20061016

The Bureaucracy of Vice

People don't need to belong, at least not in any absolute sense. Belonging is a transitory characteristic. What people truly need is an adversarial force, something both attractive and repulsive. It needs to be secret enough to allow for practically anybody to be a part of it, and known to the point that there is general awareness without general understanding. It must be a Devil of some kind.

The solution to this problem, the solution that gives people the force to fight against, to direct their animosity, is vice. A vice is a disapproved behavior that makes people happy. Because it makes people happy, potentially anybody could practice the given vice, and because it is disapproved, people will talk about it without having any true understanding of it. Vice is a mindset and a behavior - therefore, by understanding it a person would be tacitly approving of it.

The true beauty behind vice is that it, as a thing to be defined, can be controlled. One thing can be vice for a while, then come back into fashion in order to make room for other vices. Any given narcotic, behavior, expression, or activity can become a vice, provided it is of no great consequence to the operation of society one way or another.

Most importantly, the villification of certain behaviors or activities give people the opportunity to believe that they are becoming better. By casting off the illusory shackles of the "insidious" vice, a person feels as if they are in more control of their life, truth be where it may. Thus, people can the symptoms gain grasp and control over life without actually having it.

Provide what people hate, and they will love you.

5 Comments:

At 10/19/2006 10:31 AM, Blogger Cie Cheesemeister said...

True--people adore having something they can love to hate!

 
At 10/19/2006 6:28 PM, Blogger Tom & Icy said...

All the vice of mice and men often go boring after a while, that's why I joined the vice of the month club. And it's no fun by myself, but great with a group or club. Then when I get in trouble I can run to rehab and cry that I haved sinned and repented and I seem so cool. At least until next month. It does make me feel in control when I switch vices and can brag that I have overcome when I have actually been overcome. I love hating the vice of last month. It seems like the part is greater than the whole and thus I am in control of the whole by controling a part. What a rush!

 
At 10/24/2006 5:41 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This place sounds almost as nice as mine.

 
At 11/03/2006 9:27 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I totaly aggree that vice is bad but its no yuse giving it up if you havent got JESUS!!!!!!
Me and Mrs. Weirsdo want you to see this. Hope you can help!!!!! Tata

 
At 11/18/2006 11:20 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You take many forms, Master.

 

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