Do our strengths come from our dark side?


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Diana_P is offline Diana_P Post #1  October 16,2011, 9:21am
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There was an episode of Star Trek the original series where Captain Kirk is split into two beings by a transporter accident. One is aggressive, decisive, and masculine, but selfish and lacks compassion. The other is intelligent, logical, analytical, and kind, but is soft, feminine, indecisive, and having real trouble commanding the Starship. This episode was filmed in the 60’s so keep in mind that the Star Trek Universe at that time had no female Captains or Commanders.

As the episode progressed Captain Kirk gradually lost his ability to lead in spite of being reminded that command is a function of the intellect. Instead, the episode seemed to imply that most of our strengths are indeed derived from our dark side and we as human beings can not function without it.

Do you agree? Must we access our darker emotions to make those hard decisions? Do we need more than compassion and intellect to be effective as a human being? Is the need to access our dark side more critical if we choose to be a leader?

Thanks and let the discussion begin.
 
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Xable is offline Xable Post #2  October 16,2011, 10:31am
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Between good/bad, light/dark, I find being bad infinitely easier. I don't think it takes any strength (however you might define strength) to do things which you would associate more with the dark side.

In fact, the hardest things I have ever had to do in life have been what I felt was the "right"thing to do. It would have been so much more easier do cave in and do what I knew wasn't the "right" thing.

But, if we are going to get really philosophical, I hazard that being either good or bad is a function of what we are more comfortable with and use to.

To me, I don't blink an eye at being honest and telling people the truth because it never even occurs to me that things might be easier for me to tell a lie.

However, I have met some people who are so use to lying that they lie without even having a need too. It is so much their nature, it is what they are use to, that causes them to turn to lying over telling the truth.

Which leads me to believe, whatever you are most use to is what is going to be easier for you. I don't think it is a matter of needing one or the other to function. I think it is a matter of functioning based on what parameters you are more familiar with.
 
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Diana_P is offline Diana_P Post #3  October 16,2011, 10:57am
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Xable wrote :
But, if we are going to get really philosophical, I hazard that being either good or bad is a function of what we are more comfortable with and use to.

Which leads me to believe, whatever you are most use to is what is going to be easier for you. I don't think it is a matter of needing one or the other to function. I think it is a matter of functioning based on what parameters you are more familiar with.
That is fascinating. I’ve never looked at it that way before but I can certainly see the logic in it.
 
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Reverse_Dragon is offline Reverse_Dragon Post #4  October 16,2011, 6:16pm
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I think the darker sides of our selves can be invaluable, provided they are guided by reason and moderated by ethics. Righteous anger is a terrible and awesome thing to behold, and it has a place in the lives of enlightened humans. So too for deceit, jealousy, and fear. We have these feelings for a reason: they help us survive.

The trick is to control them, so they do not control you.
 
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Xable is offline Xable Post #5  October 17,2011, 3:26am
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Reverse_Dragon wrote :
So too for deceit, jealousy, and fear. We have these feelings for a reason: they help us survive.
Ah, but do we need deceit, jealousy, fear, and others because they do exist? Or, in the absence of those things in this world, would we still need them?
 
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harnomygirl is offline harnomygirl Post #6  October 17,2011, 6:52am
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Xable wrote :
Ah, but do we need deceit, jealousy, fear, and others because they do exist? Or, in the absence of those things in this world, would we still need them?
Those traits probably made us better hunters. Deceit is necessary for tracking and trapping, jealousy creates the competitive spirit needed for more bountiful hunts, and fear keeps hunters safe.

I'd thought this thread was about whether women were capable of leading without becoming masculine. I wasn't sure why masculine traits were considered dark.
 
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Diana_P is offline Diana_P Post #7  October 17,2011, 2:24pm
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harnomygirl wrote :
Those traits probably made us better hunters. Deceit is necessary for tracking and trapping, jealousy creates the competitive spirit needed for more bountiful hunts, and fear keeps hunters safe.

I'd thought this thread was about whether women were capable of leading without becoming masculine. I wasn't sure why masculine traits were considered dark.
I’m not sure either, but to steal a quote from Star Wars, “Anger, jealousy and fear all lead to the dark side…….”
 
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Reverse_Dragon is offline Reverse_Dragon Post #8  October 17,2011, 5:55pm
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Perhaps I misunderstood the question of the thread. I was responding to the title.

"I'd thought this thread was about whether women were capable of leading without becoming masculine." - harnomygirl

I didn't pick up on this implication... but it is an interesting question. In the canon of traditional American gender roles, being assertive and forceful is associated with masculinity. Behavior that is demure and reticent, on the other hand, is associated with femininity.

It's a misogynistic social more that derives from the institutional patriarchal-ism of human society. It's one of the many lingering vestiges of the tyranny of the Y chromosome.

I think this prejudicial view of women as leaders is on its way out for good... at last.

As for more enlightened views of gender roles; I find confident, assertive women very sexy... and not at all masculine.
 
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notamaninpower is offline notamaninpower Post #9  October 18,2011, 11:19am
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Reverse_Dragon wrote :
It's a misogynistic social more that derives from the institutional patriarchal-ism of human society.
As well as the misogynistic dogmatism/directives of their much beloved 'good book'.
 
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harnomygirl is offline harnomygirl Post #10  October 18,2011, 11:29am
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Reverse_Dragon wrote :
I didn't pick up on this implication...
I got if from the bold parts below:
Diana_P wrote :
There was an episode of Star Trek the original series where Captain Kirk is split into two beings by a transporter accident. One is aggressive, decisive, and masculine, but selfish and lacks compassion. The other is intelligent, logical, analytical, and kind, but is soft, feminine, indecisive, and having real trouble commanding the Starship. This episode was filmed in the 60’s so keep in mind that the Star Trek Universe at that time had no female Captains or Commanders.

As the episode progressed Captain Kirk gradually lost his ability to lead in spite of being reminded that command is a function of the intellect. Instead, the episode seemed to imply that most of our strengths are indeed derived from our dark side and we as human beings can not function without it.
It sounded as though we were being asked if we agree that masculine people have dark sides and can lead, and feminine people don't and can't.
 
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