Posted by alexandra_k on April 26, 2009, at 15:24:06
In reply to Re: Who here wants to have themselves blocked?, posted by alexandra_k on April 26, 2009, at 15:12:21
Or self punishment. If one just feels that one is a despicable person (original sin or something like that). Maybe in that situation it is an act of self protection too in the sense that one 'asks for' something that one believes to be inevitable anyway because it is easier to face something unpleasant head on when one is expecting it than it is to face it unexpected (studies have shown that animals and people both prefer shocks to be signaled than random). Need a signal that is a signal, though, rather than one that disintegrates into mere noise.
There have been studies on 'honor' cultures and the perception of what is socially appropriate when one has been slighted (or when one perceives oneself to be slighted). In some societies retaliation is expected otherwise the thought is that one has shown weakness and is more likely to be 'picked on' again. The system here is decidedly not an 'honor' culture. There is thought to be no excuse for retaliation. Just because one perceives that one has been slighted or just because one has been slighted is thought to be no excuse to go on to slight others. I see how some could take issue with that, even though I personally do not have issue with it.
I do have sympathy for the opposing line to the 'honor' culture. The thought is that the perception of slight is more frequent than actual slight and also that a 't*t for tat' system can result in the situation escalating and eventually it is impossible to sort out who started it but there is an ongoing war. I guess the system here is sort of pacifist in a sense... Or trying to be... I have sympathy for that... But implementation... Gets tricky...
poster:alexandra_k
thread:892699
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20090302/msgs/892885.html