An Athens for the Brain Glow
Nov. 9th, 2007 04:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
It's a sick slide down, with a phantom television broadcast behind you, and little but your own failures in front. They can call it tunnel vision, brought on by depression; the inability to ever be what is successful for anyone else. But what if that isn't the case?
What if your life was measured by your failures instead of success? That your value is not what you do for other people by your actions, but instead how you consistently fail them, and in that failure, raise them up. Anger, hatred, resentment; these are all passions. Not the listlessness of depression or disappointment. These emotions burn hot, fuel creativity and verve. Nothing is as raw a force for change.
By being the constant failure, they can raise above you. They can effect their own change. In a schadenfreudic catharsis, by exalting in being better than you, there's a chance they can find the will in themselves to actually better themselves on the whole.
It's been shown that the only emotion that causes a physical reaction in the brain similar to an orgasm is revenge. The neurons between climax and retribution share lanes of the same highway, and like a mental carpool, run faster and more efficiently.
The mistake of martyrdom is the belief that one must set a positive example for others, when a negative example is just as effective. How often have you pointed to a person and said 'I'll never end up like that!', or left a relationship convinced that you'll never be the asshole that he had been to you.
These are the Antihagios.
They too die for your sins, but not to appease God. They are martyred to appease you. Break them, blame them, envy them and destroy them. In doing so, you empower and grow bold; you judge and find personal redemption; you revenge for a brain glow of pleasure. No guilt needs to be involved.
After all, being stepped on constantly can be a virtue if you happen to be a step up.

What if your life was measured by your failures instead of success? That your value is not what you do for other people by your actions, but instead how you consistently fail them, and in that failure, raise them up. Anger, hatred, resentment; these are all passions. Not the listlessness of depression or disappointment. These emotions burn hot, fuel creativity and verve. Nothing is as raw a force for change.
By being the constant failure, they can raise above you. They can effect their own change. In a schadenfreudic catharsis, by exalting in being better than you, there's a chance they can find the will in themselves to actually better themselves on the whole.
It's been shown that the only emotion that causes a physical reaction in the brain similar to an orgasm is revenge. The neurons between climax and retribution share lanes of the same highway, and like a mental carpool, run faster and more efficiently.
The mistake of martyrdom is the belief that one must set a positive example for others, when a negative example is just as effective. How often have you pointed to a person and said 'I'll never end up like that!', or left a relationship convinced that you'll never be the asshole that he had been to you.
These are the Antihagios.
They too die for your sins, but not to appease God. They are martyred to appease you. Break them, blame them, envy them and destroy them. In doing so, you empower and grow bold; you judge and find personal redemption; you revenge for a brain glow of pleasure. No guilt needs to be involved.
After all, being stepped on constantly can be a virtue if you happen to be a step up.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-10 01:50 am (UTC)I really liked the line about orgasm and revenge. No wonder. If you can't laid, get paid (you know what I mean).
I'd only feel sick if someone was coming after me-- a multi-orgasmic type. If their feelings/need for revenge is just as similar...well, I'm dead. And more than once, probably.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-10 04:33 pm (UTC)Just hit a little close.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-10 06:33 pm (UTC)