Is being evil wrong if you don't act on it?

[Caliostro]

What...? Just.. What?

Good and evil are relative terms. By definition, what you consider evil is what you consider wrong. Nobody considers evil the things they consider right...

What you're probably asking is whether we should judge people based on who they are instead of what they do. No. No we should not. People can't change whom they are, they can only change what they do.

 

[Rawne1980]

No idea.

There are people I genuinely would love to strangle with their own intestines but don't fancy the jail term that comes with it.

Does that make me evil?

No.

If some people weren't so sodding irritating I wouldn't have visions of me bouncing their faces off the pavement.

In closing, no it's not evil. It's other people who are in the wrong. So says me.

 

[raklin]

Personally, I feel that everyone has their demons. its not a matter of evil in the classical sense, but rather a battle for your own morality. So long as you never act out on your desires, and control them, you'll be fine. Its when you let your darker desires take control and start murdering, raping, etc that the issue of evil in a more classical sense comes into play.

So, basically, all humans are born wicked. We are, just watch toddlers play with each other, and you'll see what I mean. Humans have to rise above their darker desires and do their best to function in society.

TLR No, its not "wrong" if you don't act on it. But do try not to entertain those fantasies of murdering people - that'll just feed your desires.

 

[Brandon237]

It depends entirely on actions and words. Thoughts make no-one, for either side of the morality spectrum (More like 98 dimensional shape-diagram thing, but anyway). There are times we all genuinely want to hrt someone because of something, times we all feel tempted, and it is ignoring things like this simply because we see it as wrong (ie: not just out of cowardice), that makes you a functional human being.

Conscious, controllable action is more important than subconscious, uncontrollable thought.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I figure you're fine just so long as you don't act on those dark, dark impulses. I mean it's not like your can be jailed for day-dreaming about a Saint's Row style murder, rape and, arson-spree.

...

mmmm...Arson-spree...

 

[zehydra]

If you seriously desire to do evil things, you should do some serious introspection (or better yet, see a psychologist). Those who derive pleasure from causing harm are threats to civilized society.

It wouldn't say it's wrong, since morality ought to relate to actions, not desires. But it sure as hell isn't a good thing.

 

[MASTACHIEFPWN]

"Neutrality means that you don?t really care
Cause the struggle goes on even when you?re not there
Blind and unaware"
-Sums up my view.
You're not a bad person, but you are kind of a coward.

 

[ZydrateDealer]

I don't think it's evil, find a shrink, and look into ways of living out your fantasy without actually doing it. Really as a society we should be more open to dealing with these issue before someone does the action rather than just punishing afterwards.

EDIT: We really shouldn't say these people are cowards as that might goad them into trying and maybe even succeeding in doing pretty horrific crimes; and as far as morality goes good and bad vary but things that are always wrong and these are:
1)Murder (Unless you can't defend yourself any other way).
2)Rape.
3)Racism.
4)Screwing someone over (legally or no) for profit.
5)Theft (Unless you have kleptomania or it's your last resort in a desperate time).
6)Forcing your religion on others.

 

[Peter Storer]

Just as an aside, there is a school of thought that you cannot be considered truely "good" unless you have been tempted by "evil" and resisted that temptation.

According to this logic, the person who is tempted to do evil things but always resists temptation is actualy spiritualy more "good" than the person who never does anything evil, but who has never had temptation cross their path.

Not saying I agree, just putting it out there.

 

[somonels]

Don't you ever get tired of making reply-mongering topics?

edit:Oh, darn, i fell for it.

 

[TheJesus89]

I hate passive aggressive people.

Bunch of Holden Caulfield's running around like they don't own the joint but think they should.

Pussies, all of them.

So it doesn't necessarily make you evil. It does make you a pussy, however.