Act Good and Be Quiet
I just don’t fully understand why people are supposed to be good. Furthermore, I think that this expectation actually decreases the amount of good in the world. The particular conception of goodness doesn’t really matter; I believe that this applies in most cases. I think that a lot of people look at themselves and start to believe that they’re not good people. Maybe they’re right; maybe they’re wrong. Who cares? I’ve been there. But people who feel like that should know that they can get by in the world by refusing to act on whatever desires cause them to fall out of the “good” category. You know? I don’t think that it really matters if a dude tends towards racism, paedophilia, or bloodlust. He’ll be fine if he doesn’t act on it. That’s why we have laws. That’s why we had religion. All of this is meant to guide people along a path on which they won’t hurt anyone. That’s enough. But it doesn’t always seem like enough. I think that some bad people who would otherwise be able to follow the path of apparent goodness come to feel that they should go on and indulge their malefic nature because they feel that it’s going to define them anyway. No one’s really going to know if your mind attaches racial epithets to your black coworker when you pass him in the office. Just don’t burn a cross on his lawn. Right? It’s not great to have sexual thoughts about children, but I would think that it would be fairly harmless if it stopped there. But if a guy is made to feel evil for what goes on in his mind, he’ll eventually be wont to think, “Oh, well. In for a penny, in for a penis.” And that’s where actual problems start.
I think that being a jerk is like being an alcoholic. It’s probably tough, but if you can get through life without acting on your urges, you should be treated as you would be without them. You shouldn’t be arrested for drunk driving if you’re sober. It’s enough to act good and be quiet. It’s not ideal, but it’s enough.
Bonus Question!
Best penny? That giant one in Batman's cave.