miker wrote:
"You mention the moral aspect and the end justifying the
means as a possible indication of craziness (you didn't
exactly say that, but I'm twisting your words to fit my
need), but as much as it is denigrated, the
end-justifying-the-means stands fairly solid in the school of
ethics. We've also established that people can do some pretty
nasty stuff without being crazy. I'm not arguing here. Just
rolling it all around."
Me, too, kind of working out my definition as we discuss it,
trying to put into words what was essentially a gut
reaction.
I don't think you're twisting my words, pretty much agree
with what you're saying here. In fact, it made me realize
something that had been missing from what I wrote, something
that was kind of nagging at me. For me, psycho noir's not
just about ends justifying the means, but also the ends that
are being justified. For the psycho/sociopath, the ends are
always focused on the betterment and/or enjoyment of self,
with others just as pawns for the psycho's fun. And it's more
fun for the psycho (and reader?) when that betterment comes
at the expense of someone else.
Mark
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