I don't know. I think they were all megalomaniacs. Isn't that a form of psychosis?
There was an interesting documentary on the **** err History Channel where they showed the interviews of ordinary Germans after the war.
'I've spoken of the Shining City all my political life. …In my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it, and see it still.'" Ronald Reagan
Also this guy now lives in a nice one room apartment. He has access to all modern conveniences and gets all his meals prepared and laundry done. He has it a lot better than many. Not bad for a mass murdurer.
My wife and I disagree on this issue. She thinks anyone who would commit mass murder or other similar-scale reprehensible acts is crazy by virtue of their misdeeds. I disagree, which is why I appreciated this article so. Unfortunately, there's no concrete answer, so I can't throw it in her face.
I would agree with your wife. However unless they we believed that they were fighting a battle against mutant aliens that were trying to steal their brain, crazy is no excuse. I mean I think you can have a mental disorder and not be living in an alternate reality. Which is why our definition of insanity for legal purposes is appropriate even if I do not believe it is often applied correctly.
'I've spoken of the Shining City all my political life. …In my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it, and see it still.'" Ronald Reagan
It also talked about a crowd of people witnessing a bad accident, or someone being mugged. The more people witnessing the event, the less likely someone is going to attempt to help. However, if you are the only one around, you're much more likely to intervene. After all, there's only yourself around to be able to help. With a crowd of people, you're expecting "someone" to do it.
I was on the subway once and when we arrived at the platform there was a man collapsed on the ground. I have had CPR training, even though I was not certified at the time, which I had never applied in a real life situation. I stood there frozen not being able to decide if I should do something. By the time I could come to a decision the door closed and the train moved away. I still live with that. I do however suspect that he was already dead. His skin was already blue.
'I've spoken of the Shining City all my political life. …In my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it, and see it still.'" Ronald Reagan
'I've spoken of the Shining City all my political life. …In my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it, and see it still.'" Ronald Reagan
I found it interesting that the author wrote that an incident like this is nothing that they should make an effort to protect against because it was so one-off.
I'm thinking, "hey, this guy is nuts!"
I just now got this. Good job.
I tend to agree with Knausgaard, at least regarding Norway. Here, on the other hand...
Just as an FYI, Knausgaard references that he himself is a narcissist. He's the current darling of the literary world. He's early 40's and has written a six-volume memoir. I'd rather be in a Norwegian prison than read six volumes.
Replies
Agreed.
This is very interesting, and leads to this question: is evil crazy? I don't mean garden variety evil, I mean ****-Pol Pot-Adam Sandler evil.
I say, resoundingly, no.
There was an interesting documentary on the **** err History Channel where they showed the interviews of ordinary Germans after the war.
I would agree with your wife. However unless they we believed that they were fighting a battle against mutant aliens that were trying to steal their brain, crazy is no excuse. I mean I think you can have a mental disorder and not be living in an alternate reality. Which is why our definition of insanity for legal purposes is appropriate even if I do not believe it is often applied correctly.
I was on the subway once and when we arrived at the platform there was a man collapsed on the ground. I have had CPR training, even though I was not certified at the time, which I had never applied in a real life situation. I stood there frozen not being able to decide if I should do something. By the time I could come to a decision the door closed and the train moved away. I still live with that. I do however suspect that he was already dead. His skin was already blue.
LMAO. You just earned a get out of jail free card.
Post of the week.
Take a bow, sir.
OK, I bow to the master..
Mike
I think moderns have a hard time accepting that there are people like this. But there are. Fortunately they're pretty rare.
The news was recapping the testimony in the Aurora movie theater shooter's trial today. Just heartbreaking. He shot a 6 year-old girl 4 times.
I just now got this. Good job.
I tend to agree with Knausgaard, at least regarding Norway. Here, on the other hand...
Just as an FYI, Knausgaard references that he himself is a narcissist. He's the current darling of the literary world. He's early 40's and has written a six-volume memoir. I'd rather be in a Norwegian prison than read six volumes.