Comments on: The rhino analogy http://www.wisemandarine.com/the-rhino-analogy/ none the wiser Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:12:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Maria http://www.wisemandarine.com/the-rhino-analogy/#comment-75 Maria Sat, 23 Sep 2006 14:16:12 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/the-rhino-analogy/#comment-75 Ah!... Good conclusion. It does sound healthy to consider that perspective some times. Ah!… Good conclusion. It does sound healthy to consider that perspective some times.

]]> By: mandarine http://www.wisemandarine.com/the-rhino-analogy/#comment-74 mandarine Sat, 23 Sep 2006 13:01:37 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/the-rhino-analogy/#comment-74 Maria, you are right. However, my point was (and your comment made it clearer to me) about dissociating the victim and the judge in me. As a victim, I should accept things and events as 'hard luck'. Then as a judge, I can indeed try to condemn the intention to cause harm. But sometimes, when it is just no use trying to be judge, I'd better stick with being a victim and avoid the torments of grudge and the trap of revenge. Maria, you are right.
However, my point was (and your comment made it clearer to me) about dissociating the victim and the judge in me. As a victim, I should accept things and events as ‘hard luck’. Then as a judge, I can indeed try to condemn the intention to cause harm. But sometimes, when it is just no use trying to be judge, I’d better stick with being a victim and avoid the torments of grudge and the trap of revenge.

]]> By: Maria http://www.wisemandarine.com/the-rhino-analogy/#comment-73 Maria Sat, 23 Sep 2006 05:56:43 +0000 http://www.wisemandarine.com/the-rhino-analogy/#comment-73 I'm totally with you on the rhyno analogy for road rage — as angry as Colombian, Texan, and Utahn drivers usually make me... Baaaad drivers... There is a reason why I've slowly but surely come to hate highway driving. I agree with that piece, just like I would agree with playing cool and letting an armed criminal do his thing, as opposed to seeking revenge right there. However, I can't just move on when facing the other kinds of examples you mention. The hurricane destroying my house is not someone I can argue wih, or expect to "behave". The bozo trying to burn my house down (or steal my work, or hijack my flight), on the other hand, has intelligence and INTENTION... and he or she probably understands the notion of coexistence, however chooses to ruin things for others — for whatever reason... and that is not part of the "circle of life". We forgive animals because: 1) we believe most of their actions are driven by instinct; and 2) often times we're no match for their strength. You can't really argue with that... Just like you can't argue with a crying baby. Some times, fellow humans are also driven by instinct, and I guess we also forgive them when that is clear (say a reckless "rhyno" driver trying to get her child to the Emergency Room), but when it is clear that there is an intention to do wrong, I have to say I'm a scorpio... and thank God, I'm not Supreme Judge of planet Earth. I’m totally with you on the rhyno analogy for road rage — as angry as Colombian, Texan, and Utahn drivers usually make me… Baaaad drivers… There is a reason why I’ve slowly but surely come to hate highway driving.

I agree with that piece, just like I would agree with playing cool and letting an armed criminal do his thing, as opposed to seeking revenge right there. However, I can’t just move on when facing the other kinds of examples you mention.

The hurricane destroying my house is not someone I can argue wih, or expect to “behave”. The bozo trying to burn my house down (or steal my work, or hijack my flight), on the other hand, has intelligence and INTENTION… and he or she probably understands the notion of coexistence, however chooses to ruin things for others — for whatever reason… and that is not part of the “circle of life”.

We forgive animals because: 1) we believe most of their actions are driven by instinct; and 2) often times we’re no match for their strength. You can’t really argue with that… Just like you can’t argue with a crying baby. Some times, fellow humans are also driven by instinct, and I guess we also forgive them when that is clear (say a reckless “rhyno” driver trying to get her child to the Emergency Room), but when it is clear that there is an intention to do wrong, I have to say I’m a scorpio… and thank God, I’m not Supreme Judge of planet Earth.

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