People are sometimes born without empathy – sociopath or psychopath, I forget which. That could be considered ‘born bad’, but most such people live honest and ordinary lives, according to what I’ve read on the subject. They are capable of understanding the rules, and of understanding the consequences of breaking the rules – enlightened self-interest.
Some just think they’re too smart to be bothered by the rules. Some really are. Fortunately these types seem to be rare.
Scary topic if you think about it. But Cynthia has empathy, she just rebels a lot.
Anyone who tries to get out of punishment by saying they were fated to commit their offense is in for a disappointment: The punisher is fated to punish them.
some idiot from R'lyeh Premium Member over 5 years ago
Isn’t that the same edge though? Parental and societal responsibility and rehabilitation are both meaningless if evil is an inherent characteristic*.
*modulo people being intimidated by them into not acting with their baser instincts, of course.
dwane.scoty1 over 5 years ago
Nice try, Cynthia! Take the grounding & slink away from Lucreita!
MS72 over 5 years ago
Spiritually dead in our sins. All of us. Born that way.
uniquename over 5 years ago
Besides, Cynthia’s not born bad. She’s just drawn that way.
sew-so over 5 years ago
People are sometimes born without empathy – sociopath or psychopath, I forget which. That could be considered ‘born bad’, but most such people live honest and ordinary lives, according to what I’ve read on the subject. They are capable of understanding the rules, and of understanding the consequences of breaking the rules – enlightened self-interest.
Some just think they’re too smart to be bothered by the rules. Some really are. Fortunately these types seem to be rare.
Scary topic if you think about it. But Cynthia has empathy, she just rebels a lot.
Stephen Gilberg over 5 years ago
Anyone who tries to get out of punishment by saying they were fated to commit their offense is in for a disappointment: The punisher is fated to punish them.