The Asshole Effect

Anyone who has involved in a left-hand path for a while and has


incorporated it into his or her life will inevitably be called


an "asshole" by someone comfortably operating in a more mainstream


right-hand path. This is to be expected since someone on a left-hand


path would not be as concerned about what others think and would not


be ashamed to put his or her own needs above the needs of others when


necessary. In the altruistic nature of western culture, where often


we are expected to sacrifice our interests for that of others, words


such as "self-centeredness" and "selfishness" carry a negative


connotation. Sure selfishness can be a negative trait when taken


to extremes, but there is nothing wrong with acknowledging one's own


needs and desires even above those of others when reasonable.





In this clash of culture, the right-hand path, unable to accept


blatant focus on the self, misinterprets confidence as arrogance,


independence or pride as elitism; projecting their own inner selfish


vs. altruist conflict onto others. (We all have selfish motivations


whether or not we wish to accept them.)





But this is not the asshole effect.





The asshole effect is when individuals on a left-hand path get full


of themselves to the point that they think they are more than they


are; that their needs must always come first, regardless of what


reason may show. Such people assume that to be on the left-hand path


means to be an asshole, and since they do not care what others think,


they continue down this road of illusion, assuming that they have


mastered their path and themselves by the mere act of looking down on


others.





In reality they have fallen on the wayside. What they have begun to


foster is not their true self, but their illusion of what they think


they are. There is a reason why Satanists consider false pride


a "sin".





I find the analogy of a successful entrepreneur useful. Like someone


on the left-hand path, the entrepreneur can seem by many to be


cutthroat and selfish as he or she works his or her way to the top.


Some will take the extreme path and cheat or use others as pawns for


their own gain, not caring whose toes they step on in the process.


However, in doing so such a person makes a fatal mistake; To be


successful for the long term, one needs good networking contacts that


share information, provide good references, etc. Without these


contacts the road to success becomes burdensome and dangerous. Worse,


still, one needs to keep a constant vigil against all those who were


stepped on during the mad dash to the top. In short, a successful


entrepreneur, though confident, self-motivated and not afraid to


speak his or her mind, recognizes that the path to the top is a lot


easier and more stable when you earn support and build alliances


along the way. They can be quite harsh and cutthroat when needed, but


they balance it out with people skills (at least with people they


feel are worthy of the attention). Sure they still use people, but


those they use don't feel used and thus are more supportive.





Just as the right-hand path has its share of "fluff bunnies" and


fundamentalists who "just don't get it", the left-hand path has its


share of "assholes". These are the trappings of their respective


paths. In a left-hand path, where there is more emphasis on


individuality and less concern for what others think, it is easy to


loose perspective of our goals and slip into illusions of grander.


Perhaps after getting our ass kicked a few times we figure out that


the problem is not always with the rest of the world, but sadly many


more take this hostility as a sign they are on the right track.


Instead of seeking self-empowerment from within, they seek self-


empowerment by the reactions they get from others.





So to those that say "who cares?" every time they step on people's


toes, remember that when someone steps back harder or when you find


yourself alone when life randomly presents a snag in your plans.





Being in a left-hand path is not about being a prick, it's about


mastering the Self. Sure some may still think you are an asshole


either way, but pissing off a few people who don't understand and


pissing off everyone you encounter are very different things. The


first is inevitable; the other is just plain stupid.








by John J. Coughlin

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