h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I nominate the current president of the US.Can you say anti-christ?

I wholeheartedly agree.Having lived in Arkansas over 20 years ago when he was governor I had the unfortunate luck as to have to work at a radio station that aired his speeches.Ugh!What a boor stuck on his plethora of no-ideas.The "education governor" he named himself as he took our lovely yet politician-dumped on state from 48th to 49th in education. He was promptly kicked out by the poor people there , then he apologized and they re-instated the weasel.Then he promised he'd never leave the state and next thing you knew he was politicking for president.I am amazed that there are actually people in this often stupid country of mine that some people are right now beginning to think that maybe this guy doesn't tell the truth. He is the equivalent of a small town mafia don ordering simpletons around all the while passing themselves off as intellectuals. He gets the dark chocolate, caramel creamy centered top microwaveable teapot.

Very nicely put.Do you think evil comes in two flavors?Malicious and Ignorance?

No, just rancid and brussel sprout.

I think it does, although I have a friend who thinks all of it is of the second variety.

What flavor does evil come in? That is a delicious topic.I mean, look at all the evil characters this world has seen.Hitler, there was a cuddly guy.Castro, another lovable character.Most people think of Hannibal Lecter as the ultimate evil guy.Just thinking about this group you realize that evil comes in all flavors.There are the J.R. Ewing types who cut deals and then stab partners and wives and ex-wives in the backs. Then the people who just "look" evil who are real but you don't know them.Consider Charles Manson, here's a vicious creep who actually talked a group of followers to do his bidding.The true evil is the kind that cajoles and seduces people into crimes that on any given day they would reject.That is the kind of guy we really have to be on guard for. I read the Mission Earth books by Ron Hubbard and his character Lumbar Hisst was really evil, the doctor who would play with your genes and fuse you into some kind of pained, pathetic creature.I'm sure there are other villains and flavors of evil I haven't even touched on. What is interesting though is that without the Iago's of the world and in drama, the world would not be half as interesting as it is.

You can't have the light without the dark,or can you? Day vs. night,good vs. evil,smart vs. stupid, and so on.I've been seduced to the darkside a number of times,the most recent visit to hell was a guided tour by someone I loved and trusted.Well not anymore,she is definately evil.Question:Is insanity an excuse for evil?Hitler was insane.

I don't think I even want to attempt to answer that one. Part of me wants to say "evil is evil," and part of me wants to allow for extenuating circumstances. Truth is, I'm not at all decided as to just what evil is, much less what causes it and if there's any excuse for it.

Undoubtedly. Ever since Milton, in fact, not only have villains made things more interesting, but they've been more interesting themselves and often even made us root for them (I speak more of literature than of real life, although even in life it happens).

That is sort of a "chicken or the egg" conundrum but I think evil comes into one's mind first and then acting on it, receiving pleasure from the fruits of evil labor leads to insanity.In the film Patch Adams (which was based on a true story)Patch's girlfriend goes to a disturbed man's house alone.In the last scene in which we see her you can tell that this guy is not safe to be around.He sweats with an excitement of expectation.Then we learn that he killed her.It is the person who finds this excitement in the torture of others that is an indicator of evil.I would venture to say this person is insane.We like to toy with words like "twisted" and such when we should just admit to the word "dangerous".