The whole purpose of power is to abuse it... of course that's all relative in everyone's eyes. If I ban an unpopular person on the forums, he will consider it an abuse of power, but most other people might consider it a justified use of power. If a president enacts a law that you disagree with, you and your party might consider it an abuse of power, but they might not.

If the person in power doesn't "abuse" his/her power, then they essentially become a mediator and a compromise dealer. If this were possible then I think we wouldn't really need people or groups of people in power.

I don't know... it seems like to me that the simple act of using power will be seen as an abuse of power by some people... and in some cases, it could be seen as an abuse of power by all people. If it's not seen as an abuse of power by someone, then he/she essentially didn't do anything controversial, which means that they haven't really used any of their power... I guess this relies on the proposition that doing something controversial is always an abuse of power in some way, to someone.

Okay ignore my ramblings ... I just woke up and am not thinking straight.

Quote from Manick

The whole purpose of power is to abuse it... of course that's all relative in everyone's eyes. If I ban an unpopular person on the forums, he will consider it an abuse of power, but most other people might consider it a justified use of power. If a president enacts a law that you disagree with, you and your party might consider it an abuse of power, but they might not.

If the person in power doesn't "abuse" his/her power, then they essentially become a mediator and a compromise dealer. If this were possible then I think we wouldn't really need people or groups of people in power.

I don't know... it seems like to me that the simple act of using power will be seen as an abuse of power by some people... and in some cases, it could be seen as an abuse of power by all people. If it's not seen as an abuse of power by someone, then he/she essentially didn't do anything controversial, which means that they haven't really used any of their power... I guess this relies on the proposition that doing something controversial is always an abuse of power in some way, to someone.

Okay ignore my ramblings ... I just woke up and am not thinking straight.

Made sense to me, and i agree.

Quote from kaerfehtdeelb

Quote from Manick

The whole purpose of power is to abuse it... of course that's all relative in everyone's eyes. If I ban an unpopular person on the forums, he will consider it an abuse of power, but most other people might consider it a justified use of power. If a president enacts a law that you disagree with, you and your party might consider it an abuse of power, but they might not.

If the person in power doesn't "abuse" his/her power, then they essentially become a mediator and a compromise dealer. If this were possible then I think we wouldn't really need people or groups of people in power.

I don't know... it seems like to me that the simple act of using power will be seen as an abuse of power by some people... and in some cases, it could be seen as an abuse of power by all people. If it's not seen as an abuse of power by someone, then he/she essentially didn't do anything controversial, which means that they haven't really used any of their power... I guess this relies on the proposition that doing something controversial is always an abuse of power in some way, to someone.

Okay ignore my ramblings ... I just woke up and am not thinking straight.

Made sense to me, and i agree.

It's true. If you can't go against another's wishes with your power, you don't really have power at all.

This signature was recovered from Hades to serve in my rotting armies.

Quote from Manick

The whole purpose of power is to abuse it... of course that's all relative in everyone's eyes. If I ban an unpopular person on the forums, he will consider it an abuse of power, but most other people might consider it a justified use of power. If a president enacts a law that you disagree with, you and your party might consider it an abuse of power, but they might not.

If the person in power doesn't "abuse" his/her power, then they essentially become a mediator and a compromise dealer. If this were possible then I think we wouldn't really need people or groups of people in power.

I don't know... it seems like to me that the simple act of using power will be seen as an abuse of power by some people... and in some cases, it could be seen as an abuse of power by all people. If it's not seen as an abuse of power by someone, then he/she essentially didn't do anything controversial, which means that they haven't really used any of their power... I guess this relies on the proposition that doing something controversial is always an abuse of power in some way, to someone.

Okay ignore my ramblings ... I just woke up and am not thinking straight.

Well put, sir.

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It's irresponsible for a leader to abuse their power.

If you can't control yourself, you should pass it on to someone who can.

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Quote from lambchopsil

Let's abuse my power and lock this even though it's not breaking any rules~

jkjk

Lol....
Let's.

Well, it's quite clear why this thread was made for.

Also. Some people will always disaree. But when the use of power done to make things better it can't be called abuse. Even if the "punished" side might get crancky.
When you act carelessly and hurt the wrong people in the prosses, that's what I think is abuse of power.

