Power corrupts

[Silver Guard]

What is the insane human urge to grab power, to take control over other individuals, to have the capability to decide things over others. Why is it that some people will do anything to have as much control over others as possible?

Of course, these are only some. Others prefer to sit in sofas, watching the footie (no not soccer, thats an American attempt to steal the word football), rather then think about other people's fates. Others like the power for their ability to change other people's lives for the better, like careworkers.

But the lazy and the selfless can be ignored in terms of this.

Now onto the title. Why is it the perfectly calm, peaceful and dormant can go crazy with power? Why is it that some are corrupted to the extent people hardly recognise them. They treat power like a drug, and have trips out of controlling others. Ultimately, when it is stripped from them, they suffer from depression and the most serious cases won't last long in the normal world.

This is especialy important for this forum. I have seen people take power and go a little gung ho with it, loose contact with the fact that they are still just members. Some, loosing their power, went a little off-rails and would do anything to regain it *coughH&Gcough*.

One question, why?

[The Sundance Kid]

i guess power is almost like an addiction to a drug, once you're hooked you want more and more and more until you eventually get seriously ill or die, and then your drugs (or power, in this case) is taken away from you.

then it appears these now powerless people suffer from withdrawal symptoms, both in power and drug use, and do something incredibly stupid.

well, in 95% of cases.

its not very often at all you find someone in power who is carefree enough to not mind losing it.

[Primvs Sextvs Loverlord]

Now onto the title. Why is it the perfectly calm, peaceful and dormant can go crazy with power? Why is it that some are corrupted to the extent people hardly recognise them. They treat power like a drug, and have trips out of controlling others. Ultimately, when it is stripped from them, they suffer from depression and the most serious cases won't last long in the normal world.

I can't answer your question but I have this to say:

Where I live, when someone gets in a powerful position, they'd fight for it with their life. Every time we have a political leader, he/she doesn't wanna quit and they rig elections, delay stuff and lie just to stay in power.

Ultimately, they realize that power is a dangerous thing to play with. The lucky ones get away with a peaceful life in exile. However, they don't "suffer from depression" - instead - they try till their last breath to get back into power.

Reading your post reminds me of Hannibal for some reason. The poor guy was powerless in the end, running from town to town until one of his "friends" tried to give him up. A sort of a King Lear kind of end.

[boofhead]

There is a little bit of megalomania in everyone I daresay. I have experienced idiots like this at work for nearly 20 years - they get a sudden personality change, which is entirely unnecessary, as they are usually given the power as a result of their normal personality and abilities anyways.

My theory: Large Ego + Low Self-Esteem = Megalomaniac.

[Jubal_Barca]

There's an analogy I read somewhere, it might be bliblical but I don't think it is.

Man is divided into four groups,
The shepherd, who keeps his sheep in the pen,
The sheep, who will follow anyone blindly,
The wolf, who will try and pull the sheep off the rails of life,
And the Philosopher, who sits high above them and watches them.

People will oftemn become wolves first as they go into power, taking people in new and dangerous directions, then shepherds as they become establishment, then wolves once more as they begin to fall from power and use whatever they can do to bring the sheep back to their banner.

Then, sometimes, they stand back and look at it. And see the fultile, squabbling mess, and start to think 'why'? And then they become a Philosopher.

Kind of a wierd post, but I'm in that kinda mood today.

[DariusEG]

Power tends to corrupt. It's really funny at how we view power as something synonymous with corruption and immorality.

Power is everything. The essence of the corruption is in ourselves, not in power. Power is the dynamo of life. Look at it this way: every positive change in our world has been done with power, and it is power that sustains your life. Power is essential to our world, but like all things essential in our world there is a yin and yang.

[Chaigidel]

power corrupts because people are largely powerless against the forces of nature and many many other things that are just out of our hands--- I think the discomfort involved with that prospect is what drives men mad with control and power because its something so fleeting in normal life so when they get it they really really want to keep it.maybe:O

[Thanatos]

Power doesn't corrupt. It merely shows people for what they already are.

[RZZZA]

leaders and followers.

[Thanatos]

That too.

[Anarius]

Why we want power?
It's something primal. You want to be the alpha male. It's just like a pack of wolves. And they are really not that different from us.

And why it corrupts?
I guess it's because you can do it (corrupted stuff) and then you do.

[RZZZA]

yeah well..I dont believe every male wants to me the alpha dog leader. Leaders and followers, some would rather follow. I know in many ways, I dont like to be a leader. In all the online games ive ever played, I was never a clan leader. I was always like the number 2 or number 3 guy in the clan.

Thats who I am, I'm a good number 2.

[Ummon]

If you want power as a goal, there's a problem.

If you want power as a tool, there's two.

[Darth Wong]

He who lusts for power over others lacks power over himself. He who lusts for power over others in online forums lacks power over others in real life.

[Ummon]

Is it really possible to have power in an online forum? I thought it was more like a matter of fun, when one is bound before a screen.

[Darth Wong]

Is it really possible to have power in an online forum? I thought it was more like a matter of fun, when one is bound before a screen.

It's supposed to be fun. I should be able to say "Oh nice one, jackass!" if I see someone saying something stupid, the same way the guys on the factory floor talk to each other. It's no big deal, and we can all have a laugh about it afterwards. But noooo, on the Internet, people take their online personas very seriously, and if you say something like that, they get all upset and try to get someone to silence you or drive you away.

[Ummon]

Now, that is true.

I must say: I find your cynical bashing refreshing most of the times, whether I agree with it or not. If you remember, I spoke against the measure.

[Sadreddine]

Power corrupts by accident, not by essence.

[Ragabash]

Or like someone else said in this forum before; does power attract corrupted people?

[Thanatos]

He who lusts for power over others lacks power over himself. He who lusts for power over others in online forums lacks power over others in real life.

Not necessarily true. I know of a few good exceptions in my personal life.

Or like someone else said in this forum before; does power attract corrupted people?

No. Like I said before in the thread, it only shows people for who they already are. We're all corruptible; the rate and extent of our corruption depends on our personalities, wants, etc.