Social Question

reacting_acid's avatar

What do you consider to be "Evil"?

Asked by reacting_acid (1181points) November 10th, 2009

What is one thing in this world brings to your mind the word Evil? Dictatorship? Oppression? Pancakes? Please answer. No judgement on what you consider evil. Sorry if it is a bit vague, but oh well please answer anyways.

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53 Answers

OreetCocker's avatar

Cucumber is evil, and egg mayonnaise is the devil incarnate!

SpatzieLover's avatar

Animal cruelty & Child Abuse

the100thmonkey's avatar

The British Council

CMaz's avatar

Nothing.

Some things are right, some things are wrong.

Iarumas's avatar

Out of the normal answers and questions.

Also the hair that’s on my buttered bagel.

OutOfTheBlue's avatar

The Government.

Dr_C's avatar

Glenn Beck

Drawkward's avatar

People with nothing left to lose.

gemiwing's avatar

The inner devil of man is the true evil. It makes the evil bigger when there is such a high possibility of good, and it is turned away from.

DominicX's avatar

The presence at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York. That was pure evil.

But seriously, I’m not sure because that word is not easy to describe. I think the desire to cause harm to other people through violence and killing, oppression, discrimination, hatred, etc—those kinds of things are the closest I can think of to evil.

Of course, I’ve been told that my attraction to men is “evil” too. The word really does get thrown around a lot.

Qingu's avatar

I would basically define “evil” as “lack of empathy.”

I don’t really like throwing around that word, though.

tyrantxseries's avatar

@Qingu soooo I’m Evil?....shitty

T.V

forestGeek's avatar

Alarm clocks are most definitely evil.

wildpotato's avatar

Useless suffering, a la Emanuel Levinas.

MacBean's avatar

My brother-in-law.

dpworkin's avatar

If good can be defined as that which causes the largest amount of amelioration for the greatest number of people at each decision point, then evil must be its opposite.

hookecho's avatar

a complete lack of empathy for other human beings – that is the escessence of evil.

filmfann's avatar

Fox News
Dick Cheney
Charles Manson
Child Molesters
CPS
Animal Abuse
Michael Bay
Voldemort

cyn's avatar

Wicked Witch of the West.
Scar.

Dr_C's avatar

How has no one mentioned Megatron?

Tink's avatar

Any kind of abuse (animal and human).
And Micheal Vick. I hate that @*%#!

Blondesjon's avatar

The Temperance Movement and anyone who believes that any religious or political debate actually has a “right” side and a “wrong” side.

Dr_C's avatar

@Blondesjon is evil or “evrul” but only in his own mind

Blondesjon's avatar

@Dr_C . . . if it wasn’t for me the good would have no standard to deem themselves superior by.

Dr_C's avatar

@Blondesjon and I dig that about you.

mammal's avatar

Countries who impose their political will upon a technologically inferior country, thus profiting the former country and a tiny clique in the latter country. Whilst leaving the latter country so disenfranchised, disgruntled, dispossessed and dis’d to the point of shockingly violent and indiscriminate behaviour toward the former country. Who promply points the finger and proclaims evil! like Jehova himself in all his righteous glory…then pursuing their foreign policy with even greater zeal and righteousness and viciousness….. that, brothers and sisters, is a close an approximation to absolute evil as it can currently get.

Dr_C's avatar

@mammal so you’re saying the New England Patriots are evil? I totally agree!

Grisaille's avatar

Snuggies. And clowns. Possibly Megan Fox.

Grisaille's avatar

Jesting aside, I’m going to Hamlet up this bitch:

”...for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”

Everything is subjective. Just because a billion people believe something does not make it correct or factual. Good and bad are the paradigm examples of subjectivity. Evil is an extension of this.

filmfann's avatar

@Grisaille Lurve for Hamlet

mattbrowne's avatar

Racism. Nazism. Communism. Predatory captialism. Greed. Poverty. Illiteracy. Science illiteracy.

