I’ve always been amazed at how sloppy some people are when it comes to the Math of Life. One example is the concept of “getting even.”

Even with what? Such people go along in life behaving as we all do, pretty much on an even keel with normal daily ups and downs.

And then something bad happens to them. If they perceive a particular person or institution or even a concept at fault, they decide to “even the score.” This may involve hitting, stealing, cheating, or maybe even killing.

Then they’re even. Except that they’re not even, of course. In some abstract, arbitrary way, they feel that the wrong that was done to them has now been equaled by a wrong done to someone or something else.

If someone accidentally or neglectfully or intentionally causes damage to someone else, a decidedly intentional payback does not make things even at all. In fact, the initial damage is compounded. Damage does not cancel out damage. It adds to it.

Consider, too, the bigger picture. If revenge and “payback” are a person’s idea of getting even, why don’t they also embrace the other side of the equation? I’m referring to the positive things like helping people, giving, donating, consoling, winning, befriending, etc. Do the same people who are so in love with vengeance also practice reciprocal good will and charity?

This all boils down to the ideal “do unto others” concept that sounds so trite and naive to people who are so bad at the Math of Life. What would it hurt to try it out for a change?

Jim Lawter

Related Posts

• A Day in the Life of A Scam Artist Not that I'm saying this myself, but... I scam people for a living. I convince them to give their money to me under false pretenses. It's not a glamorous lifestyle,...
• Today's Version of the Pyramid Letter Scam Back in the pre-Internet days, we all used to get pyramid schemes and chain letters in the mail. Scammers dress up these schemes with the reputable-sounding Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) tag,...
• Multitasking or Scatterbrained? A recent study claims that multitasking is actually nothing more than doing a lot of different things within the same time period. Each thing is done separately from every other...

Related Websites

• Why the Type of Life Insurance you Buy Doesn't Matter This is a guest post by Aaron, the president of Clarifinancial – the only way to get custom life insurance quotes from multiple agents anonymously. Because they let real life...
• The Life of a Coin Collector Coin collectors lead interesting lives, dominated by their thoughts of history through the currency used at different times. These individuals are going to spend large amounts of their income, both...
• High Risk? Get Life Insurance Coverage with a No Medical Exam Life Insurance Policy Are you interested in purchasing a life insurance policy, but you are concerned that your health will make it impossible for you to get a policy? Fortunately, with the help...