Power corrupts

Or so Cracked says science tells us.

I don't know why I feel the need to seriously discuss this, but I do.

I knew what this was linked too as soons as I read the title.

And once again, Its cracked, I somehow doubt it really checks these things.

"All power corrupts. Firepower is kinda neat."

Power corrupts. Knowledge is power. Study hard, be evil.

See! Knowledge is evil! Down with the intelligentsia!

...wait, I'm at university! No wait, don't-

(Is mauled to death with Torches and Pitchforks.)

Neat article. I could do with less profanity, but hey, it's Cracked, you kind of expect those sorts of things.

Have you seen the evil ending to inFAMOUS In response to actual power over people being corrupting, after reading PrivateEye I'm going to go with yes.

edited 7th Oct '10 3:21:41 PM by IanExMachina

Just point out that Evil Is Sexy and Evil Is Cool, that'll take care of most of your problems.

Its not power that corrupts it is greed.

Deboss you know someone by the screen name of Ithlitari by chance?

Not that I'm aware of. It's possible though. What site?

A number of them. Including Dev art and I think Gaia and who knows what else may also go under the Name Darth Ithums.

Ok I am bad for a derail shame on me I know better.

I really think it is greed for what power and money can bring you and the fact they are not satisfied with what they have. The very epitome of greed.

edited 7th Oct '10 9:10:53 PM by TuefelHundenIV

Rockefeller was asked how much more money he needed to amass. "Just one dollar more." Money is power, so there you go.

Is there something that could be done about it, this one wonders?

So does anyone want to seriously discuss the article?

Thing is, power and authority are needed for society to function. And yes, they do corrupt those who wield it. That's why I'm wondering if anything could be done about it. Any way to prevent the corruption from setting.

I wonder if it would make a difference if you took away the trappings of power from those who actually have it. If you have a small office, wear cheap clothes, are required to be respectful to your employees, and so on, and still make big important decisions, how powerful will it make you feel?

It will make you feel like Ponder Stibbons or Sam Vimes or Vetinari. Not Ridcully, though, he's got a hat.

Vetinari? He's one of the most powerful men on the Disc, and he knows it.

Exactly, and yet he does away with practically all of the trappings of power. Also, Unseen Academicals really shows off his soft side: he's a Jerk with a Heart of Gold, that man, that much is established. He also acknowledges a Xanatos Roulette for what it is. Luckily the writer was on his side all along.

Humans Are Bastards

It seems to me that its not the power that's the problem, its the human.

edited 8th Oct '10 2:57:35 PM by ViralLamb

I call bullshit on that. Humans Are Flawed. Whether we choose to overcome our flaws or let them dominate us... is up to each and every one of us.

Personally, I'd interpret a lot of the experiments mentioned in the article in a different way. It's not that power makes people more callous, it's also that callous people are more likely to seek out and obtain power.

Then again, people are more likely to give the Cicinnatus power, especially if he is, say, a consultant, or a government official, with no ambition of his own.

Oh, and in my discworld examples, I forgot to mention Moist Von Lipwig, whom power is actually PURIFYING. And Ponder Stibbons, for whom power is all hard work and responsibilities.

edited 8th Oct '10 3:25:40 PM by RawPower

"Power corrupts. Knowledge is power. Study hard, be evil."

LOL! I'm quoting that from now on!

Personally, I'd interpret a lot of the experiments mentioned in the article in a different way. It's not that power makes people more callous, it's also that callous people are more likely to seek out and obtain power.

Originally, I would have been inclined to think the same thing, but given that some of the experiments mentioned filter for this explanation, this clearly isn't sufficient to explain the phenomenon, even if it is a factor.