Blondesjon's avatar

@mattbrowne . . . boy, an ism can’t get a break in your neighborhood.

mattbrowne's avatar

@Blondesjon – In fact there are a lot of great isms. Check out this list. Not all of them are bad, so take your pick ;-)

abolitionism, absenteeism, absolutism, abstractionism, absurdism, academicism, academism, achromatism, acrotism, actinism, activism, adoptianism, adoptionism, adventurism, aeroembolism, aestheticism, ageism, agism, agnosticism, agrarianism, alarmism, albinism, alcoholism, aldosteronism, algorism, alienism, allelism, allelomorphism, allomorphism, alpinism, altruism, amateurism, amoralism, anabaptism, anabolism, anachronism, analphabetism, anarchism, anecdotalism, aneurism, anglicism, animalism, animism, anisotropism, antagonism, anthropocentrism, anthropomorphism, anthropopathism, antialcoholism, antiauthoritarianism, antiblackism, anticapitalism, anticlericalism, anticolonialism, anticommercialism, anticommunism, antielitism, antievolutionism, antifascism, antifeminism, antiferromagnetism, antihumanism, antiliberalism, antimaterialism, antimilitarism, antinepotism, antinomianism, antiquarianism, antiracism, antiradicalism, antirationalism, antirealism, antireductionism, antiritualism, antiromanticism, antiterrorism, aphorism, apocalypticism, apocalyptism, archaism, asceticism, assimilationism, associationism, asterism, astigmatism, asynchronism, atavism, atheism, athleticism, atomism, atonalism, atropism, atticism, autecism, authoritarianism, autism, autoecism, autoeroticism, autoerotism, automatism, automorphism, baalism, baptism, barbarianism, barbarism, behaviorism, biblicism, bibliophilism, bicameralism, biculturalism, bidialectalism, bilateralism, bilingualism, bimetallism, biologism, bioregionalism, bipartisanism, bipedalism, biracialism, blackguardism, bogyism, bohemianism, bolshevism, boosterism, bossism, botulism, bourbonism, boyarism, bromism, brutism, bruxism, bureaucratism, cabalism, caciquism, cambism, cannibalism, capitalism, careerism, casteism, catabolism, catastrophism, catechism, cavalierism, centralism, centrism, ceremonialism, charism, charlatanism, chauvinism, chemism, chemotropism, chimaerism, chimerism, chrism, chromaticism, cicisbeism, cinchonism, civicism, civism, classicism, classism, clericalism, clonism, cockneyism, collaborationism, collectivism, colloquialism, colonialism, colorism, commensalism, commercialism, communalism, communism, communitarianism, conceptualism, concretism, confessionalism, conformism, congregationalism, connubialism, conservatism, constitutionalism, constructivism, consumerism, controversialism, conventionalism, corporatism, corporativism, cosmism, cosmopolitanism, cosmopolitism, countercriticism, counterculturalism, counterterrorism, creationism, credentialism, cretinism, criticism, cronyism, cryptorchidism, cryptorchism, cubism, cultism, cynicism, czarism, dadaism, dandyism, defeatism, deism, demonism, denominationalism, despotism, determinism, deviationism, diabolism, diamagnetism, diastereoisomerism, diastrophism, dichroism, dichromatism, dicrotism, didacticism, diffusionism, dilettantism, dimerism, dimorphism, dioecism, ditheism, divisionism, doctrinairism, dodoism, dogmatism, druidism, dualism, dwarfism, dynamism, dysphemism, ecclesiasticism, echoism, eclecticism, ecoterrorism, ecotourism, ecumenicalism, ecumenicism, ecumenism, egalitarianism, egocentrism, egoism, egotism, electromagnetism, elitism, embolism, emotionalism, empiricism, enantiomorphism, encyclopedism, endemism, endomorphism, endoparasitism, entrepreneurialism, environmentalism, eonism, epicenism, epicureanism, epicurism, epigonism, epigrammatism, epiphenomenalism, epiphytism, epizoism, equalitarianism, eremitism, erethism, ergotism, eroticism, erotism, erraticism, erythrism, escapism, esotericism, essentialism, establishmentarianism, estheticism, etatism, ethnocentrism, eudaemonism, eudaimonism, euhemerism, eunuchism, euphemism, euphuism, evangelism, evolutionism, exceptionalism, exclusivism, exhibitionism, existentialism, exorcism, exoticism, exotism, expansionism, expatriatism, experimentalism, expertism, expressionism, externalism, extremism, factionalism, factualism, faddism, fairyism, familism, fanaticism, faradism, fascism, fatalism, fauvism, favism, favoritism, federalism, feminism, ferrimagnetism, ferromagnetism, fetichism, fetishism, feudalism, feuilletonism, fideism, finalism, flagellantism, fogyism, foreignism, formalism, fraternalism, freneticism, funambulism, functionalism, fundamentalism, futilitarianism, futurism, gallicism, galvanism, gangsterism, genteelism, geomagnetism, geotropism, giantism, gigantism, globalism, gnosticism, gourmandism, governmentalism, gradualism, grangerism, greenbackism, gutturalism, gynandromorphism, gypsyism, heathenism, hedonism, heliotropism, helotism, hemimorphism, henotheism, hermaphroditism, hermeticism, hermetism, hermitism, heroinism, heroism, heteroecism, heteromorphism, heterothallism, highbrowism, hipsterism, hirsutism, hispanism, historicism, hoboism, holism, holometabolism, homeomorphism, homoeroticism, homomorphism, homothallism, hoodlumism, hoodooism, hooliganism, hucksterism, humanism, humanitarianism, hybridism, hydrotropism, hylozoism, hypercatabolism, hypercriticism, hyperinsulinism, hypermetabolism, hyperparasitism, hyperparathyroidism, hyperpituitarism, hyperrealism, hyperthyroidism, hyperurbanism, hypnotism, hypocorism, hypoparathyroidism, hypopituitarism, hypothyroidism, idealism, idiotism, idolism, illiberalism, illuminism, illusionism, imagism, immanentism, immaterialism, immobilism, immoralism, imperialism, impressionism, incendiarism, incrementalism, indeterminism, indifferentism, individualism, industrialism, infantilism, inflationism, initialism, institutionalism, instrumentalism, insularism, intellectualism, internationalism, interventionism, introspectionism, intuitionism, invalidism, iodism, iotacism, irrationalism, irredentism, ism, isochronism, isolationism, isomerism, isomorphism, jesuitism, jingoism, jism, journalism, jujuism, kaiserism, laconism, laicism, landlordism, lathyrism, latitudinarianism, leftism, legalism, legitimism, lesbianism, liberalism, libertarianism, libertinism, literalism, lobbyism, localism, locoism, loyalism, luminism, lyricism, lyrism, magnetism, majoritarianism, malapropism, mammonism, mandarinism, mannerism, manorialism, masochism, materialism, maternalism, mechanism, medievalism, melanism, meliorism, mentalism, mercantilism, mesmerism, messianism, metabolism, metamerism, metamorphism, metasomatism, methodism, microorganism, microprism, microseism, militarism, millenarianism, millennialism, minimalism, misoneism, modernism, momism, monachism, monadism, monarchism, monasticism, monetarism, mongolism, monism, monochromatism, monoecism, monometallism, monomorphism, monorchidism, monotheism, moralism, moronism, morphinism, mosaicism, mullahism, multiculturalism, multilateralism, multilingualism, multiracialism, mutism, mutualism, mysticism, nabobism, nanism, narcism, narcissism, nationalism, nativism, naturalism, naturism, necessitarianism, necrophilism, negativism, neoclassicism, neocolonialism, neoconservatism, neoliberalism, neologism, neoplasticism, neorealism, nephrism, nepotism, neuroticism, neutralism, nihilism, nomadism, nominalism, nomism, nonconformism, nondenominationalism, nonobjectivism, nonrepresentationalism, nudism, obeahism, obelism, obiism, objectivism, obscurantism, obstructionism, occultism, officialism, ogreism, ogrism, onanism, operationalism, operationism, opiumism, opportunism, optimism, oralism, organicism, organism, orientalism, ostracism, overoptimism, pacificism, pacifism, paeanism, paedomorphism, paganism, paleomagnetism, paludism, pantheism, parajournalism, parallelism, paralogism, paramagnetism, parasitism, parecism, parkinsonism, parochialism, particularism, passivism, pastoralism, paternalism, patriotism, pauperism, pedestrianism, peonism, perfectionism, personalism, pessimism, phallicism, phallism, pharisaism, phenomenalism, philhellenism, philistinism, photochromism, photojournalism, photoperiodism, phototropism, physicalism, pianism, pictorialism, pietism, plagiarism, plebeianism, pleinairism, plenism, pleochroism, pleomorphism, plumbism, pluralism, pococurantism, poeticism, pointillism, polycentrism, polyglotism, polyglottism, polymerism, polymorphism, polytheism, populism, porism, positivism, postmillenarianism, postmillennialism, postmodernism, pragmaticism, pragmatism, predestinarianism, premillenarianism, premillennialism, presentism, priapism, priggism, primitivism, prism, privatism, probabilism, professionalism, prognathism, progressivism, prosaism, proselytism, prostatism, protectionism, provincialism, pseudoclassicism, pseudomorphism, psychologism, ptyalism, puerilism, pugilism, purism, puritanism, pygmyism, quackism, quietism, quislingism, quixotism, rabbinism, racemism, racialism, racism, radicalism, rationalism, reactionaryism, realism, rebaptism, recidivism, reconstructionism, reductionism, reformism, refugeeism, regionalism, relativism, representationalism, republicanism, restrictionism, revanchism, revisionism, revivalism, rheumatism, rightism, rigorism, ritualism, robotism, romanticism, rowdyism, royalism, ruffianism, ruralism, sacerdotalism, sacramentalism, sadism, sadomasochism, salvationism, sansculottism, sapphism, sardonicism, satanism, saturnism, savagism, scapegoatism, scepticism, schematism, schism, scholasticism, scientism, sciolism, secessionism, sectarianism, sectionalism, secularism, seism, seismism, semicolonialism, sensationalism, sensualism, sentimentalism, separatism, serialism, servomechanism, sexism, shamanism, simplism, sinapism, skepticism, slumism, snobbism, socialism, solarism, solecism, solidarism, solipsism, somnambulism, sophism, sovietism, specialism, speciesism, spiritism, spiritualism, spoonerism, standpattism, statism, stereoisomerism, stoicism, structuralism, subjectivism, supernaturalism, superorganism, superparasitism, superpatriotism, superrealism, superromanticism, supranationalism, suprematism, surrealism, survivalism, sybaritism, sycophantism, syllogism, symbolism, symmetallism, synchronism, syncretism, syndactylism, syndicalism, synergism, systematism, tachism, talmudism, tarantism, tautomerism, tectonism, teetotalism, televangelism, tenebrism, teratism, territorialism, terrorism, theatricalism, theism, theocentrism, thermoperiodism, thermotropism, thigmotropism, thromboembolism, titanism, toadyism, tokenism, totalism, totalitarianism, totemism, tourism, traditionalism, transcendentalism, transnationalism, transsexualism, transvestism, traumatism, triadism, tribalism, trichromatism, triliteralism, tritheism, triumphalism, troilism, tropism, truism, tsarism, tzarism, ultraconservatism, ultraism, ultraleftism, ultraliberalism, ultramontanism, ultranationalism, ultrarealism, uniformitarianism, unionism, unitarianism, universalism, uranism, urbanism, ureotelism, uricotelism, utilitarianism, utopianism, utopism, vagabondism, valetudinarianism, vampirism, vandalism, vanguardism, veganism, vegetarianism, ventriloquism, verbalism, verism, vernacularism, vigilantism, virilism, vitalism, vocalism, vocationalism, volcanism, voltaism, voluntarism, voluntaryism, volunteerism, voodooism, vorticism, voyeurism, vulcanism, vulgarism, warlordism, welfarism, wholism, witticism, workaholism, xerophytism, yahooism, zombiism

