Because I don't consider a child a little angle, but just another human. Like when having to make discussions involving the life of one child versus two adults, I would pick the adults (assuming average across the field). Like how I consider a child capable of evil just like an adult, just lacking the means to carry it out. Like how I don't consider the life of a child any more special than the life of an adult?
While I have yet to be called evil for this, I when ever I express my view on this, many have reacted as if I spoke some vile demonic stuff. Is it wrong of me to not hold the view that children are little angles who can do no wrong, or who only act evil or selfish because they need things (like a baby needing feeding)?
Just wondering.
__________________
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..:
If history is to change, let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If my fate is to die, I must simply laugh.
The past is dead. It was all just a dream...
- Magus
To help protect the sanctity of marriage, please keep all affairs heterosexual.
If no image appears, something has gone wrong. I don't know. Probably run out of squirrels.
If I say that I love kids, marry a woman to have a Beanieboy, Jr., dress him like me, force him into sports so that I can live through him, I am considered a great Family Guy, and they will think it cute that I have a Mini Me.
Is that who you are worried about judging you? And if so, why?
Ironically, I was thinking about this same thing. I like kids, but parents use kids a lot. "My child has the sniffles. I better stay home. Beanie will do my work." "It's Christmas Eve, and my turn to stay late, but I have kids, so I should go home first again."
"I'm in a crowded place. Maybe I should bring my SUV stroller that is wide enough for 2 babies. Safety, you know. Everyone should get out of my way."
Signs on cars that read "Baby on Board! The car in front of me doesn't have kids! Ram them instead! Thanks a bunch!"
I think what really makes people turn in their graves, even if they seem much alive typing responses, is when I suggest something bad happening to a kid isn't worse than the same thing happening to someone else. Like murder. Somehow, killing a child doesn't really make a man more evil than killing average Joe with his average life. Then again, maybe the difference is like that of killing coyotes compared to killing dogs (the nice ones, not the mean/deadly ones).
Looking at it from an evolutionary point of view *dodges attacks by YEC's*, maybe it is because I am violating that parenting instinct which leads us to carrying more for young of a our species, regardless of who they belong to, which is probably why killing Kitties and Puppies makes you about as bad as a serial killer in some peoples' eyes. Oh well.
__________________
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..:
If history is to change, let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If my fate is to die, I must simply laugh.
The past is dead. It was all just a dream...
- Magus
To help protect the sanctity of marriage, please keep all affairs heterosexual.
If no image appears, something has gone wrong. I don't know. Probably run out of squirrels.
I was scared of the Wicked Witch when I was a kid. Really scared. Now, I get scared, but The Wizard of Oz never makes me afraid.
I think it is that kind of thing. When you are a kid, everything is new, and your emotions really intense. However, as you get older, you have coping mechanisms to deal with it, so while it would be scary, it wouldn't be as scary as if you were a kid.
Do I think that killing a kid is worse than killing an adult? No, but that's because I think that killing an adult is equally awful.
It depends-- personally I myself am certain that children are 90 and 45 degree angles myself. Are they all little angels? Well sure... after all not all angels are here to single carols and bring us happy news.
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In terms of "evil" I don't believe most children are evil, actually don't believe most adults are. I don't believe most children are capable of understanding the full implications of their actions (depending on their developmental stage and the action they seek to complete)
Infants - preschoolers are pretty much acting out in response to actual need, not some conscious attempt to make their parents and everyone else go crazy. As children develop certainly they are capable of choosing to take actions they know they have been taught are not acceptable.
__________________ If when we judged others our real motive was to destroy evil, we should look for evil where it is to be found, and that is in our own hearts. But if we are on the lookout for evil in others, our real motive is obviously to justify ourselves, for we are seeking to escape punishment for our own sins by passing judgment on others, and are assuming by implication that the Word of God applies to ourselves in one way, and to others in another (Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship).
I don't think children are capable of the kind of horrific evil adults are capable of, but I would equally say they are incapable of the highest forms of righteousness and love. They just don't have the mental capacity to make decisions or analyze their feelings as well.
I tend to think of babies as somewhat less than full adult people in moral scenarios. They have no aspirations, no profound thoughts, and little experience by which to judge things, so I would much rather have a baby die than an older child or young adult (at least in terms of the people themselves --I would also have to factor in the feelings of the parents of the dead babies).
So no, you're not evil. Children are innocent, but that's because they're ignorant. Adults can be much more.
Signs on cars that read "Baby on Board! The car in front of me doesn't have kids! Ram them instead! Thanks a bunch!"
Lol, I had the same thought the other day when I saw a baby on board sign. Since the whole point of driving is to avoid hitting other cars, if a person was driving and hit a car it wouldnt matter if it had a baby on board sign or not because they wouldnt have hit the other car if there was a way to avoid it.
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To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Being pro-choice does not make me "pro-abortion" To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Believing gay marriage should be allowed and discrimination against homosexuals should stop does not make me "heterophobic" it doesnt even mean Im gay To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Not believeing in your god does not mean "Im angry at him" or that "I hate him".
The term "selfishness" is thrown around here much to signify a character flaw. If I understand correctly what people mean when using this term, I´d say that toddlers are the epitome of selfishness.
Not that there´s anything wrong with that.
__________________
Why I call myself a „non-believer“ or „atheist“:
I can´t relate to any of the god concepts I´m familiar with so far.
Either I´m not convinced by the concept, or
– although not having a problem with the worldview itself -
I see no reason to call one of its elements „God“:
There are already more precise, more common, less loaded and less likely to be misunderstood terms for these elements.
E.g. I prefer to call nature „nature“, the universe „universe“ and everything „everything“.
Last edited by quatona; 11th July 2008 at 05:05 AM.
I think you have to be slightly more messed up to kill a child than an adult, because most people, rightly or wrongly, want to protect children from harm. That's all I can say about the matter, though, not believing in either free will or morality. :p I don't believe in evil, so I don't think children can commit it.
I think children are less aware of the consequences of their actions, but they're certainly still capable of reasoning things out. I am also increasingly annoyed by the insistence that they have no sexual feelings before they turn 16 (or whatever the age of consent is where you happen to live).
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Jesus says we die a little death for him every day.
~ La Petite Mort, Erin McKeown
It depends-- personally I myself am certain that children are 90 and 45 degree angles myself. Are they all little angels? Well sure... after all not all angels are here to single carols and bring us happy news.
-------------------------------
In terms of "evil" I don't believe most children are evil, actually don't believe most adults are. I don't believe most children are capable of understanding the full implications of their actions (depending on their developmental stage and the action they seek to complete)
Infants - preschoolers are pretty much acting out in response to actual need, not some conscious attempt to make their parents and everyone else go crazy. As children develop certainly they are capable of choosing to take actions they know they have been taught are not acceptable.
How about selfish then, lacking the social constraints of knowing when to be selfish or not, giving the appearance of evil?
__________________
.
..:
If history is to change, let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If my fate is to die, I must simply laugh.
The past is dead. It was all just a dream...
- Magus
To help protect the sanctity of marriage, please keep all affairs heterosexual.
If no image appears, something has gone wrong. I don't know. Probably run out of squirrels.
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