I feel like a bastard

You know part of the reason that most people like fiction is that a character behaves like a cruel jerk will get it in the end. I have watched my fair share of shows but sometimes after deed has done, I feel sort of bad for wishing that on someone yet alone a fictional character. I know that there some real life people who are jerks but I often feel bad for feeling that someday that will 'get it in the end' and suffer horribly. Does anyone else feelt his way? I feel like a bastard.

I occasionally feel rather bad for thinking casually nasty thoughts about people that I find unpleasant. But then I think, "It's just in my mind; ain't that something?"

Now, if you mean that the idea that they might receive a brutal karmic return bothers you, think about how rarely these things tend to be obvious in real life. Sure, sometimes bad people ultimately become the brunt of bad things as a result of their being pricks, but the fact is that the "coming around" for the "going around" is usually just a slow but steady return of the produced negativity.

And really, isn't that better than the sometimes very real alternative that there is no recourse but the recourse wilfully taken?

Of course, I prefer reform as a balance to retribution, but that's another question.

edited 15th Oct '12 12:50:23 PM by JHM

Tragically, this appears to be the case, in this world at least. That's why I always intervene if I see unpleasantness afoot.

'There's no justice. There's just us.'

When it comes to fictional characters, specifically, I'd say it's a situational thing. You're supposed to feel at least a little sympathetic towards Darth Vader and Loki even though they're both homicidal jerks, but you don't have to feel bad about wishing terrible things upon Voldemort or Ghirahim, who are completely unrepentant monstrosities.

That doesn't sound too magnificent. I'm sorry, old meme.

Personally, I try to look at everyone (including fictional characters) from multiple viewpoints in order to avoid this, but, in all honesty, it's perfectly normal to have thoughts like this, however passing. Everyone does it. So long as you don't act on it or don't take sadistic glee in it (at least for more than the moment when the thought occurs), don't worry about it.

I even take sadistic glee in it when I'm thinking about certain people IRL.

Moreso than anything fictional.

Well, I'm not much better since my first instinct upon seeing the title of this thread was to reply And you look like one too.

But getting to the topic, maybe you just easily emphasize with people, even if you know they don't deserve it. Some people can feel pity and empathy for anyone.

It can be a blessing or a curse, just like anything in this world.

Edit: That above line should say Even if they do deserve it.

It makes sense to emphasize with someone who doesn't deserve suffering.

Edit the second: Never mind. On further examination, what I wrote the first time actually isn't a mistake. I'm a little off today.

edited 16th Oct '12 3:18:27 PM by HandsomeRob

Yeah, if anything, you're better for feeling like a jerk for being this way.

edited 16th Oct '12 10:24:22 AM by 0dd1

I certainly do not think that you're a cross-breed of two different species.

Actions have consequences. Is it better that another person suffers for the bad consequences of an evil action than the one who performed it? (Actions without bad consequences cannot be evil)

Depends on what you understand under "consequences".

It is possible to murder a child without legal consequences, for example.

But I guess you mean something else!

When a child/person is murdered, their parents/sibling/friend/everybody who care for that person suffers from losing a loved one. That is one of the consequences. And their seeking for bringing the purpentrator to justice is another consequence.

Even if the murderer gets off the legal consequence, the fact that s/he now carries the reputation of a murderer (and therefore no sane/normal person will want to associate with him) is also another consequence.

What if the perpetrator is never identified?

Sure, but the murderer could get away completely scot-free, ignorant of all of those things!

edited 17th Oct '12 1:56:36 PM by Noirceur

The parents/friends/sibling of the victim will still suffer from the loss of a loved one. Society will still have lost a member with his/her potential skills that can contribute. The world will still have lost an unique individual. All those are consequences should somebody die, their murder found or not.

Consequences do not necessarily direct at the person who commits the act.

edited 17th Oct '12 2:29:33 PM by IraTheSquire

Question: Why are we talking about child murder in Yack Fest? That crap belongs in OTC.

We could also talk about killing homeless people, if it makes you feel better!

You've got to be careful with that, some of them have shotguns.

So I hear.

Make that trying to kill homeless people.

With only a ballpoint pen.

The pen is mightier than a sword.

Though probably not a shotgun.

Whoever says the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never defended themselves against a sword with a pen. It's very hard to do.

You know what they say. While the pen is technically mightier in the long run, the sword is more threatening at any given moment.

The pen is mightier, but the vagina monologues.

That was a bad pun and you should feel bad.