a few words about getting even

[ArmsMerchant]

When we are offered an injury or affront, we often have a desire--motivated by anger, and/or ego, and/or fear--to strike back. It is wisely written that the only sane response to this sort of thing is forgiveness--but how often do we behave in a sane manner? (That's a rhetorical question, okay?)

Unless you are Eknath Easwaran or someone in his league, from time to time, you will get angry (regardless of the fact that anger is fear announced)--and desire to strike back.

Sometimes we compound the error by trying to justify this as "getting even." WRONG!

When an injury is offered, a state of disharmony is set up. If we return injury for injury, the state of disharmony is increased. Thus, we are literally getting odd, not getting even.

If you really want to get even with someone, be forgiving-- enormously difficult though it may be. Kindness exchanged for unkindness comes out even.

You may say "An eye for an eye"--some Christians like to say this, even though Jesus specifically repudiated it, saying instead to turn the other cheek.

But consider this--if everyone practiced "an eye for an eye," we would soon all be blind.

[Vizier]

So, what about a sense of justice? A fellow rapes and murders your daughter or something and instead of at least prosecuting him and locking him up, maybe breaking his jaw in several parts too, you just... "forgive him?"

Maybe it's just me but I sure as hell have a hard time forgiving several things, especially issues like treason and child rape (all memes and lulz aside).

As humans we are still too savage and primitive to 'evolve' into a civilization of kindness and unity.

[ArmsMerchant]

Forgiveness is not incompatible with appropriate sanctions, or chastisement.

I would say, also, there is a world of difference between flying into a rage and shooting a driver who cuts you off in traffic, and having strong negative feelings toward someone who commits a violent crime against you or a loved one.

As I said, forgiveness is not easy. It requires tremendous strength. But if you value peace of mind--and not having a heart attack--it is the course that is in your best interest.

[Rizzo in a box]

lol, if you take anything seriously, personally, and to heart which is negative, you've already lost.

[Vizier]

Well, it is true that people who hold grudges for long periods of time tend to get sick and I've heard cases that they even develop cancer.

It's probably the disdain I have towards catholicism where you can do anything you want, confess before you die and recieve forgiveness. It's just too easy and hypocrite, imo.

[ArmsMerchant]

^Good points. Thing is--Giod does not forgive--that is, God has no need to forgive, as God cannot be offended. I know, this is contrary to Catholic dogma--but it stands to reason.

As any mystic worth his turban and loincloth can tell you, God is not some imposing entity on a celestial throne somewhere handing out rewards and punishments like glorified Santa Claus--God is that spark of divinity that we all have within our hearts.

Jesus knew this--"the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21)

[Dr rocker]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

I would say, also, there is a world of difference between flying into a rage and shooting a driver who cuts you off in traffic, and having strong negative feelings toward someone who commits a violent crime against you or a loved one.

What does it mean that I just feel sad when some one drive badly and really wish deep down that I could meet them and give them some tips on how to improve their driving -it kinda works on all magnitudes for me - when some one make a mistake I wish to help them understand how it occured and how they can avoid it.

When some one does a bad thing willfully, they may have a reason from the Father stealing scrap metal to feed his family to the junkie stealing from a person to feed their addiction. One is a right reason, one is a wrong reason (in my eyes) but they are both equally valid.

People want to get 'even' to feel superior. Be magnanimous and forget the feeling of needing to be superior. If you dont, you never will be anyway.

[Mantikore]

There is no emotion, there is peace.

[AEgri Somnia]

Oftentimes the person who initiates an aggressive act only feeds off a retaliatory effort, compounding the situation. I dont necessarily suggest "forgiveness," but responding in a way that highlights the aggressor's empty, impotent actions and shows them to be the stupid assfuck they really are . . .

If they dont figure it out after that then yeah, run em over with your snowmobile. They done been natchally slected.

[Rizzo in a box]

Originally Posted by Mantikore

There is no emotion, there is peace.

there is no euphoria, only stimulation.

