Have you ever met a person that you truly believed was evil?

Question

Not misguided or mistaken or fallen into bad company or had a horrible upbringing or has a personality disorder, but out-and-out evil in every way.

Do you even believe this is possible? I'm just interested to know if people have encountered an evil in humanity that cannot be explained away by modern psychology or sociology.

I just wanted to thank everyone for answering - I'm overwhelmed by getting over 100 answers to a question!

Some of the stories of evil people were not all that convinving, but a few really did make me pause and think ... hmmm, yeah maybe that is just pure evil.

For those who don't believe in evil, that everything can be explained rationally, I hope you are right and I wish you are right ... I want you to be right.

I don't know who is right, but you all gave me a lot to think about, and I am profoundly grateful that although I have met rapists, child molesters, black magicians, violent, nasty, selfish and downright horrible people, I have never met anyone that I could really say was truly evil in a non-human way.

I wish I could pick about 10 Best Answers to this one, and I hate opening it up to a public vote, but I don't believe I have the knowledge to choose one out of more than 100.

I know you didn't do it for the 10 points though.

Answer 1

yes, I have. Job E.

Answer 2

Thankfully, no; I've never met anyone I believe is truly evil. Most people have a REASON for the way they are and the only evil (by my definition) that exists happens when someone is sadistic or just LIKES to see pain or suffering. (Is sadism a psychological disorder?) I don't think there is evil that has no reason at all. Most people have a motive, whether it's revenge, anger, self-interest (killing someone who gets in your way), but very few people do nasty things just for the fun of it. (You should watch The Good Son. I heard this question posed in there somewhere). Humans, I think, aren't inherently evil (not to say that they're inherently good either). I say this more to stress that it's not a very human thing to be just... plain... evil. We're all about progress and self-preservation, and given these motives, the things they do can lead to good or bad, depending on the situation, and so, they aren't PURE evil. In a more general sense, if you mean evil as in someone who doesn't respond to the pain of others normally, or someone who doesn't care what atrocities they have to commit to get what they want, I suppose, there are people in this world that can be considered evil... good question.... The only personalities I've seen that come close to your definition are usually in fiction novels. Even then, some authors like to give their villains a childhood and background that explains why they went the way they did. They're evil, but they have a motivation and reason... (kind of depends on your definition though).

Answer 3

yeah, I had a "friend" in high school that was purley evil. He could quote scripture like a priest, and steal the mustache from under your nose. He used various tactics of manipulation - but fear was his big one. He was violent and mean, but then could be funny and endearing.

He used to get out of juvenile programs and do real well for a short time. Everyone would believe that he finally turned the corner and was on his way to realizing his full potential as a human. But soon he would be sleeping with his friend's girlfriends, stealing from his family members for drugs, etc.

Besides this person, I believe that anyone could change. I was a 'bad' guy for a long time and changed through therapy and drug/alcohol treatment. I believe in second chances and even third chances. I believe that people are generally good.

This guy, Jimmy, is evil through and through. He has been in jail for several years now. There is something spiritually or chemically wrong with him that will always lead him to crime, violence and self centered actions. There is no good in him.

I hate to even say it - but he is an evil person.

Answer 4

e for answering - I'm overwhelmed by getting over 100 answers to a question!

Some of the stories of evil people were not all that convinving, but a few really did make me pause and think ... hmmm, yeah maybe that is just pure evil.

For those who don't believe in evil, that everything can be explained rationally, I hope you are right and I wish you are right ... I want you to be right.

I don't know who is right, but you all gave me a lot to think about, and I am profoundly grateful that although I have met rapists, child molesters, black magicians, violent, nast

Answer 5

Yes I did encounter someone I honestly feel was evil. I am not sure what it was about that person but my friend and I went to the movies and sat behind a man that was by himself. The second I sat down I felt this HORRIBLE feeling all around me and something telling me to get away fast. I thought I might be losing it until I turned to my friend and she looked like she saw a ghost and was grabbing at my hand to get away FAST.
I cannot explain that feeling because I havent had it since or before that moment but I know in my heart that was an evil man.

