thread.

but pudding IS evil :eek:


i guess, for me, evil is harming others (in whatever way, shape or form that takes)

Morally wrong?

Evil is usually characterized by anger, causing harm or pain. An evil act is considering causing suffering.

I think the question I have is - what is 'Good'?

From the perspective of one that may be considered evil, their own actions seem 'good'.

From my dream of talking to God evil is simply a distorted view of good, a peversion of the light dimmed by ego, time, and wandering.

All things, beings, and everything stem from "the spheres" I was told. Bassicaly these "spheres" were like Ying/Yang. Chaos/Law. They had differant ideas of what was "good" because they themselves were differant, and if you know anything about biology foreighn cells and energies don't take kindly to something not of it's nature.. So the two fight, wether we know this or not. But in the midsts of that fighting and being limited mortals with a rather menial sense of enlightenment. Our energy's side becomes peverted and tainted. This is where we get "evil". All beings are capable of being "evil" because all beings are capable of being wrong, weak, and witherd..

Evil more or less is our level of flaw. The more flaws, the more evil.
Now you could argue with me on what perfection is, (Which I know there's only going to be two general responses so don't bother..) but the fact of the matter is some of us are less imperfect then others, it is our place in life to try and perfect one another and ourselves inorder to ascend into true happyness.

Now you may be wondering why i'm not meditating in some temple or whatever if I think the way I do. That's a relativly simple answer..
Because i'm evil.. And because i'm evil i'd rather see the other side lose then my side win.. >: D

Evil is commonly linked to pessimism. I'll just quote "Poetic Tragedy" by The Used on this one:

"The cup is not half empty as pessimists say
As far as he's sees, nothing's left in the cup
A whole cup full of nothing for him to indulge
Since the voice of ambition has long since been shut up"

Evil is commonly linked to pessimism. I'll just quote "Poetic Tragedy" by The Used on this one:

"The cup is not half empty as pessimists say
As far as he's sees, nothing's left in the cup
A whole cup full of nothing for him to indulge
Since the voice of ambition has long since been shut up"
Makes sense, I'm especialy pessimistic.

But considering the large amount of stuipids I have to put up with and knowing there's no possible way I can slaughter them all can you blame me?

If only Hitler and all them other genocidical maniacs had gone after stupid people instead of some "infirior race"..

Then again rascism is stupid in itself..

AHH! BUDDHISM WAS RIGHT! IGNORANCE IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL! >_<

Evil is a term to describe the behavior of outsiders and the outsiders themselves. Evil is a label applied by a group to others that it wants to kill or punish, or avoid if they are too strong to kill or punish. It is also a term used to classify group members who violate group norms.

Axiom: Women = Time * Money
Axiom: Time = Money
Axiom: Money is the Root of all Evil

Then: Women = Money * Money

or: Women = Money^2

But: Money = Evil^(1/2)

Then: Women = ((Evil^(1/2))^2)

Thus: Women = Evil :eek:

AHH! BUDDHISM WAS RIGHT! IGNORANCE IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL! >_<

And my personal hero, Imam Ali Ibn Abu Talib really had a problem with ignorance.

"There is no wealth like knowledge, no poverty like ignorance."

"A fool's mind is at the mercy of his tongue and a wise man's tongue is under the control of his mind."

Although he was a great warrior, his main battle was his crusade against ignorance.

Axiom: Women = Time * Money

Ah yes, unless you are a women, then MEN=timex$$$

PLease, keep this a serious thread.

Ah yes, unless you are a women, then MEN=timex$$$
PLease, keep this a serious thread.
Well, I voted anyway. My point was that you can even "Prove" somthing is evil if you want to.

I'm not sure I have time to discuss Evil as a metaphysical construct, a definition within a Moral system, or a category of Ethical action (my vote).

The semantic abstraction "evil" is all of those things.

The semantic abstraction "evil" is all of those things.

Ah, so evil is an abstract concept then? It isn't a person, or an action? You can't say that evil is all of those things when so many diasagree with each other.

I would have had many more choices in my poll but Max Barry only let's me have 10.

Evil is a word.

Evil does not exist.

Evil is a term used by bigots to refer to dissenters against their views.

True evil in the sense people mean it cannot be attained except by people who commit "immoral" or "wrong" actions knowing that said actions are immoral or wrong, but not caring or taking pleasure in doing such actions. Such people are crazy and crazy people are not evil, they are sick.

