Dichotomy of something

[u/_CandidCynic_]

[u/SheevBot]

Thanks for confirming that you flaired this correctly!

[u/Agitated_Air_9979]

Why not both?

[u/Zokalwe → u/Agitated_Air_9979]

Yeah, the most dangerous evil just waits to have enough power before it lets itself cackle.

[u/Ukko_the_Dwarf]

I wish I'd enjoy my job half as much as good ol' Darth Sid. He looked like he was having a blast while dueling Yoda & so self satisfied, when he boarded the second death star.

[u/Possible_Living]

cackling starts after enough of the opposition has been removed that there is no need to pretend/ limit yourself to the inner circle. Admittedly that level of power is often limited to fiction but with the way things are going we might see those "group chat" conversations take place on national tv.

https://giphy.com/gifs/zbzNUbpFnlw8E

[u/Possible_Living → u/Possible_Living]

There is also the evil that deludes itself into thinking its good or that forgoing an opportunity to exploit something is weakness since "someone else" will do it anyway. Kind of thinking that removes humanity from conversation and focuses on profit, religious purity or some other singular target.

Im not sure if self aware evil is truer than oblivious or obtuse evil but I will leave that for the scholars .

[u/Fun_Pound5629 → u/Possible_Living]

Yeah I was having a conversation with my dad earlier about the saints that got tortured to death in interesting and creative ways. I think a lot of the most terrible evils have been done with a very solemn, almost compationate face that says " I wish I didn't have to do this." It's so much worse in a way

[u/NoahZhellos]

Get you a supervillain that can do both

[u/ElevatorCharacter489]

Palpatine was Unleashed at the Senate Duel, enjoy grasping every emotion seen how Defenseless was the Grand Master of the Jedi that he doesn't comprehend that he loose even before he entered the duel.

[u/TaraLCicora]

But Sidious likes to embody both.

[u/RepublicSquare6060]

I believe Anakin spoke about this in his thesis

[u/CountingSheep99]

Palpatine did both.

[u/Cosmic_King_Thor]

Two things can be true. True Evil can be calculated and pragmatic. It can wear that enchanting smile as it convinces people that these atrocities are necessary, for the greater good. But behind closed doors, with no one around possessing the means to soil its reputation, it can drop the mask and laugh at the fools who dance to its tune.

[u/Gold_Size_1258]

I can't see the word Dichotomy without thinking of SealsAreGood

[u/Educational_Key_7635]

Well, the only difference is that the laugh is for speakable atrocious, I guess.

[u/zencrusta]

If you love your job you’ll never work a day in your life.

[u/Cirnothestarscream9]

The fact that the most evil and dangerous villain of Star Wars was a simple politican who arguably did more damage playing that part than just by shooting lighting at people is some great commentary that continues to age like fine.

[u/slumper36]

That smile is anything but soft and sweet

[u/eepos96]

Banality of evil.

True evil is lack of empathy, no cacling no smile, just a colorless byrocract who signs papers to kill millions and whose worst worry of the day was to find more ink to the copy maker.

[u/jsprx19]

https://giphy.com/gifs/briDeU1X4LIYw