Answer 6

Well, in this life I would say that most people I met I think would be with the first categories you listed : FALLEN INTO BAD COMPANY or some type of POSESSION.... but with respect to that they are in fact : EVIL... I mean, for someone to RAPE another is what? ISN't that evil? We could say that they feel into bad company with the FAULTY PSYCHOLOGICAL MOVEMENT or we could say that they are evil.

Are cinderella's stepsisters "evil"?

Was the grinch prior to the grinch changing? I mean the grinch was EVIL but then the grinch switched foot and went vegan and so as to say.

What about FAKER and SKELETOR moreover from the story "he-man: masters of the universe"? Could they "become good"?~could they be healed? Well this is a long story where in effect perhaps SKELETOR needed to simply DIE so he could be reborn and such, but for some reason he kept trying to cheat death... I mean there are all sorts of skeleton's in the closet that often hold people back and until certain things are faced WE can not really go on... as individuals and as a society.

I know I got off topic...

WHO IS THE ONE who is the one who MISLEADS multitudes of OTHERS? IS THERE A POINT TO CLAIM "evil" on that person? IS it a group? Is it what? Is it about INFORMATION?

and so as to say
EVIL : LIVE
the image

www.facing-abc.20fr.com

Answer 7

I honestly thought that word "evil" was there to express how "bad" a person behaved. I met someone who I deem as being evil. She's an older woman with children and grandchildren. She has pushed a pregnant woman down a flight of stairs, just because she didn't want that child to be born. Taught her sons to be abusive physically and verbally to women. (When I say taught, I mean just that. She went through the whole process of what to do and what to say.) She has taught her children that rape, is the victim's fault every time no matter what, she has "enjoyed" the pain and suffering of someone else. Especially the pain she has caused. She is proud of it and states it. There is much more but frankly I don't want to state it all here. I truly never knew people like this existed. After meeting her my life has literally changed. You wouldn't believe it unless you saw it with your own eyes or heard it with your own ears.

Answer 8

People don't do evil things because they are evil, they do things because it "works for them" as Dr. Phil would say.

So if someone is a bully, they are getting a reward for that behavior and somehow from their perspective that behavior is justified.

Take it to the next extreme -- a suicide bomber steps on a bus not because he wants to be evil, but because he believes he is justified in doing what he is doing.

To me, one of the most fascinating and curious things you could ever do is to sit down with someone you consider "evil" and find out how they got that way.

That's the bigger question -- why does someone become evil?

Answer 9

Yes, my daughter-in-law.She out evils the best of them. Her thoughts, actions and most believable lies. Even when people knows shes lying she can convince them she's telling the truth, until the real truth comes out and she'll again convince people that she is the truthful one, it's a vicious circle with her. It's actually frightening to even know her because a person never knows when they will be her next target! You don't have to hear from her for a couple of years, then come hell or high water your turn is next

Answer 10

I would be a skeptic if not for my ex-mother-in-law...she doesn't believe in a God. In all the years I have known her, she spreads nothing but negative about people and things. She gets great delight when she sees or hears of someones pain or tragedy. People refer to her as Satan, she also has two bumps on her head....which she would make her grandchildren touch. Gave me goosebumps just thinking of it.
She is wealthy, many believe she sold her soul to the devil to become what she is today. She has two sons who's lives she totally controls in every way. When her husband passed away she didn't make any announcement of his death, nor did she have a service or memorial of any type. She had him cremated immediately.
I have seen her make a man go to his knees and beg for a job, when he did, she walked away laughing. She not only acts evil, she looks evil.....the only time you see her smile or laugh is when she has made ones life miserable. I am so happy to be free of that family. They are all mean and miserable. It was a living hell. No wonder my ex didn't let me meet her until after we were married.. Needless to say, since our divorce, he lives at home with her. He is in his 50's. What a sad existence...

Answer 11

Alas, I must say that I have met some people which I had once believed to be true evil.
Many people have convinced me that evil truly exists simply by speaking to me. Just remember this, we are all possessed by both good and evil, but some people simply seem to be inclined towards the forces of evil more than anything else.

Tragic though it is, it is what I see.