17th February 2024, 10:58 PM
(17th February 2024, 9:24 PM)Master Raiden Wrote: <stuff>
This is exactly right, and it's a very good pragmatic justification.
Regardless, for me it's also about upholding my moral principles. I can tolerate being mistreated if I don't perceive the alternatives to be just. If it's instead someone I care about who is the victim, things are slightly different. I'll defend them to the best of my ability, but I'll still prioritize defending them in a way that aligns as closely as possible with my own code of ethics if possible. Ultimately I value the people I care about over my own personal principles though, for better or worse.
I think the only time I've ever used violence was when I was really young (maybe around 7 or so). My mother was in a bad mood one night and was taking it out on my brother, beating him really hard for no reason. I tried to get her off him by hitting her - I wasn't really able to hit very hard, but I think it made her realize what she was doing, since she laughed and let us both go. I was terrified and balling at the time.
I still regret this entire series of events and how I capitulated like that though. I came out of it only with the regret that I resorted to violence. It never made her respect me either obviously, nothing I've ever done has made her respect me - in general, standing up for myself and others in any capacity (no matter how) has only ever made the offender respect me less and hate me more. There are just no winners in these kinds of situations, all you can do is try your best to avoid them and hope they don't come to you or the people you care about.