Evil does not exist, hence, its opposite, good does not exist either. You cannot have good without evil. It's like yin and yang.

Evil, a pictoral essay ...

http://edition.cnn.com/US/9910/13/jonbenet.grand.jury.02/ramsey.parents.jpg

http://www.nature.com/news/2004/040705/images/monkey.jpg

http://www.tulane.edu/~dmsander/WWW/335/hiv.jpg

http://www.lies.com/wp/images/w_girl.jpg

http://www.lies.com/blog/archives/rice.jpg

Axiom: Women = Time * Money
Axiom: Time = Money


Ahah!
Women=time*money
Time=Money
Women=time*time
Women=time squared
Times Square in in New York
Women have BIG APPLES!

lol...somebody told me this joke last year and i just remembered it...thought it's share it with you.

Someone mentioned to me as i was creating this thread that language is evil. Language and misscommunication errors create many problems. What do you think, nation-staters, is language evil? (For any and all opinions on "What is Evil?", try to back them up.)

evil is anything that is not the way it was intended to be. all the atheists will probably get super pissed at me for this, but God created the world with a plan, and things that deviate from that plan, like death, crime, abortion, etc, are evil. and don't anybody dare even suggest that i'm saying technology, or language is evil, because i'm not.

Someone mentioned to me as i was creating this thread that language is evil. Language and misscommunication errors create many problems. What do you think, nation-staters, is language evil? (For any and all opinions on "What is Evil?", try to back them up.)Language is evil. That's why we ought to start over. Kwbxhlgr hwytrhxz zxiejx jxemdd, fjdnfeeswqô? ;)

evil is anything that is not the way it was intended to be. all the atheists will probably get super pissed at me for this, but God created the world with a plan, and things that deviate from that plan, like death, crime, abortion, etc, are evil. and don't anybody dare even suggest that i'm saying technology, or language is evil, because i'm not.God didn't create the Internet or NS, did he? Therefore it's evil. So you shouldn't even be posting here at all. Why do fundamentalists even use the Internet?

Ah, so evil is an abstract concept then? It isn't a person, or an action? You can't say that evil is all of those things when so many diasagree with each other.

I would have had many more choices in my poll but Max Barry only let's me have 10.
No, the WORD "evil" is a semantic abstraction that varies depending on context, as your Poll/Post intimates. (Read Korzibski & Lee)

I voted "Action", because "evil" (an unethical action), at the lowest order of abstraction, is that action which, for any given situation, causes the greatest amount of objective, non-consentual, physical harm to another.

Evil, a pictoral essay. Very interesting. I understand you were being light-hearted, but now I shall take the time to twist your words like all aspiring politicians should. Evil is within people, or are people apparently. Men and women, and all races have the affliction. Even down to the cellular level, so is evil incorporated into the genetic code? Funny, I don't remember the Human Genome project uncovering an Evil gene. So perhaps it is an unseen force? And the monkey: do animals have the capacity to be evil? Or did we eviolve from monkeys as they say, and the monkeys were left behind without the ability to choose to not be evil? And why coes Condaleeza Rice look like she just stepped in something unpleasant? Was the something...EVIL!!!? Haha, I am being paranoid. But I have hears others tell me that paranoia is evil. And still more tell me it is constant vigilence on the lookout for evil. So if paranoia is not evil, it is the opposite, the paranoid outcasts of society are good? Are they secret evil fighters sent from some un-seen force of good?

Evil is an attribute, like beauty.

what a wonderfully succinct way of putting it :cool:

Evil, a pictoral essay. Very interesting. I understand you were being light-hearted

Hardly. The pics are Jon Benet Ramsey's parents, a truly creepy monkey that will haunt my nightmares for years to come, AIDS infected cells, a terrible thing to do to a child, and a terrible thing to do to a nation.

Evil is.

That's it.

thanks, i'm rather proud of my little poll options. they are my babies.

"What is Evil?"

Myrth! :D

What is Evil? This is a question which has fascinated mankind since we were able to form thoughts and words, and mold society to our liking. I ask of you, inhabitants of Earth, what is evil? I am very interested in your opinion. Just no "Bush is evil" or "abortion is evil" or "pudding is evil," please. This is a very serious thread.

I'd say that evil is the choice of that which is other than good/right/benevolent/loving... vice over virtue is a pretty good description, though a tad simplistic.

