|
Post by biglin on Feb 15, 2011 11:12:27 GMT -5
I'm going to work through the so-called Seven Deadly Sins and show how many of them actually have a positive side.
I'll begin with anger,.
OK, I guess nearly everyone knows I have a big problem with controlling my temper. I'm not proud of it and I'm much better at it than I used to be but even so I could do better.
On the other hand, there's (IMHO) good anger and bad anger.
What's wrong with being angry about injustice?
Poverty?
Oppression?
Cruelty?
I think if you don't get angry at those kinds of things there's something basically wrong with your own moral standards.
Any thoughts, people?
|
|
|
Post by maggie on Feb 15, 2011 13:14:38 GMT -5
If people didn't get angry, wrongs wouldn't be put right.
|
|
cg
Affiliate
please don't trifle with me
Posts: 21
|
Post by cg on Feb 15, 2011 13:28:01 GMT -5
i think i'm uncomfortable with anger - which probably means that i have 'issues'.....
|
|
|
Post by beth on Feb 15, 2011 15:48:27 GMT -5
I think few things can be accomplished constructively when anger is the guiding motivation. Anger almost always puts us at a terrible disadvantage. I think we all have buttons that can be pushed to send us into anger, but the wise thing is to get past it and regain a cool head before making decisions, taking actions, etc..
Anger .. along with hate and fear ... is one of the most destructive emotions.
jmo
|
|
|
Post by biglin on Feb 15, 2011 17:15:12 GMT -5
I think few things can be accomplished constructively when anger is the guiding motivation. Anger almost always puts us at a terrible disadvantage. I think we all have buttons that can be pushed to send us into anger, but the wise thing is to get past it and regain a cool head before making decisions, taking actions, etc.. Anger .. along with hate and fear ... is one of the most destructive emotions. jmo Oh, bad anger is; but what's wrong with being angry about poverty and injustice and oppression and racism and religious bigotry or cruelty or whatever? That's what I mean when I talk about RIGHTEOUS anger. (Don't worry; tomorrow I'm going to defend lust!)
|
|
|
Post by beth on Feb 15, 2011 18:42:46 GMT -5
I think few things can be accomplished constructively when anger is the guiding motivation. Anger almost always puts us at a terrible disadvantage. I think we all have buttons that can be pushed to send us into anger, but the wise thing is to get past it and regain a cool head before making decisions, taking actions, etc.. Anger .. along with hate and fear ... is one of the most destructive emotions. jmo Oh, bad anger is; but what's wrong with being angry about poverty and injustice and oppression and racism and religious bigotry or cruelty or whatever? That's what I mean when I talk about RIGHTEOUS anger. (Don't worry; tomorrow I'm going to defend lust!) Yes, but anger, even righteous anger, has never accomplished anything positive ... it has to abate in order for the brain to kick in. Being ruled by negative emotions is self-defeating. That does not mean I'm never-ever driven by anger, but I do recognize the futility at the same time. Lust needs no defense.
|
|
|
Post by fretslider on Feb 21, 2011 15:44:26 GMT -5
"RIGHTEOUS anger." Oh no, not Yahweh again!
Do you get angry when a lion kills a wildebeest?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2011 15:55:49 GMT -5
Anger .. along with hate and fear ... is one of the most destructive emotions. Obvious and axiomatic. Prashna
|
|
|
Post by biglin on Feb 22, 2011 19:39:57 GMT -5
Anger .. along with hate and fear ... is one of the most destructive emotions. Obvious and axiomatic. Prashna Anger is like a volcano erupting; it flares up and then dies down. Hatred is like a corrosive acid eating away inside you. Anger is quite often justified IMHO, especially when it's directed against hatred. Nor is it clear that what Beth said IS 'axiomatic.' An axiom is something that is LOGICALLY true and that is basically a bit of a tautology. It's NOT axiomatic to say that anger is always destructive because sometimes it can be liberating and creative! (And no, I'm NOT angry right now; I'm philosophising!)
|
|
Erasmus
Moderatorz
Deep Thought Mod
"We do not take prisoners - we liberate them" - http://www.aeonbytegnosticradio.com
Posts: 2,489
|
Post by Erasmus on Feb 22, 2011 21:28:10 GMT -5
I think the whole point about The 7 Deadly Sins that is lost is allowing them to take you over. We don't live in the world where all that was a current issue. (Maybe not so sure about that!)
