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Ask HN: Why does evil succeed so well in our world?

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Re: Ask HN: Why does evil succeed so well in our world?

#11

Post by CyberFonic »

"The love of money is the root of all evil"

It might be more of a case of motivation. Sociopaths don't care what others think so they'll go for it, the consequences be damned. On the other hand, nice people, who are the majority, will only go as far as their conscience allows them. So in business terms "they choke". Of course, the tendencies of greed and ego are in collusion.

To give just one example, bankers gave housing loans even to people who couldn't afford them. Then they foreclosed on those homes. A "nice" banker would have said "Sorry, you can't afford that house. How about a more modest one." The result the nice banker would miss out on the business. The borrower going with the one that made the bigger home attainable.

Re: Ask HN: Why does evil succeed so well in our world?

#12

Post by terrykohla »

If you look at the economy from a global point of view, you can see the money is constantly flowing between good an evil. It's the ying and the yang. You can choose to see the good or the evil but they're both there always seeking an unreachable equilibrium, like the waves in the ocean.

Some people out there are doing "evil" right now keep you safe warm and cozy.

Re: Ask HN: Why does evil succeed so well in our world?

#14

Post by 001sky »

CyberFonic wrote: post #11

"The love of money is the root of all evil" It might be more of a case of motivation. Sociopaths don't care what others think so they'll go for it, the consequences be damned. On the other hand, nice people, who are the majority, will only go as far as their conscience allows them. So in business terms "they choke". Of course, the tendencies of greed and ego are in collusion. To give just one example, bankers gave ho…

To give just one example, bankers gave housing loans even to people who couldn't afford them. Then they foreclosed on those homes. A "nice" banker would have said "Sorry, you can't afford that house.

The counter point to this is that it was (political) public policy that spurred the bankers to lend to 'sub-prime- credits. The policy that led to the housing bubble was a pernicious trade, basically politicians bribing the bankers (for votes) with allures of money, and bribing the lower-middle classes (for votes) with allures of new credit. In the political sense, it was a bout power and social position, not money (although they are undoubtedly interlinked). This special interest legacy was then followed by similar moves (same motives) in to promote the lending to students (promises of easy credit) and promote the expansion of Academia (promises of larger budgets), again for political gain. Similarly, the repeal of Glass-stegall (under the Deomocrats with Clinton) and the foistering of the Universal banking model on Congress (through both its own actions and the WTO treaty), in another nod to secure the support of the Banks (with promises of greater CEO pay) and the lower middle classes (continued expansion of easy credit).

Re: Ask HN: Why does evil succeed so well in our world?

#15

Post by lifeisstillgood »

I reprint a letter I just received (inscribed on human skin) for your edification:

Dear Humans

I hereby reclaim the word "evil". It seems to have worked for "queer" by those San Francisco guys, so I am trying it for evil.

As The Lord of Lies I have put in plenty of effort over the centuries, encouraging wars, rape and torture. it takes quite a lot of effort to persuade someone to hang a pregnant woman extra high and then to slice open her belly to let the foetus dangle too - but I think you will agree that that's pretty evil. The march of technology has helped (guns guns guns!) but real evil still takes the personal touch.

so imagine my horror when people call scummy business practises "evil". I mean ohhh that guy is aggregating my click throughs to sell more toasters. Where is the soul-destroying fear in that? I mean I used to call retargeting what happened when you make a mother choose which child to have shot. now it's marketing

No thank you. you keep your evil empire and your "don't be evil" slogans. I will summon up the deepest devils from the pit and head to Syria, where I can show you all what words like evil really mean. Pleasant dreams.

yours

Belezebub

Re: Ask HN: Why does evil succeed so well in our world?

#16

Post by Casseres »

patmcc wrote: post #6

Why are your examples "evil"? Your first one might mean gmail serves me ads for chicken wings (which I want) instead of diapers (which I don't). Is that evil? As for the second, banks are under Orwellian central management - every penny is recorded going in and coming out. Is that evil, or is that good for everyone who holds a deposit? What's employee empowerment software exactly, anyway?

When I read the ASK HN headline, I immediately thought of stealing. Petty theft, that is. To make stealing a career, I imagine it would take a lot of work if you don't want to be caught - probably just as much as a legitimate job.

I've seen things that would be pretty easy to steal and net a criminal something equivalent to a good year's salary, but criminals are generally stupid and blow their ill-gotten gains on stupid things, meaning they then have to steal again to maintain their lifestyle.

Re: Ask HN: Why does evil succeed so well in our world?

#20

Post by nyan_sandwich »

It is demonstrably not the case that it is easier to make money through evil than good, at least historically; the world we live in now is quite nice compared to the past, and that's the result of selfish people following incentives. If incentives were aligned with evil, we would expect to live in an evil world, and we do not.

There is evil around every corner for sure, but it is outweighed by the good. Sure there are incentives for scummy business practices that add a bit of evil on the margin, but do you really think most companies are a net negative? That that marginal evil isn't outweighed by the vast good and wealth that is created as well?

The question you should have asked is "Why do i think incentives align with evil?", and the answer is "Because you take the good for granted and thereby fail to notice it."

We're on the Internet. Show me some evil that outweighs the awesomeness of that.

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