Is revenge OK?

[Linus]

Originally Posted by Hunter Green

I am not trying to start a war. I think about things a lot. I have been puzzling over the concept of revenge for about a month or so and I am looking for some thoughtful input on the issue.

In a nutshell: Is revenge OK? If not, why? If so, why?

NOTE: I am not interested in a heated emotional smack-down, but rather a calm and thoughtful debate with a respectful exchange of ideas and rational analysis, if possible.

This has been on my mind of late because of a spiritual discussion I was having with someone in RL.

If anyone knows of a board that is better suited for this sort of post, please PM me. I would love to find such a board for this sort of thing.

To me revenge ends being an extreme response to something and one that generally bounces back against someone. While in the heat of the moment, the act and result may be desirable the long term is, to me, more destructive and more harmful.

When my mom was killed in 1992, I thought that revenge might be a nice option (amongst other negative thoughts) but rather than that, revenge of living my own life to fullest and striving beyond what was expected of me (that is, striving for my own success rather than someone else's demise) proved to be both beneficial for soul and my own sense of justice. So to me revenge against someone (an action or word against them) really isn't ever a good idea.

Revenge by being successful and rising above a battle, to me, however, is a perfect response.