# Have you ever known a truly evil person? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 15, 2012, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-known-a-truly-evil-person/637765 "2012-10-15T11:28:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-known-a-truly-evil-person/637765/121 "2012-10-20T01:06:31Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Maybe sympathize is a better word. It takes an understanding that some people are really lost in their own worlds that make perfect sense to them but very little to us. And there are truly some people, who through no fault of their own, are just not wired for empathy. > > I truly don’t believe that many people have this as their to-do list: > > 7:00 Work out, take shower > 8:00 Breakfast with mom > 9:00 Go grocery shopping > 11:00 Commit unspeakable acts of evil, because it’s fun fun fun > 3:00 Take nap > > In their minds, their 11:00 task might read more like “Rid the world of evil” or “Enjoy life” or even “Go to work.” > > This is not to say that we should give them a pass on what they do, or continue to let them live among free people. Precisely. With regard to my brain sensation thing, I want to make it clear what I’m discussing. Firstly, I assume we are more than pure meat. If we are actually just meat, then I cannot see the slightest reason to give a flying fuck about morality/ethics. It would mean that suffering, for example, is an illusion. So torture who the hell you like for any crap reason - you cannot actually say it is wrong. However, I know that **I** , at least, feel sensations - and for simplicity I assume that other humans at least do too because there is no real reason to assume I’m special. There is an argument that the sensations themselves are an illusion, but that is a cop out - an illusion to what? This is cogito ergo sum, really… except with cogito replaced with latin for “I feel”… whatever that may be. On the other hand, it’s reasonably clear that free will just doesn’t exist. It’s the brain making decisions. In other words, the brain is seperate from the thing that actually gets meaningfully punished or rewarded. It’s barbaric to punish something that did nothing wrong. Whatever it is that ultimately feels the punishment, didn’t do the wrong thing. It was the brain that did the wrong thing and it’s very silly to care about a brain. It’s no different really other than in complexity to an anvil that falls on someone’s head. ---
**Author:** ![scratch\_llll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@scratch\_llll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scratch_llll)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-known-a-truly-evil-person/637765/122 "2012-10-21T05:56:56Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > ☹ Sorry. The kids there had some pretty bad backgrounds. But be happy: as I said, the girls are doing fantastically well. They have a new family in the orphanage, and they know that there are probably a hundred people there, along with “tia gracer”, who would take a machete to this guy’s face if he ever dares show up again. Take that, evil! Your story hurt me as well. I know it must take a lot out of you and I thank you for your suffering. Whenever I think of the weak, the innocent, the good and gentle being abused it enrages me. I know it does a lot of people who wish such assholes did not exist among us. We see the faces of those we love in the scared and scarred. Unfortunately we have to weigh the good we can do with the rest of our lives against the good we might do cutting evil into bite sized chunks. And it would do good in that such would never be able to hurt another innocent. It would save some sweet little girl pain and horror. It belittles the anguish of those who know of this sort of scum out of jail who may wrestle with such a scale to call this recreational outrage. It is more of a release valve to state it outright. We cannot and should not change the law to lessen punishment for vigilantism. Vengence is wrong. However to argue that killing someone of that sort would not be a protection of the innocent would also be inaccurate. Those that far gone are generally beyond redemption. They will do it again. Therefore the best way to protect the public, those of us whose scales might suddenly tip in the presence of such, from itself is a lengthy prison term for the offender. That protects otherwise good people from doing something bad. So why in hell was this guy out and about? Knowing that someone is lost in another world doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have a strong protective instinct in making certain that world never touches those of the good and decent, the sweet and innocent. It matters damn one whether it is their fault ultimately. What matters is that they not be able to bring the horror of their world to ours. That is a very heavy weight to place on a scale of any sort much less the small pressure to trip a trigger. Afterall, the sympathy for a mad dog is a bullet. And if ever I am “in the mind” of a child rapist I think it the kindest thing to put me down quickly. Being a flesh eating zombie would be better. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-known-a-truly-evil-person/637765/123 "2012-10-21T06:11:48Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#): > > On the other hand, it’s reasonably clear that free will just doesn’t exist. It’s the brain making decisions. > > In other words, the brain is seperate from the thing that actually gets meaningfully punished or rewarded. > > It’s barbaric to punish something that did nothing wrong. Whatever it is that ultimately feels the punishment, didn’t do the wrong thing. It was the brain that did the wrong thing and it’s very silly to care about a brain. It’s no different really other than in complexity to an anvil that falls on someone’s head. This is completely insane and a complete distortion and misunderstanding of how life works. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-known-a-truly-evil-person/637765/124 "2012-10-21T20:52:17Z")
But my brain made me do it ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-known-a-truly-evil-person/637765/125 "2012-10-21T20:56:29Z")
