The Bad and the Good
So, I learned a new word: ponerology, which is the study of evil. I guess in some ways, I have been an accidental student of ponerology for approximately a year now (give or take a few). Well, then again, if you think of it differently, you could say I have been studying it—superficially, at least—for much of my adult life. It is rather hard to escape here in this world, isn’t it? Yes, yes, I know, “enlightened” folk don’t talk about evil: too superstitious, too medieval, too unscientific. That right there, though, is one of the ways in which Old Snap has gained such a strong foothold here in the 21st century. There’s nothing like ad hominem attacks to deflect your average, everyday, pride-filled member of society when they are over the target. Make them feel like a fool, and your work is practically finished: no need to worry about the truth.