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I don’t think that having power justifies the act of abusing it. I agree that depending on the people you ask you’ll get dissenting views on whether the abuse has been made or not. But abuse in this sense means misusing it, no? So say if you’re delegated some task, and you went beyond or under said task, that is abuse. Whether it is good or bad depends on the motive of the person who abused the power.

And since the term “abuse”, was used here with negative connotation, then I'm guessing it has a bad motive behind it. Then yes, abusing power is wrong.

Abuse of power is wrong, but if we have the power, chances are we'll abuse it at one point or another. Excess of abuse though... That's another thing.

The discussion seems to be centered on 'power' in the form of office or position. I would define abuse of power, then, as the use of power in a way contrary to or deviant from the purpose for which the office or title granting the power was established. This, of course, essentially makes it a legal term rather than a moral one. Whether abuse of power (or indeed, non-abuse of power) is immoral depends on the original intent or purpose behind the power.

Living the the presumably open, democratic societies that we do, any form of legitimate office or power would ostensibly be for the purpose of seeing to either the functioning of society or the needs of the individual. Abuse of power in a democratic state, then, would in general be assumed to be a bad thing, given the original purpose behind the power. This wouldn't necessarily be the case in another scenario, where the original intent behind the office or power may itself be evil, like in the case of a totalitarian regime. In such cases, one guilty of abuse of power may be a villain or a hero.

In the end, I guess I agree with ahoaho in that any allegations of abuse of power should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, keeping in mind whether or not the original purpose that defines what is and isn't abuse is a good thing or not.

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Quote from amaranthine

And since the term “abuse”, was used here with negative connotation, then I'm guessing it has a bad motive behind it. Then yes, abusing power is wrong.

If it assumes that it is bad, then why bother asking?

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Quote from x0mbiec0rp

Quote from amaranthine

And since the term “abuse”, was used here with negative connotation, then I'm guessing it has a bad motive behind it. Then yes, abusing power is wrong.

If it assumes that it is bad, then why bother asking?

Just making a point. I couldn't just say "yes, it's wrong" without reason behind it.

Quote from amaranthine

Quote from x0mbiec0rp

Quote from amaranthine

And since the term “abuse”, was used here with negative connotation, then I'm guessing it has a bad motive behind it. Then yes, abusing power is wrong.

If it assumes that it is bad, then why bother asking?

Just making a point. I couldn't just say "yes, it's wrong" without reason behind it.

I'm not questioning you. I'm questioning the suspicious topic poster. Perhaps he has some sort of vendetta?

This signature was recovered from Hades to serve in my rotting armies.

Quote from x0mbiec0rp

Quote from amaranthine

Quote from x0mbiec0rp

[quote=amaranthine]And since the term “abuse”, was used here with negative connotation, then I'm guessing it has a bad motive behind it. Then yes, abusing power is wrong.

If it assumes that it is bad, then why bother asking?

Just making a point. I couldn't just say "yes, it's wrong" without reason behind it.

I'm not questioning you. I'm questioning the suspicious topic poster. Perhaps he has some sort of vendetta?[/quote]
Oh, lol, I dunno.

Reminds me of Nietzsche's master and slave moralities.

There's no such thing as abuse. Its just petty people arguing over petty things. There are such things as extortion, blackmail, and overstepping your authority. If you consider these abuses of power, then of course its wrong. Anything else is just some petty speculation that wouldn't hold 5 minutes of ground in a judicial court. (in other words, there's nothing you or anyone else can do about it, regardless of wrong or right) You need to know your rights, and the rights/ privileges of those in power.

Of course, once you sign up here, you agree to follow the rules, and we agree to uphold your basic rights as long as you don't violate the rules that have been set down. If you do, then the admins have the right to do whatever we feel like is necessary. If you consider it abuse, too bad. If you don't, yay.

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Quote from shaggievara

It's irresponsible for a leader to abuse their power.

If you can't control yourself, you should pass it on to someone who can.

not true if you abuse your powers you get to learn the limit aand you'll be more tollerant in the future, but someone who'll never abuse it would punish directly