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This topic has moved here: Subject: Why tyranny?
  • Subject: Why tyranny?
Subject: Why tyranny?

The cake is a pie

Not that this is anything we'd call tyranny, but it points to what I'm talking about. President Mursi, who was designated so after the revolution in Egypt last year, has apparently given himself power grants, which the public has rejected.

Think about this; there are roughly 150 sovereign states in the world, right? That means, again roughly, 150 leaders of these states. How many of those are tyrants? How many 'abuse their power'? Quite a lot. If it's dispositional, then we could say that in every 150 people, perhaps a quarter of them have some sort of 'tyrant gene'. But that would be ridiculous. Philip Zimbardo goes so far to suggest that not only genetic, but manifested dispositions, are not the cause of 'evil' such as tyranny. He points towards a situational influence, demonstrating how many of us, no matter how seemingly sane or good natured, will act evil under situations where we might think otherwise.

But what is this situational reaction, and where did it come from? My friend suggests that we simply go mad with power, but no matter how much I ask, he never really explains what he means by that.

  • 11.27.2012 1:00 PM PDT

“If we will disbelieve everything, because we cannot certainly know all things, we shall do much what as wisely as he who would not use his legs, but sit still and perish, because he had no wings to fly.” - John Locke

"How can anyone be enlightened? Truth after all is so poorly lit." - Rush

The kind of people who have the ability to obtain positions of power tend to also be the kind of people who will abuse it.

  • 11.27.2012 1:03 PM PDT

Posted by: Gen Petitt
ME2 was known for stupidity and being retarded

Why all the hair? Why all the pearls? Why anything?

  • 11.27.2012 1:03 PM PDT

Recon Number 54 -
If they are still looking, then while holding the snarl, I let drool start to drip from my mouth, I stand, curl my fingers into claws and with a hunched over crouch, I then make slow and deliberate steps towards them. When I get close enough, I let them hear my agonized and gasping growls and then, if they continue to stare, when I get within arm's reach? I kiss them on the nose, and run away giggling.

He must be a real fool to think that would go down well with the Egyptian population.

They only recently overthrew a guy for abusing his power, and he wants to give himself a little more?

But on the other hand, he could be looking at the larger picture and realising he needs more power to fix the problems in Egypt.

  • 11.27.2012 1:04 PM PDT

The cake is a pie


Posted by: Locke357
The kind of people who have the ability to obtain positions of power tend to also be the kind of people who will abuse it.

Yeah I heard about that. People who carry the MAO-A 'warrior' gene are sometimes more aggressive, or even more sociopathic, and hence naturally capable at hiding their aggression. A documentary also mentioned how this gene remains inactive unless the carrier suffers a traumatic childhood. It's easy to imagine how this gene might arise through evolution; if conditions are rough, then the carrier will benefit from increased aggression and manipulation. A seat at the pinnacle of ape society would offer the gene carrier plenty of opportunity to spread the trait, if ya know what I mean...

  • 11.27.2012 1:07 PM PDT

The cake is a pie


Posted by: culexus
He must be a real fool to think that would go down well with the Egyptian population.

They only recently overthrew a guy for abusing his power, and he wants to give himself a little more?

But on the other hand, he could be looking at the larger picture and realising he needs more power to fix the problems in Egypt.

Yes on the subject of Egypt specifically, I don't know what these 'power grants' are, or why Mursi thinks he needs them. It'd be nice if he actually explained, but they never seem to do that, as if people don't want to know.

  • 11.27.2012 1:08 PM PDT

Recon Number 54 -
If they are still looking, then while holding the snarl, I let drool start to drip from my mouth, I stand, curl my fingers into claws and with a hunched over crouch, I then make slow and deliberate steps towards them. When I get close enough, I let them hear my agonized and gasping growls and then, if they continue to stare, when I get within arm's reach? I kiss them on the nose, and run away giggling.


Posted by: Ultermarto

Posted by: culexus
He must be a real fool to think that would go down well with the Egyptian population.

They only recently overthrew a guy for abusing his power, and he wants to give himself a little more?

But on the other hand, he could be looking at the larger picture and realising he needs more power to fix the problems in Egypt.

Yes on the subject of Egypt specifically, I don't know what these 'power grants' are, or why Mursi thinks he needs them. It'd be nice if he actually explained, but they never seem to do that, as if people don't want to know.


He really should explain it otherwise it won't be long before Egypt Revolt #2!

What could be concerning about these power grants is Egypt's hostility towards Israel who started on Gaza again. Hopefully things will settle down, but the Arab League don't exactly like Israel. It could be the power grant would be allowing him to attack/support an attack on Israel, that is quite unlikely though.

  • 11.27.2012 1:11 PM PDT