Is there really any point in revenge?

Question

A dish best served cold so they say....

Lets not confuse revenge with legitimate legal punishment for crimes committed, I'm referring to the urge inside us all to "get even" when we feel that we've been wronged....

Answer 1

Well yes and no. The yes point is you will fill better and you will have your anger out. The no point is just don't do anything to someone that you may regret. Just let karma run its course. You know what goes around comes around.

Answer 2

Not every morally wrong act has legal ramifications. A person needs to know that there are consequences to thier actions and you can only f*ck a person over so many times before you experience those consequences. If there is not going to be punishment in the eyes of the law, then there needs to be punishment in some other way. Personally, I'm not the religious type of person that believes people will have to 'pay' for thier wrongdoings in the eyes of god. Nor do I believe that 'karma' always works the way people would like to think so. So yes, I do think that there are times when revenge is appropriate.

Answer 3

We have all been wronged at some time or other, some can live with it other just can't, but revenge is not the answer, the people that do wrong to others don't always get the thing that they want, life as a way of putting things right,

Answer 4

Hi there.
The point of revenge has always been to maintain your status in the community. If somebody can ride roughshod over you and your family unchecked, others will presume they can too and your position drops. Revenge always required to be known to have its value. This often ended in open feuds over generations, but that is pride for you!
Taking personal secret revenge is a sign of a sick mind.
In a christian community, the urge is one that should be expressed to the community but then not acted on as part of forgiving - so even the public renunciation of revenge can have a meaning.
Good question!
Cheers, Steve.

Answer 5

For the sake of our general mental health and well being, it is important to recover from episodes where we feel we have been wronged and bring closure. That doesn't mean an eye for an eye, but if no action is taken, it will wrangle in our sub-conscience and lead to a decrease in self-respect, which in turn can have negative long term effects. So I would say that yes, there is some point in revenge as long as it is controlled and not disproportional.

Answer 6

Well, the thing about revenge is that it all depends on how it is delivered. But I think that in the end, as the saying goes, "what goes around comes around" - so perhaps trying to focus on getting revenge may be pointless.

But I would say that there are subtle forms of revenge, which when used judicially can be effective.

Answer 7

There is a Chinese proverb, or at least a proverb ascribed to Chinese origin: "A man who plans for revenge must dig two graves." Revenge is not regarded as an act of social justice, but a petty act of spite.

It's generally regarded that an act of revenge, despite the initial rush of perceived vindication, always leaves all concerned with a bitter taste in the mouth. Frequently, a person who plots and executes revenge upon another is blind to all of the other opportunities life presents, and even to hints thrown to him or her that her chosen course of action might not be the best way.

Have you heard of the urban legend of the jilted woman who, seeing what looked like her lover's car outside the next door neighbour's driveway, and assuming that he was having an affair with the neighbour, promptly filled the car with cement, only to discover when her lover turned up in an identical car that she'd filled someone else's car with cement by mistake? And that the car was, in fact, the next door neighbour's birthday present to her from her husband?

There are many stories of women who were cheated upon by their men, who then went and cut out the front part of every pair of their lovers' trousers. That might sound hilarious at first reading, but the end result's the same. It makes the person taking out revenge look like a small minded, petty person, and ultimately he or she ends up alone, consumed by his or her own bitterness - because in all the brouhaha of the vengeance, the original slight won't have been reconciled or redeemed in the first place.

Answer 8

I've been in this situation - it is more often easier to let things go and forget all about them.

My job was made redundant in March, and I have subsequently heard rumours that I was actually fired, but that they couldn't make that stick!

In the week leading upto my departure, I remained polite, cheerful and helpful - this is the best way - be kind to your enemies that this kindness may be bitter as gall in their mouths.

It confuses the you know what out of them!

It is a sweet revenge of sorts!

Answer 9

The point in taking revenge is that it makes you feel better even though by doing so you've probably sunk to the same level as the person you're taking revenge on.

Answer 10

I guess not really I mean people mostly get revenge to basically get even or feel they conquer something. When me and my bro are playing tricks on each other and we both get even back and forth. It's ok but when you get revenge on someone say you didn't like what's the point? Your not proving anything to anybody except that you don't play around...not much of accomplishment if you ask me.

Answer 11

It's human nature to try to even the scales of justice. But the more mature you are, the wiser you are, the more you realize that revenge hurts you more than the other person. You may use revenge, but it will hurt you more than you realize. It will stain you. Also... remember life is a boomerang. What you do comes back to visit you. That usually keeps me in check.