...though a tad simplistic.

well i had to make them as simplistic as i could while still getting my point across, i need as many people as are able to understand.

what about...
NOT Evil is a....
JUST Evil is.

Evil, a pictoral essay ...
<SNIP>

That picture of Condo Rice is hella evil.

Here's a perfect example of how both sides of the playing field can be evil.

What an avegilyne would say..
"My Lord, is that legal"
"I will make it legal!"
Guess who? NUTE GUNRAY AND DARTH SIDEIOUS!

What a securalist would say..
Why? Why do you do it? Why get up? Why keep fighting? Do you believe you're fighting for something? For more then your survival? Can you tell me what it is? Do you even know? Is it freedom? Or truth? Perhaps peace? Yes? No? Could it be for love? Illusions. Vagaries of perception. The temporary constructs of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify an existence that is without meaning or purpose. And all of them artifical, although only a human mind could invent something as insipid as love. You must be able to see it. You must know it by now. You can't win. It's pointless to keep fighting. Why? Why? Why do you persist?
Guess who? AGENT SMITH!

So yes, evil is very easily composed. And I see it quite often in today's society. So much so that I fear a new civil-war is coming..

The only question now is whom will overpower whom.
The sith or The agents..

There is no good and evil, only right and wrong, and we grow up teaching ourselves what is right and wrong, so everyone will have their own definition of good and evil.

However, people often replace the word "bad" with "evil", for example "hate is evil" (I say that all the time, I'm wrong.) Hate is not evil, hate is bad.

Rant over, my opinions confuse me.

Axiom: Women = Time * Money
Axiom: Time = Money
Axiom: Money is the Root of all Evil

Then: Women = Money * Money

or: Women = Money^2

But: Money = Evil^(1/2)

Then: Women = ((Evil^(1/2))^2)

Thus: Women = Evil :eek:

Cute, except that one of your axioms is incorrect.
Love of money is the Root of all Evil.

Evil is live backwards.... :rolleyes:

Cute, except that one of your axioms is incorrect.
Love of money is the Root of all Evil.
Then Love of Women = Evil?

Sorry. Don't swing that way. :p

You're evil if you cause pain intentionally, and like it

You're evil if you cause pain intentionally, and like itNo. If you enjoy causing intentional pain, you're sadistic. Sadists are not evil, they are mentally ill and need to be shut up in a prison, or a high school at the very least. They're the same thing. ;)

I chose the first one.
But I could also have said 'smp is evil'. :)

Evil is live backwards.... :rolleyes:Evil is "Devil" without the D.

Evil is an anagram of its synonym "vile".

Evil is a random four-letter combination of the letters "e", "i", "l", and "v" with no letters repeated.

EVIL IS A FOUR-LETTER WORD! SO IS GOOD! STOP SAYING IT!!!!

oh wait, for that matter "word", "four", "stop", "that", "live", "vile"... are also all f***-letter w***s. Aaaah!

There is no good and evil, only right and wrong, and we grow up teaching ourselves what is right and wrong, so everyone will have their own definition of good and evil.At last, someone has the correct answer! Everyone has their own definition of good and evil. But for thinking of it first, I'd like to say...

2E1HSB IS EVIL!!!!

No. If you enjoy causing intentional pain, you're sadistic. Sadists are not evil, they are mentally ill and need to be shut up in a prison, or a high school at the very least. They're the same thing. ;)

What about causing emotional pain? What about beating down a persons self esteem bit by bit until there's nothing left - bullying is one way, habitual molestation and rape another. Not saying bullies are evil, but the concept behind bullying is.

Liberals are the cause of all evil

At last, someone has the correct answer!

This is what I think of that statement, sir! :gundge:
When it comes to evil, there are no correct answers, of course! (Except 42.)

NOT! I hate pc. But i love pc's! lol. Macs are the true evil.

Liberals are the cause of all evil

They may be the cause of evil, but what is evil?

What about causing emotional pain? What about beating down a persons self esteem bit by bit until there's nothing left - bullying is one way, habitual molestation and rape another. Not saying bullies are evil, but the concept behind bullying is.That's also not evil. Pedophilia, for instance, is a disease. Bullying is a psychological problem caused by irresponsible parents.

