Have you ever been so disgusted with a person that you begin to fear your own humanity?
“You’re becoming the very thing you swore to destroy.”
or…
“Fight fire with fire.”
So which is it? What is the philosophically acceptable, ethical, and moral way to approach this? Despite all people having flaws, there is indeed such a thing as good and bad. Evil must not be dismissed.
Thankfully, most people have a conscience. Though the truly conscious are uncountable, even an infrequent abuse of one’s sentience out of ignorance for their humanity is enough to make waves, an insult to the one that blessed them with life.
This is what they want: a reaction, nothing more, nothing less. Whether that reaction originates from others or within their own dantian region, a reaction is all they seek. But don’t we all?
Can an ungrateful child ever learn? No. A child that learns is not ungrateful, but rather was merely reminded to remember their own humanity and the humanity of others, and to let that guide how they process what’s going on around them.
But a few forsake all guidance towards wholeness, and rather than putting together the puzzle, they throw the pieces around the room and make a mess. Eventually, all the pieces are missing, hiding in the nooks and crannies of their abode. These are the people that don’t clean their house, still speaking metaphorically. And when they find stray pieces, as there are many, they throw them again and sweep them into a different corner.
This is Narcissism.
But now, how do the conscious that must suffer through this forgive? Can they? You forgive the “ungrateful child” because the child remembers.
Can I forgive? No, but I can forget.
Chaff in the wind, dross in the puddle.