Some simple examples: a baby crying is a manipulation. A shopkeeper setting a price of 0.99 instead of 1 is a manipulation. A smile and funny joke to a girl you like is a manipulation.
None of these things are inherently bad.
Manipulation with intent to hurt is another story, but that's just one side of the coin.
Reread my original comment. The point is subtle, and I find that subtlety gets by almost everyone (by definition, perhaps) even when they bother putting forth the effort to understand. Most people love too much thinking they already have the answer. That's because it makes them comfortable.
And that subtle point has greatly informed my view of the evolution to the current situation.
Manipulation of others is neither good nor evil inherently. It's part of the human experience, we are all both manipulators and manipulated.
I maintain my conclusion, but those who are interested in using other people for their own ends seek to justify themselves by inventing excuses.
Satanists teach their followers to stop lying, especially to themselves, but in my experience few posses the discipline to follow this directive.
Some simple examples: a baby crying is a manipulation. A shopkeeper setting a price of 0.99 instead of 1 is a manipulation. A smile and funny joke to a girl you like is a manipulation. None of these things are inherently bad.
Manipulation with intent to hurt is another story, but that's just one side of the coin.
Reread my original comment. The point is subtle, and I find that subtlety gets by almost everyone (by definition, perhaps) even when they bother putting forth the effort to understand. Most people love too much thinking they already have the answer. That's because it makes them comfortable.
And that subtle point has greatly informed my view of the evolution to the current situation.