[Mutant Funk Drink]

Okay, so let's throw the justice system out the window. Instead of punishing rapists, child molesters, and murderers, let's give them all gift cards for TGI Fridays!

[SLIM]

This attitude will get you raped and rightfully so. You pathetic shell of a man. Btw, like my sig?

[Toothlessjoe]

Wrong forum, idiot.

[LiquidIce]

But getting even is something we need. Why? Because there's a multitude of jackasses out there that, for example, know nothing about driving and make all sorts of crazy errors. It's an eloquent show of who's the bigger idiot, believe me. Why shouldn't I state the fact that they're idiots making stupid mistakes?

It's one thing to go out of your way and get even, but it's totally another to just tell somebody "Listen, I know you're cool and all, but you just made a huge fucking mistake a retarded nigger wouldn't do while on crack, so get the fuck out".

[i poop in your cereal]

Originally Posted by LiquidIce

Why shouldn't I state the fact that their idiots making stupid mistakes?

.

[LiquidIce]

Originally Posted by i poop in your cereal

.

Wow. Thanks man .

*shamefully retreats from society*

[ArmsMerchant]

Originally Posted by Mutant Funk Drink

Okay, so let's throw the justice system out the window. Instead of punishing rapists, child molesters, and murderers, let's give them all gift cards for TGI Fridays!

If you think there is any justice in the "justice system," you have been misinformed. Our so-called criminal justice system is an organized means of getting revenge, and it is totally out of control.

Do you know that the US has a greater proportion of its citizerns in prison than any other country? True fact. And it costs upwards of $50,000/year/person to do this.

All this is a tad off-topic, though. I was not speaking so much about criminal acts as personal affronts. Even so , the principle remains valid.

Remember the shootings in the Amish country recently? They had a community meeting and forgave the shooter. This was the only sane response. That said, there was still no movement to have the charges dropped.

[Biggie Smalls]

So if some guy ass rapes me, ill tell him "its okay, now you know never to do it again cause it hurt", and everything will be okay?

[ArmsMerchant]

Originally Posted by Biggie Smalls

So if some guy ass rapes me, ill tell him "its okay, now you know never to do it again cause it hurt", and everything will be okay?

You would need to heal, emotionally as well as physically.

Forgiveness would be a giant step towards that end. See, the point of forgiving is not so much to benefit the other person, but ourself.

This is not to say that the offendor should escape legal sanctions. Throughout, I am not talking about law, but about ethics, spirituality, and morality--you will find none of that in the law.

[i poop in your cereal]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

You would need to heal, emotionally as well as physically.

Forgiveness would be a giant step towards that end. See, the point of forgiving is not so much to benefit the other person, but ourself.

This is not to say that the offendor should escape legal sanctions. Throughout, I am not talking about law, but about ethics, spirituality, and morality--you will find none of that in the law.

This makes absolutely no sense.

[ArmsMerchant]

With all due respect, maybe it will when you grow up.

[Oink The Pig]

let it be written here that if i ever see gregfox face to face ill beat him senseless and if he tries to fite back ima remind him of this bs thread

[ArmsMerchant]

In the event someone would be foolish enough to attack me, I would forgive him.

Right after I shot him.

[Toothlessjoe]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

ethics, spirituality, and morality--you will find none of that in the law.

[Oink The Pig]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

In the event someone would be foolish enough to attack me, I would forgive him.

Right after I shot him.

in the events im offered and injury of affrontation, i would do whatever the fuck i want to them, get back, get even,


and then id also forgive them.


are you a chrestian? have you ever heard about chrestanity?


because is exactly their bullshit your spewing over here... do whatever the fuck you want in life and then when you are done say you regret/repent/forgive whatever

[ArmsMerchant]

At age fifteen, I was a Christian for an hour or so--which is how long it took me to see through the absurdities and contradictions involved. I was an angry young atheist for several years after that.

Protip--if you wish to be taken seriously, try not to sound like a total idiot. Proof your posts, okay?

