• blargerer@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      They are in the position of power to act on their desires. It’s probably the same % everywhere.

      • MyPornViewingAccount@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Nah, I think it has more to do with power.

        Theyre in a position to get something so illegal and evil, the thrill is in the power of doing something that lesser people would be executed for.

        • alvvayson@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          I think this is a major part of it.

          Which is why high levels of wealth and power actually lead to bad mental health of the rich and powerful.

          They get detached from normal life and start looking for thrills in the wrong places. It’s kind of a similar effect as what middle class people know as lifestyle adaptation or the hedonic treadmill.

          Once the normal things that provide pleasure are easy to obtain, people start looking for pleasure in places that still provide mystery, adventure and a challenge.

          These people desperately need therapy to learn how to be content with normal things, but instead they follow their flawed monkey brains into a trap.

        • floofloof@lemmy.ca
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          1 year ago

          It’s not just that their wealth gives them the opportunity to wield and enjoy power over others, but also that those who are thrilled by power over others seek wealth and enjoy the ruthless things they have to do to get it. So these characteristics will be overrepresented among the rich.

        • HerrVorragend@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Power is the major reason.

          I also would not be surprised if powerful people have to do something sinister as an initiation rite that could be held against them in the future.

          Like a dangling sword, should they feel just TOO powerful to toe the line.

          • averagedrunk@lemmy.ml
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            1 year ago

            That’s a conspiracy I can get behind. I have noticed a lot of times one of them grows a conscience for half a moment something damning comes out about them soon after.

            Some cults use a similar tactic. You’ve joined, you’re sucked in, and suddenly if you really want the inner mysteries you have to do something terrible on video to prove your loyalty. Then it’s impossible to get out without destroying your life.

        • Ilflish@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          I don’t think they’re twiddling their thumbs while doing these deeds, it’s just so normalized in their ecosystem they don’t even rationalize how bad it actually is. Like they probably don’t think it’s “that bad” for reasons like conditions, or maybe it’s just the kids are happy to get paid a lot so they don’t see it as irrational.

          Not justification, not condoning, still disgusting and immoral

    • andrew_bidlaw@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Others provided many explanations, but in Epstein island’s case I think it was a sick rite of a passage for those feeling they are the new elite. By doing something so wrong together, like mafia, they enter a circle where everyone is silent about others’ crime as they all share the same dirt and would all be discovered after one of them starts to speak. They are expected not to talk about that, or other morbid deals they discussed there in private, and it keeps them alert. Some of visitors could be into that being dangerous pervs and power addicts, and Epstein shared trafficked children like wine with premium guests, but the more important aspect is that child abuse was a glue that cemented that sect, shut their mouths for life and led to a perfectly timed murder of an organizer in a guarded cell.

    • uphillbothways@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Hoarding wealth in greater quantities than you could ever use in order to have power over others desperate to just survive is abusive to start with. They’re probably exposed to other people with all variants of abusive tendencies and trained to believe they are better than and deserving of the suffering of others. Being raised in that environment will definitely encourage a much higher proportion of other abusive behaviors.

    • yacht_boy@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Serious answer, as someone who’s been through years of therapy.

      Pretty much everyone rich and powerful experienced intense trauma early in life. And one of the horrible ways our early childhood trauma plays itself out is by causi us to recreate it on younger generations. You don’t just wake up one day as a child molester. That shit was visited upon you in some fashion when you were a child.

      Our entire culture is based on generational trauma (strongly suggest you read the Myth of Normal by Gabor Mate).

      People who seek power and fame are almost all incredibly damaged from a very young age. Not necessarily an excuse, but if you want to stop the cycle you have to be able to step back far enough to see it.