mattbrowne's avatar

@Grisaille – My point was, some are good and some are evil.

filmfann's avatar

All we are saying…. Is Give Peace a Chance!!!!!

forestGeek's avatar

Of course Ronnie James Dio is evil!

Blondesjon's avatar

@mattbrowne . . . Well done sir. please tell me you copy and pasted that.

@forestGeek . . . You would be evil too after all of that time in the Midnight Sea,

PretentiousArtist's avatar

Oh what’s becoming of me?!

mattbrowne's avatar

@Blondesjon – Of course. In fact, if you type in 5–6 isms into Google’s search box it gives you thousands of links with comprehensive collections of isms. There must be tons of people out there collecting them, like there were baseball cards or other sports memorabilia. Personally, my favorite was representationalism. Somehow it reminded me of powerpoint and slide overkill which is so common in the corporate world. I don’t like slide packs with more than 20 slides. Some software vendors think they can impress potential customers by sending around packs with 100 or more. Maybe there’s even an ism for this phenomenon, if not, maybe we should invent one.

Ever created your own unique ism? How about flutheritinism?

Blondesjon's avatar

@mattbrowne . . .I am a huge subscriber to meism.

forestGeek's avatar

This all sounds like evilism to me…why all the evil hate?

Dr_C's avatar

“Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.”
-Dark Helmet (From “Spaceballs”)

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