Lust is the obvious one, so let's choose another; Pride. What is wrong with being proud of yourself?
When this was written in the Roman Empire, Family mattered far more than you did. That's not so unlike today - He's the Big I Am but his people were nothing and he scrapes peas off a knife. Snobbery has always existed.
Pride would mean I'm a better person than you because of who my ancestors were or because my ancestors were nothing but I can buy you outright, so all your ancestors mean nothing. That was their world at their time - read The Satyricon.
It's saying that this kind of Pride in fact subjects you to their rules, because it is not saying I am Me, take it or leave it or ideally do something in between, it is saying I challenge my place in your scheme of things, not I challenge your scheme of things. You can in fact relate that directly to Feminist opposition to Male Chauvinist values circa 1970 and Feminist espousal of forcing them on women as well as men today.
|
|
|
Post by mouse on Feb 23, 2011 8:17:26 GMT -5
people get angry about all sorts of things..its a very human emotion i never believe people who say they never get angry..although i think we calm down as we get older and realise that anger can be self defeating....and in the main hurts those losing their temper/anger far more than that which causing the anger be it inanimate or human my father used to shake his head sadly and tell me my temper would get me hung one day[he having the daddy of all quick tempers and we inherited ours from him] ..i didnt of course hang.. and eventually like every one else i learnt to curb my anger most of the timeand use self control...[ as did the rest of my family who all had very fiery tempers and got angry very quickly...
[and just incase i sound like sweetness and light and wholly in control.........far from it i still lose my temper....and rage and swear and bang about like an idiot...and then have to pay for the breakages ;D]but not as much as i used to... ones temprement has a lot to do with how angry and how often one gets angry
|
|
|
Post by mouse on Feb 23, 2011 8:23:06 GMT -5
On the other hand, there's (IMHO) good anger and bad anger. What's wrong with being angry about injustice? Poverty? Oppression? Cruelty? i dont believe there is good or bad anger..anger is just an emotion usually achieves nothing..hurts the angry far more than any one else[uless you kill or damage some one] anger will never right an injustice or poverty or opression...so its a wasted use of energy..far better to use the energy into doing some thing practical now when do we get on to lust...mmmmmmm ;D
|
|
|
Post by iamjumbo on Feb 24, 2011 13:45:34 GMT -5
"RIGHTEOUS anger." Oh no, not Yahweh again! Do you get angry when a lion kills a wildebeest? absolutely, but, i know it's an unfortunate fact of life, and necessary for survival. i just won't watch nature shows so i don't have to see it
|
|
|
Post by annaj26 on Feb 25, 2011 9:18:40 GMT -5
On the other hand, there's (IMHO) good anger and bad anger. What's wrong with being angry about injustice? Poverty? Oppression? Cruelty? i dont believe there is good or bad anger..anger is just an emotion usually achieves nothing..hurts the angry far more than any one else[uless you kill or damage some one] anger will never right an injustice or poverty or opression...so its a wasted use of energy..far better to use the energy into doing some thing practical now when do we get on to lust...mmmmmmm ;D Right on, mouse! I feel the same way. If you want to help then be an activist, don't waste your time spewing and snorting. Ok ... now what about the lust, as promised.
|
|
|
Post by mouse on Feb 25, 2011 10:20:24 GMT -5
i dont believe there is good or bad anger..anger is just an emotion usually achieves nothing..hurts the angry far more than any one else[uless you kill or damage some one] anger will never right an injustice or poverty or opression...so its a wasted use of energy..far better to use the energy into doing some thing practical now when do we get on to lust...mmmmmmm ;D Right on, mouse! I feel the same way. If you want to help then be an activist, don't waste your time spewing and snorting. Ok ... now what about the lust, as promised. yea lets get on to the lust..now that is a subject i am sure we all know about and have opinions on...am all for it my self ;D
|
|