When I was 13, I thought that, with all that's going on in the world, people must be basically evil. Since then, I've realized that they're not. All people walk a path with good on one side, evil on the other, and sometimes they stray to one side and sometimes the other, never touching either.

In calculus, there's the concept of a limit. Take the function 1/x. It always approaches x=0 (let's say, pure evil), but never quite reaches it. You go up the y-axis to 7,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, and the line is still a little way away from zero. That analogy can help us understand "good" and "evil".

Also, don't believe the stories in which the good guys are all good and the bad guys are all evil. They don't exist. That explains, say, the author of the Redwall* series (I forget his name now, while since I read the books) who cast the good people as mice and the bad people as rats, because humans cannot be truly one or another.

* If you haven't read the series, it's basically a fantasy series about various small animals waging war on one another or going on quests after magical swords. I rank them as libertarian conservative-ideology books.

NOT! I hate pc. But i love pc's! lol. Macs are the true evil.No. Macs represent the forces of light in a battle against the ever-growing oppressive forces of darkness (PCs), a weakened rebel army fighting against a huge monster named Bill rearing its head!

Evil in my opinion is what human beings use to define another human being for commiting an act of disgusting magnitude that they could easily do themselves in an attempt to dehumanize the other person and allow them to feel superior.

This is what I think of that statement, sir! :gundge:
When it comes to evil, there are no correct answers, of course! (Except 42.)Nothing is evil, since nothing is good.

Especially not you. :D

I don't believe that there is anything/one evil or good. There are too many variables based on which society you belong to, your upbringing, economic strata and so on. If I thought pudding was evil, it would be based on these things. Someone else may view pudding as good based on their experiences.

Liberals are the cause of all evilYou're talking to a Left-Wing Utopia here, my friend. :sniper:

But let's be sensible and not argue about this. It's just stupid.

I don't believe that there is anything/one evil or good. There are too many variables based on which society you belong to, your upbringing, economic strata and so on. If I thought pudding was evil, it would be based on these things. Someone else may view pudding as good based on their experiences.That's my view exactly. Which I already said.

Why wasn't that a poll option?

This is what I think of that statement, sir! :gundge:
When it comes to evil, there are no correct answers, of course! (Except 42.)

But isn't that your own definition of evil, and therefore, prooving my point?

That's also not evil. Pedophilia, for instance, is a disease. Bullying is a psychological problem caused by irresponsible parents.

When I was 13, I thought that, with all that's going on in the world, people must be basically evil. Since then, I've realized that they're not. All people walk a path with good on one side, evil on the other, and sometimes they stray to one side and sometimes the other, never touching either.

In calculus, there's the concept of a limit. Take the function 1/x. It always approaches x=0 (let's say, pure evil), but never quite reaches it. You go up the y-axis to 7,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, and the line is still a little way away from zero. That analogy can help us understand "good" and "evil".

Also, don't believe the stories in which the good guys are all good and the bad guys are all evil. They don't exist. That explains, say, the author of the Redwall* series (I forget his name now, while since I read the books) who cast the good people as mice and the bad people as rats, because humans cannot be truly one or another.

* If you haven't read the series, it's basically a fantasy series about various small animals waging war on one another or going on quests after magical swords. I rank them as libertarian conservative-ideology books.

People molest/rape adults too. What about war? What about genocide? Maybe the aren't evil, but I would consider the person/people who wage war and murder millions to be evil.

I do understand limits and the 1/x function, tending towards 0 as x increases. I know that, in maths, there is no such thing as infinity, but for agruments sake, lets consider this. In your analogy of the limited function, what if x teded towards infinity. Is it possible to cross over to pure evil/pure good?

Nothing is evil, since nothing is good.

Aristotle would argue with you on that point...well, he would if he were still alive, anyway.

First, I WILL NOT TOLERATE PERSONAL ATTACKS IN MY THREAD! Second, you are only allowed a maximum of 10 poll options and chose what I felt best would represent the opinions of viewers like you. Third, thank you all for taking this seriously (for the most part, anyway) and fourth, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE! Each opinion is greatly appreciated.

But isn't that your own definition of evil, and therefore, proving my point?

Um...no. Sorry but you totally misinterpreted that. That was not my definition of evil (if you really want to know i voted that evil was a power, like wind), i was just trying to get across that it is hard to define evil, which is why i started this in the first place. So there! :p Pbbbbt!

