Strike First

[Villain - V]

The villain is an archetype with consistent characteristics, motivations, and orientation. (See Monday’s reflection for a description of this.)

The villain is always a street fighter.

Allow me to be crass. Street fights are not like school yard fights. At school, if you hit first, you’re held accountable. It means certain detention, perhaps expulsion. So you negotiate every movement and flinch of the "enemy". Striking second is preferred, which is why school fights so often de-escalate.

On the street, you have to strike first or lose. Detention is of no concern. Being late to class doesn’t matter. Winning matters. The first to strike is usually the first to win. This is why street fights escalate so quickly.

A villain is a street fighter. There is no motive necessary. Strike first and win!

A villain believes the whole world is a potential fight, and consequently the threat of losing a fight. This is the antithesis of the spirit of nonviolence, which trusts the possibility of peace in every situation.

It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. It’s a street fight.

But is it, really? Or have we bought the villain’s rationalization for violence and turned it into popular adages and hip bumper stickers?

Perhaps people are way more generous than we assume.
Maybe behind that shell there isn't an enemy but a scared third grader.
What if the other is not a dog growling at us but a potential friend that only growls out of habit?

Stop thinking like a villain!