[dWSOj26H]

The issue that you describe is one that I often ponder. Not so much the desire for revenge, but the possible downside(s) to passivity. Would our lives be better if people were passive when Hitler was in power? What about the people of Burma?

On the other hand, revenge is a desire; one can either let desire control them and essentially be a slave to it, or one can realize the insignificance of such a desire and overcome the resulting suffering without passing it on to somebody else (just as suffering was received). Isn't there already enough negativity going around? Why perpetuate it? To get off on feelings? Why be a slave to feelings?

This is my thought process at least.

Also, if you spread negativity in the name of revenge, that negativity could easily be spread to somebody else by the initial aggressor. Negative actions often lead to more negative actions. Here's an example:

My brother got in an argument with his neighbor, in which his neighbor threatened him. My brother took it very personally, and wanted to hurt the guy. This neighbor of his has a very short temper, especially with his kids (they are young). If my brother were to jump him, surely it would put the neighbor in a bad mood. Surely the neighbor would spread this negativity to his kids, and his kids would suffer as a result of his bad mood. So the negativity that my brother spread in the name of revenge would come to negatively affect the neighbor's kids, possibly the neighbor's wife, and who knows who else would be negatively affected. All because my brother felt the need to perpetuate the negativity.

Typically the possible chain of events is not so apparent, but that is how negativity (and suffering) perpetuates. Fortunately, my brother did not seek revenge, and the neighbor's kids did not have to experience the resulting suffering.