Q & A

Q: Where is your compassion?

A: I get this question frequently usually when questioning the welfare state and entitlements. The gist of the argument goes like this. Because I don't want to steal from other people or because I recognize that these programs do more harm than good, I am some sort of cold hearted bastard. I get this crap so much that I have to ask the people asking the question where their compassion is.

But this extends to broader subjects. For instance, I was recently called a "heartless cocksucker" because I pointed out that the human race is not monogamous. I'm not sure how a statement of fact like that makes me heartless. This is like pointing out to a poison ivy sufferer that certain plants secrete toxins to protect themselves from being eaten. Is this not showing sufficient "compassion" for the poison ivy sufferer?

Here's the deal. There is this thing called reality, and reality is indifferent. It is neither hostile nor benign since these are anthropomorphisms. Even the indifferent tag is an anthropomorphism, but I don't know of any other term to put to it. The bottom line is that reality doesn't care. People find this difficult to deal with, so they concoct various myths and even religions to accomodate these things. This myth extends into the political realm as people demand that their government do everything to provide for their well being and safety. I point out that this can't be done.

When people say you lack compassion, what they are really saying is that you are not deluded like everyone else. You will notice that all these delusions aim at providing comfort and relief. But the other side is paranoia. Many people think things are much worse than they are conjuring various threats and what have you. But I again point out where this is false.

These twin delusions of compassion and paranoia come from the survival instinct. They both aim for safety. This is why we have a welfare/warfare state. This is why compassion for your fellow man ends when the Predator Drone lays some bombs on a family's dwelling overseas killing everyone inside including women and children. Where is the compassion in that?

I have found that the two biggest threats to freedom and flourishing are government and religion. Both engage in massive deception and perpetrate colossal frauds on the people. People buy these lies for no other reason than because they make them feel better. To a lesser extent, you have the family and your significant other. But you have to face the fact that they are the ones most likely to do you harm.

The antidote to this madness is twofold. The first is a willingness to seek the truth and acknowledge it no matter what. The second is a belief in non-aggression. Compassion goes against both these things because it leads to both delusion and aggression.

My typical response to questions of compassion is to mock it for what it is--baseless fear. So, I will point out how the poor can make hobo stew out of other poor people. Or I say we should loot and execute the rich so poor people can each have an XBox. I do my best to provoke the maximum outrage that I can because the arguments these people make have no basis in fact. They are based on emotion. Emotion is no basis for rational action. Like Dr. House, you learn that it is best to leave your heart out of it. At the end of the day, you don't want someone to hold your fucking hand. You want the goddamn cure.

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