In your opinion; Is Revenge Ever Justified?

Question

Ok, I had this boss last year who was a complete power tripping c++ksucker and a compulsive liar!

His attitude towards people was so shocking most of the staff have since left, but he is still there. Working under him was a daily ordeal and I can honestly say that he is the only person I have ever really hated.

Many a day, when he was telling us to get on with our work, I thought of my revenge. In the end the only revenge I got was in leaving and seeing him demoted and still friendless and hopeless. I get some kind of pleasure out of this. What do you think?

Any similar experiences?

Answer 1

No - but it can feel mighty good. "Revenge is a dish best eaten cold."
BUT
"Revenge is mine, saith the Lord." - a person's karma catches up to him/her eventually. Nasty people are their own worst punishment.

Answer 2

I have had this experience with the boss. If you can be patient, I know it is hard, you will see people like this fall. Go thru your chain of commands at work. Human Resources. Workplaces put a big deal on diversity now. I use that to my advantage. I feel that I am very diverse. I have that right. Revenge will come back to you in the end. I have experience that also. It is better to do something about it legal within the company with people that are over this person as a supervisor. You have a right to be employed in a safe environment as an employee and not be harassed. I write down situations that happen so I have proof to take into a meeting about a difficult person.

Answer 3

I had many such experiences during my long tenure of over thirty years in government offices. However, even if initially I was as infuriated as you, on a little thought I found that the vicious boss was more to be pitied that got angry at. Some of them hailed from the backward communities(I am from the forward ones).With their pent up furies of generations it was understandable if they wanted to take out on somebody. There was nothing personal in it .I more or less represented 'them' for them. I always let the tempest pass.Yet others were there who were frustrated in service on account of unsympathetic superiors and were only enacting the same role now.They wanted to forget their insults by insulting others. Obviously any arguing would have been of no avail. In both cases I was a steady and competent worker and would sometimes dared to set the boss right if the occasion demanded.This paid rick dividends.When my promotion came up a matter came up where it was found that I have failed to take action on a file in time . Needless to say it was a satan-sent opportunity for my boss to take revenge. However, to my surprise they not only suppress the failure but gave a bright green signal for me. Revenge is seldom,if at all,justified.

Answer 4

Yeah I know what you mean. I have also felt like punching the s*** out of certain people. I also feel like extremely humiliating them. But I have come to realize that dealing revenge does not make them a better person or us for that matter of fact.

I know its hard (believe me I know) but you just have to treat them friendly. Because if you do so, that person will feel ashamed. He may not show it but it does something to him. After this, then you can confront the person and tell him what you feel about the way he is acting. He might mock you (most likely). After that just gone with your life and show him that his attitude or behavior has not effect on you.

The pleasure of revenge doesn't last and is not so satisfying if you perform it. If a higher authority delivers the punishment that someone deserves, and you were nice to him, then it is sweet.

Answer 5

I guess it depends on what you mean by "revenge." When you ask the question, it sounds like you are talking about going out and doing something (an "act of commission") to pay the person back for what they have done. At the end of your story, you mention that your "revenge" was to leave--which isn't exactly "paying him back."

I see nothing wrong with what you did. You were in a difficult situation, and you protected yourself by leaving. That is morally justified. If THAT is all we mean by revenge, then the answer is "yes."

Most of us, though, think of revenge as a way of paying the person back--they hurt me, so I'll hurt them--an eye for an eye (so to speak). And that sort of revenge is much more difficult to justify on moral grounds.

The biggest problem here is that those who would justify it would do so by looking at the results--it made you feel good to pay them back, it put them in their place, whatever. But morality based on results like this. One person said something about "karma"--but I'm not sure ethics is just about protecting your "karma" (whatever that means). Ethics is about how we choose to relate to other people, and just because they treat us wrong does not justify us stooping to their level.

I think we all admire the moral character of people who refuse to take revenge--even while we understand that revenge is sweet sometimes. We know that the "natural" thing to do is to pay people back. But it takes a person of principle to refuse to give in to that temptation. THAT is the true sign of someone who lives by morals--doing the right thing when you'd rather not.

So what you did is fine. Perhaps we all fantasize about revenge, and sometimes we do need to "escape" from a situation. But to actively pay someone back--I'm not sure how that would ever be morally justified.

Answer 6

Who hasnt dealt with this kind of garbage! LOL, we all have... because there is misery and discontent everywhere. I try to remind myself when someone treats me like that, It's not about me! It's their issues that cause them to act this way.

Honestly I'd have to feel sorry for this person, sure he got what he deserved, however who knows what drama is/was going on in his life to make him act this way... food for thought.

I've been sh*t on my fare share in life, and I've always thought of devious ways of seeking revenge, however never acted on it because it would bring me to their level, and only promote hate and discontent.

You took charge of your life and took actions to better yourself and your work environment, good for you! You should feel good about it! As far as feeling good about his demotion, I don't see anything wrong in it. HE caused it not you. He got what was coming to him. For every action there is a consequence, or at least should be. We won't always see the dog have his day, in this case you were fortunate to see him get his, and know that he didn't get away with his bad attitude. Nothing is worse than NOT seeing this, or what if he had gotten promoted!?

Perhaps now this person can see how his actions got him to where he is, and hopefully he will learn from it.

Answer 7

I don't think you should take revenge, they say the best revenge is no revenge and this way you'll be the bigger man. The thing is if you get revenge you'll sink to his level.

But let me tell you this, if you think revenge will make you feel bettter than thats what you should do , but dont be disrespectful and dont break any laws!

Answer 8

Well, i dont think your type of revenge is wrong since you didn't do anything to cause him harm. just because you wish someone wrong since they do something to you doesnt make you bad, David in the Bible (considered to be the most righteous king israel ever had) wrote multiple psalms requesting that God would destroy his enemies and rejoicing in his enemies undoing. I can only surmise from that that it is not actually bad to pray for the downfall of you enemies, but that it is wrong to exact revenge yourself. I think the major thing that we have to watch out for though is letting our bitterness and hatred against someone control us, if we do then that person we so hate is actually the one pulling the strings and taking over our lives.

Answer 9

Revenge is not justified as you feel bad afterwards for what you did to get revenge. They says what comes around goes around so in the end the boss what is due to him. why ruin your life for revenge. It is not worth it.

Answer 10

Revenge by chance is fate decision . Revenge with planning is an ordeal

Answer 11

Yes I think revenge can be justified but, What are you doing it for?
If it's to make you feel better it may be a very expensive bit of therapy.
Sometimes revenge is the only justice you are going to get.
A perfect justice system would make it unnecessary but when are we going to get that ?
Don't worry about your A**hole boss, he'll get his, maybe not now but eventually. sweating about him is to give him more credence than he deserves.