We’re not only joined by values and virtues, my friend

VICES can also UNITE us

 

Like attracts like, doesn’t it?

That would be one mechanism

But

why would you be attracted to something ugly?

 

Well, you wouldn’t be repelled if it wasn’t a net negative to you.

We tend to be attracted by that which we believe represents a GAIN for us.

 

But what are the gains of surrounding yourself with LIKE-UGLY people?

 

One hidden gain would be the normalisation of your own ugliness

Never underestimate human desire for acceptance, love

Even love only shared in abhorrence

 

The normalisation has far broader implications, however,

The function of acceptance is the maintenance of one’s place in the tribe, which is tantamount to SURVIVAL

Thus psychologically, in being validated, we feel accepted, and thus feel safer,

But we ACTUALLY do become more accepted in society, in having normalised our ugliness, vice,

For in finding others just as ugly as you, and aligning with them — you form a little bit of an allegiance,

a little league of rogues,

and if you can attract even more people, maybe corrupt them,

then the world has become just a little bit more like you,

thus a little bit more accepting of you, and your corruption and ugliness and vice

You DOMESTICATED your ugliness — and thus shielded it from existentially threatening criticism

And of course, facilitated more of that behaviour, which is your default,

and thus you can continue in your vile ways

 

Now, of course,

there are two main problems with this strategy

 

Eventually this inequity, which you have facilitated in this world — is directed against you. And you taste your own medicine

The lovely proverb that illustrates this is:

“who lives by the sword dies by the sword”

 

Of course maybe you still come out on top, in this solipsistic attitude.

Then the counterargument is still that the world tormented by war is one which is in aggregate an uglier place — for EVERYONE. Which includes you.

So even if you’ve maybe benefited yourself, at the expense of others — the world around you has became so shit, for everyone else AND yourself — that it turns out it wasn’t worth it

It’s not worth being the richest man in the country — if everyone else is poor. Your palace, overlooking the hovels of everyone else, is also made of shit and clay.

 

And then the last argument is of course that if you’re disgusting enough — the world will not have it period.

Societies have some basic norms.

So as you continuing exploring this opportunistic strategy for long enough — eventually the world catches up and wants nothing to do with you. In which case you can neither exploit them NOR cooperate with them.

A striking example of that would be going to jail.

Other would be utter destruction of reputation. Pity we no longer have a thing like that (reputation)

 

So all in all,

I’m really sorry, my ugly friend,

Ugliness is not ok

It’s just not the best strategy

You may get away with for a time, but not over the long term

Now rot in hell!