Reminds me of an emperor in china that travel a lot during the Qing. An elder make a petition to the emperor to reduce the travel and hence lowering the burden of tax to the people.
The elder is ling chied (slices to pieces slowly) for a charge of “insulting emperor”.
Getting “offended” by speech obviously not intended to insult anyone is not immaturity. It’s actually pretty smart even emperors do that. It’s what it takes to rule an empire and subdue hapless population that have no idea that they can actually get killed for no reason and foolishly obey the law nevertheless.
Note: By 1910 the Qing eliminate link chi from the book. It’s too late and the empire still fall anyway.
Westerners would think that the emperor is stupid. Why would he kill someone that doesn’t offend him in anyway? Why couldn’t he see the truth that it’s not insulting. Also killing people is obviously a form of bad government.
However, let’s take a look at a different way. From the beginning the purpose is not to govern well at all. The purpose is to be the one who govern. When you see it that way it makes perfect sense. The emperor is actually very smart. That’s why he stays in power and keep others slavishly work for him.
Now, we often think that people that pretend to get offended over religious doctrine is stupid. Just look how poor their country is.
However, instinctively people do not try to be correct. Instinctively they want to rule. And that’s how to rule you. By killling those who dare to question their ruling under pretext of insulting.
Does the emperor truly feel insulted or just pretend to be insulted? Who knows. Who care. Does religious bigots truly feel insulted or just pretend to be insulted? Who knows who care. Does sight of naked beautiful women really offensive to feminazis or are those feminazis just pretend to be insulted? Who knows who care.
All I know is that by presuming that they want to rule us, I can correctly predict their behavior. That’s all. Normal humans behave like really very smart psychopaths.
Coming up with totally bogus vague irrelevant argument to further ones’ political point is actually a very smart strategy. So smart, we evolve to bullshit well.
Are getting offended smart? is a post from: Free Market Forever