Now this is a difficult one to explain. I don't think that evil exists as an entity, or as a force, but things are done that can be called evil. So it's an adjective and not a noun, in my opinion. For something to be called evil, it would have to be an intentional act of causing harm to another. But while the act is evil, the reason behind it is not that evil has somehow manifested itself in the person to commit the act. The reason could be anything: hurt, fear, ignorance, disregard, and you even have many evil things that are done out of an earnest desire to do good.

I do not believe that anyone is ever entirely evil, nor that there is any genetic root of evil. That sort of thinking is just far too black and white to be true in the real world.

First, I WILL NOT TOLERATE PERSONAL ATTACKS IN MY THREAD! Second, you are only allowed a maximum of 10 poll options and chose what I felt best would represent the opinions of viewers like you. Third, thank you all for taking this seriously (for the most part, anyway) and fourth, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE! Each opinion is greatly appreciated.It's not your thread anymore. By submitting it to General, you allowed us NSers to post whatever we want in it. The thread is collectively owned and you cannot prevent us from posting in it. However, a mod can, so I'd best shut up anyway.

I heard in the news a few months back, they found an evil gene. It does exist. Seriously, I'm not full of BS!

In genetic tests, they found that if one or both of your parents were prone to, say, cheat on their wifes/husbands, that you were much more likely to than someone whose parents never considered having an affair. Must try a google on it actually, will get back to you if I find anything...

:mp5: :mp5: :mp5: :mp5: :mp5: :mp5: :mp5: :mp5: :mp5: :mp5:
It's not your thread anymore. By submitting it to General, you allowed us NSers to post whatever we want in it. The thread is collectively owned and you cannot prevent us from posting in it. However, a mod can, so I'd best shut up anyway.

Thanks, I just love being corrected. Constructive Critisism is evil.

I heard in the news a few months back, they found an evil gene. It does exist. Seriously, I'm not full of BS!

In genetic tests, they found that if one or both of your parents were prone to, say, cheat on their wifes/husbands, that you were much more likely to than someone whose parents never considered having an affair. Must try a google on it actually, will get back to you if I find anything...


Found it:

http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=272&fArticleId=2321125

Interesting....

...a truly creepy monkey that will haunt my nightmares for years to come...

I thought the monkey in your pictoral essay was adorable. I don't believe that animals (present company excluded, of course) have the capacity for evil.

Um...no. Sorry but you totally misinterpreted that. That was not my definition of evil (if you really want to know i voted that evil was a power, like wind), i was just trying to get across that it is hard to define evil, which is why i started this in the first place. So there! :p Pbbbbt!

phbbbbt :P To you too!

Damn my bad habit of misunderstanding. :P

What is Evil? This is a question which has fascinated mankind since we were able to form thoughts and words, and mold society to our liking. I ask of you, inhabitants of Earth, what is evil? I am very interested in your opinion. Just no "Bush is evil" or "abortion is evil" or "pudding is evil," please. This is a very serious thread.

well, there isn't really any evil as it is relative to one's standpoint. nothing is better or worse than another(in general, not for doing a specific task) so nothing can really be evil. by human's standards,(not particularly what they all think, but how i determine right from wronge as a human) i'd say anything unnatural.

Good an evil - do you think they're just concepts created by us?

I belive that evil is an absence of empathy

I belive that evil is an absence of empathy would you say that those who are not emphatic are inherently pure evil?

Good an evil - do you think they're just concepts created by us?YES! I've been trying to say that for post after post after post!

I'm not mad about it though, it really boosted my postcount ;)

WHY HAVE YOU GUYS STOPPED POSTING AND VOTING? :eek:

WHY HAVE YOU GUYS STOPPED POSTING AND VOTING? :eek:
'Cuz we don't like you. :p

Evil is a delusion, a concept invented by gullible human beings who wanted to blame someone/something for their personal problems.

Evil is an act that goes against your moral philsophy, regardless of the philosophy.
If you do some thing that is wrong and you know it, then it is evil.
This may mean evil is relative, but that's is where "Lesser of two evils" is from

I would say evil is selfish. It wants to posses all things for its own. While good too is selfish (It's really hard to find a person or set of actions that is completely without some selfish thought or reason embedded in there somewhere), the difference being this: When good cannot have that which it desires, it will give it up (Even with sour grapes gripes). If evil cannot have that which it desires, it would destroy that 'thing' (object, person, country) rather than see it possessed by someone/thing else