> [@April\_R](#): > > But my brain made me do it _Not Guilty!_ ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-known-a-truly-evil-person/637765/126 "2012-10-21T21:02:03Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > _Not Guilty!_ Lolz ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-known-a-truly-evil-person/637765/127 "2012-10-21T21:22:41Z")
I don’t know about “truly evil” but one of my brothers was a sociopath when we were growing up. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-known-a-truly-evil-person/637765/128 "2012-10-21T23:34:14Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#): > > Precisely. > > With regard to my brain sensation thing, I want to make it clear what I’m discussing. > > Firstly, I assume we are more than pure meat. If we are actually just meat, then I cannot see the slightest reason to give a flying fuck about morality/ethics. It would mean that suffering, for example, is an illusion. So torture who the hell you like for any crap reason - you cannot actually say it is wrong. > > However, I know that **I** , at least, feel sensations - and for simplicity I assume that other humans at least do too because there is no real reason to assume I’m special. There is an argument that the sensations themselves are an illusion, but that is a cop out - an illusion to what? > > This is cogito ergo sum, really… except with cogito replaced with latin for “I feel”… whatever that may be. > > On the other hand, it’s reasonably clear that free will just doesn’t exist. It’s the brain making decisions. > > In other words, the brain is seperate from the thing that actually gets meaningfully punished or rewarded. > > It’s barbaric to punish something that did nothing wrong. Whatever it is that ultimately feels the punishment, didn’t do the wrong thing. It was the brain that did the wrong thing and it’s very silly to care about a brain. It’s no different really other than in complexity to an anvil that falls on someone’s head. Remember, kids, this is an example of why you should not do drugs. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-known-a-truly-evil-person/637765/129 "2012-10-21T23:37:27Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Remember, kids, this is an example of why you should not do drugs. Well, to be fair, _they_ aren’t really in charge of their decision-making; those pesky _brains_ are the ones calling the shots. Don’t blame the innocent _people_ attached to 'em. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-known-a-truly-evil-person/637765/130 "2012-10-22T03:20:57Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#): > > Precisely. > > With regard to my brain sensation thing, I want to make it clear what I’m discussing. > > Firstly, I assume we are more than pure meat. If we are actually just meat, then I cannot see the slightest reason to give a flying fuck about morality/ethics. It would mean that suffering, for example, is an illusion. So torture who the hell you like for any crap reason - you cannot actually say it is wrong. > > However, I know that **I** , at least, feel sensations - and for simplicity I assume that other humans at least do too because there is no real reason to assume I’m special. There is an argument that the sensations themselves are an illusion, but that is a cop out - an illusion to what? > > This is cogito ergo sum, really… except with cogito replaced with latin for “I feel”… whatever that may be. > > On the other hand, it’s reasonably clear that free will just doesn’t exist. It’s the brain making decisions. > > In other words, the brain is seperate from the thing that actually gets meaningfully punished or rewarded. > > It’s barbaric to punish something that did nothing wrong. Whatever it is that ultimately feels the punishment, didn’t do the wrong thing. It was the brain that did the wrong thing and it’s very silly to care about a brain. It’s no different really other than in complexity to an anvil that falls on someone’s head. There is no suffering without the brain to receive and interpret the nerve impulses, so your analogy collapses in on itself. I think I understand the distinction you’re trying to make (which scares me a little, LOL!) But the body does not act or feel without the brain. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-known-a-truly-evil-person/637765/131 "2012-10-22T18:46:21Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > I don’t know about “truly evil” but one of my brothers was a sociopath when we were growing up. And then what happened? ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-known-a-truly-evil-person/637765/132 "2012-10-24T00:33:42Z")
Yep. The High School drama teacher who sexually abused me for almost 2 years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-known-a-truly-evil-person/637765.md?page=6)