Power corrupts?

KILOS_IN_MY_BAG · 2015-12-04T00:02:31+00:00

both individuals are able to call each other out

I keep hearing these exact words from people putting this type of argument forward.

No, I categorically do not want my partner to "call me out." It's a relationship, not a Tumblr.

I also posit that it is literally impossible to have any kind of human relationship without a power dynamic. When you talk to your boss, your parents, your teachers, whatever, there's a power dynamic. Romantic relationships are not magical fairy dust. The same rules apply to them as apply to every other human relationship. Someone is always "wearing the pants."

Attempting to deny this is not only delusional but stressful. It adds a lot of extra strain to the relationship for no reason other than trying to make it political. Why do I want my relationship to be a political statement? That's retarded.

If you don't want your partner to be the dominant one, that's cool. Learn to be the dominant one yourself and find an SO who wants a dominant partner. But you can't simply pull the power dynamic completely out of a human relationship. That's not how people work. That's not how any animal works. Sorry.

CursedLemon · 2015-12-03T21:38:08+00:00

Utilitarian statement:

Relationships are about personal growth. Regardless of the balance of influence in the relationship, if they're not giving you fruitful life experience and helping to develop your maturity, that doesn't bode well.

Xemnas81 · 2015-12-03T21:44:46+00:00

Of course, but the problem is that what progressives call 'egalitarian' is actually cloud cuckold land half the time for the bloke.

Sepean · 2015-12-03T22:22:37+00:00

An extremely common relationship where the power structure is extremely one-sided is the parent-child relation. I wouldn't say that power corrupts with high probability there, at all.

"Power corrupts" is a bullshit term that is used because people have this illusion that people seek power for noble reasons. Politicians don't run for office to help people, they do it for their own, selfish reasons. They were corrupt to begin with and power has nothing to do with it except it gives them the means.

When people have power over someone they love, they have their best interests at heart and corruption doesn't enter the picture.

exit_sandman · 2015-12-04T16:04:41+00:00

In an equal partnership

Aaaaand here you're failing, because relationships are rarely equal.

Svantearach · 2015-12-04T18:52:17+00:00

There's no such thing as an equal relationship and there never will be.

Title	Power corrupts?
Author	ikiteforbellyflop
Upvotes	3
Comments	21
Date	December 3, 2015 9:29 PM UTC (10 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/PurplePillDebate
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/PurplePillDebate/comments/3vbxui/power_corrupts/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/PurplePillDebate/power-corrupts.278134 https://theredarchive.com/post/278134

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