[ArmsMerchant]

Originally Posted by i poop in your cereal

This makes absolutely no sense.

Do you really understand none of it, or are you just trolling?

I am willing to go to great lengths to help someone who is sincere in wishing to grow in wisdom and understanding, but I strive to avoid feeding the trolls.

[Headspin]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

You would need to heal, emotionally as well as physically.

Forgiveness would be a giant step towards that end. See, the point of forgiving is not so much to benefit the other person, but ourself.

This is not to say that the offendor should escape legal sanctions. Throughout, I am not talking about law, but about ethics, spirituality, and morality--you will find none of that in the law.

Nicely written.

[ArmsMerchant]

Thanks--it seemed kinda obvious to me, but cereal poop seems to have missed the bus.

[Headspin]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

Thanks--it seemed kinda obvious to me, but cereal poop seems to have missed the bus.

I don't get the shoot him first thing though. I guess from a cosmic standpoint it really wouldn't matter.

[-SpectraL]

Originally Posted by Dream Weaver

I don't get the shoot him first thing though. I guess from a cosmic standpoint it really wouldn't matter.

It means that just because you forgive someone their crime doesn't mean you don't offer up self defense. You can actually shoot someone and still forgive them for the catastrophe they have brought upon themselves and others, including the shooter.

[Marijuanasaurus]

Originally Posted by -SpectraL

It means that just because you forgive someone their crime doesn't mean you don't offer up self defense. You can actually shoot someone and still forgive them for the catastrophe they have brought upon themselves and others, including the shooter.

[ArmsMerchant]

"including the shooter. "

That is a good point, and one that might not occur to those whose only experience with violence is via movies or video games. Lots of young boys here sometimes post about the baroque and grotesque violence they would perpetrate on someone who dissed them, and there is nothing really wrong with this, this is how young male primates express themselves.

Those with a bit more experience and--dare I say it?--maturioty know that when you say, kill, someone that leaves a psychic and emotional scar that is not easily erased. Even cops who shoot someone often need counselling to deal with the traumatic after-effects.

Fact is, there is nothing glamorous or glorious or heroic about violence. It is just ugly and unevolved, ultimately meaningless and pointless.

[Headspin]

I think there are a lot of reasons why violence is needed, justified and sometimes deserved. Not so much in this era, but throughout history major wars have caused the creation of beauty. This may have been in the form of artwork, books such as epics and lessons learned in our ways of dealing with one another.

My point being that without violence, we would not see the darker side of human nature. This is something we use as contrast and need to grow from.

[ArmsMerchant]

I must disagree. Violence--especially in the context of persoanl revenge--may appeal to our deeper and darker reptilian brains, but where does it end. To reiterate--if we all foloowed "an eye for an eye," we would soon all be blind.

This issue becomes more problematic in the context of national defense, particularly WW II, which was arguably the only "just" war of the last hundred years.

One might argue that without war, the concept of peace would be meaningless, although Schopenhauer would certainly argue with that point.

[Snoopy]

Greyfox, do I make you angry sometimes?

inb4 lulz

[ArmsMerchant]

Nope, I refuse to grant you that much power.

At your most sarcastic, odious, and venomous, you might annoy me a little bit, but not as much as does a small insect that buzzes around my head.

Mostly, I wonder about you, but ever since you admitted to feigning stupidity for the sake of being contentious, I pay as little attention to you as possible.

[Snoopy]

Originally Posted by Greyfox

Nope, I refuse to grant you that much power.

At your most sarcastic, odious, and venomous, you might annoy me a little bit, but not as much as does a small insect that buzzes around my head.

Mostly, I wonder about you, but ever since you admitted to feigning stupidity for the sake of being contentious, I pay as little attention to you as possible.

needs moar lulz brah

[Marijuanasaurus]

Reptile, do you think greyfox is a snoopy? FUCK, I mean snoopy, do you think reptile...
fack.. you know what i mean...

[Snoopy]

Yes, greyfox is definitely reptilian. All the paranormal moderators are. It's a conspiracy.