I spent many hours, well, some time, at least, pondering the question [here is the framework: a lot of people, maybe most people, intentionally or unintentionally, hurt other people because the action through which they hurt other people gives them pleasure. However, like the euphoric high from a narcotic or stimulant, the pleasure is short-lived. Often the resulting guilt and/or depression lasts much longer than the pleasure. Some few of these people will even try to reform themselves. They understand the pleasure is brief, and alters nothing of the fundamental nature of their life, and oftentimes complicates it to a high degree. Yet despite this knowledge, over and over and over again, throughout a lifetime, a person will intentionally or unintentionally hurt another person for its brief reward.]: why would I do a harmful thing knowing the action provides no lasting benefit? Is life so grim a few moments of pleasure must be stolen from somebody’s well-being? Some people’s lives are undoubtedly that grim. But most of us, no. Why do *it?* The final truth of the answer, after boring down through boredom, self-pity, temporary biological or psychological urges, biological or psychological defects, is life is NOT experienced as a supernatural event, what some religious or primitives call a precious gift or miracle. If we thought life was a treasure, we would act more carefully toward others. It is probable many people view their own life as a treasure, but cannot see equal value in the other. Jesus said all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. This is the fundamental law we violate without ceasing (admittedly, many may violate it by less injurious means than myself or others, but violate it all do). This means, in simple terms, we love ourselves, and hate others. The question is, then, not why would I do a harmful thing knowing the action provides no lasting benefit, but why do I not do it even more frequently? I have no genuine regard for the other, but I hold back from possible consequences. If I knew I could act freely, how low I would go. Am I alone in this? This is probably as much insight as I will ever have. As long as I am chained to this body, I will be subject to its forces, forces I am unable to change, forces I endure as long as I remain interested in avoiding consequence. It can be physically and mentally exhausting to endure these forces, and eventually we take a break, especially as we do not comprehend the victim as being of the same value. It is my opinion this is a universal component of human nature (this is the root of the illness of which I have been speaking for the past 13 days, with the fever being the signal we are ready to take a break from enduring the forces of our flesh. Of course, we must mention the flowering of the illness, in acts of abuse, vary greatly from person to person. To mix the metaphor, no two snowflakes are alike).
Intensity: 94 degrees outside today. Too hot to get worked up about anything. At least, until the sun goes down.
Frequency: You run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking, racing around to come up behind you again.
Factors: We must now determine the factors influencing the frequency of the illness. Is it primarily environmental stressors that modulate the forces of our flesh? If not, wouldn't we abuse the other on a regular schedule (unique, of course, to the individual)?
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