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24HourForums.com > The Top 10 Supported Forums > Aethelred's History Chamber > Who's your pick for #1 historical villain of all time? |
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Lord Marcovan Original500© Member  Robertson Shinnick
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Hitler seems an obvious choice. But Stalin certainly gave him a run for his money. Sometimes it's a matter of perception, since the winner gets to write the history books. I mean, some folks like Napoleon, who were giant villians in the eyes of many, were also heroes to other folks.
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Lord Marcovan Original500© Member Robertson Shinnick
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Speaking of historical villains, here we have the Roman emperor Caligula, on one of my latest coin purchases. I made the coin my desktop wallpaper at work, and a coworker asked me what year it was made. "Sometime around forty-one", I said. "Nineteen forty one?" he asked. "No, the year forty one", I replied. "I didn't think that looked like something from 1941", he said. Go ahead and show yours, Aethelred- I know you have one of the same type. At risk of cointaminating your history forum with coin posts, it might be interesting to see some other "Rogues' Gallery" type coins.  Last edited on 06:43 am by Lord Marcovan |
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construct Pioneer100© Member  The Boy Next Door
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You already nominated mine--Stalin.
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construct Pioneer100© Member The Boy Next Door
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Of course, if we're thinking of fascinating villains who can capture the attention like a train wreck, I'm fascinated by the ones whose virtues lead to ghastly extremes like Robespierre. I almost hate to call him a villain. I mean, he was chosen as a leader because of his unwavering morality. He really is a villain I can sort of admire.
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Lord Marcovan Original500© Member Robertson Shinnick
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One man's villain is another man's hero, just as one group's "terrorist" is another group's "freedom fighter". It's a matter of perspective, at least somewhat. Of course, some of your biggest baddies are bad from any perspective. But most villains had their good points, or they wouldn't have become powerful (and therefore remembered) in the first place.
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Aethelred Pioneer100© Member  Ye Olde Dead King
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Of course Hiller and Stalin come to mind right away for the acts they committed. However, there are also villians by proxy, people who themselves may not have been as evil as Hitler and Stalin, but who's ideas lead to acts as bad or worse. Karl Marx may not have been that bad a guy, but his ideas lead to the deaths of countless millions of people in the 20th century. Muhammed, while not a kindhearted soul, was not responsible for more than perhaps 10,000 to 50,000 deaths in his lifetime. However his ideas, like those of Marx, have killed millions, caused women to be valued below animals and enslaved 1/5th of the population of the world. Another interesting line to consider would be the worst American villian. I think Andrew Jackson would be a strong contender because of his treatment of the Indians.
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Brian Grand Poobah of Moderation 
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Aethelred wrote: Of course Hiller and Stalin come to mind right away for the acts they committed. I think we have to limit ourselves to people who directly caused their damage. Otherwise, wouldn't Christ have to be faulted for the Crusades, the Inquisition, and the myriad of wars between the Catholics and Protestants? I don't think that's fair. Numerically, I think Stalin was responsible for more death and destruction than Hitler.
 "It's been a long December, and there's reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last." -- "A Long December", Counting Crows |
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Aethelred Pioneer100© Member Ye Olde Dead King
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Brian wrote: Aethelred wrote:Of course Hiller and Stalin come to mind right away for the acts they committed. You have a point, but that is a fine line. If someone has hate filled ideas, but does not act on them and at some later point they are acted on by others, I think the person with the ideas should get some blame.
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construct Pioneer100© Member The Boy Next Door
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How do you think Sennacherib would stack up?
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Brian Grand Poobah of Moderation
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construct wrote: How do you think Sennacherib would stack up? Ancient texts tended to exaggerate numbers, didn't they? That, and the fact that Judah must have beeen much less populated than Europe in the 1930's and '40s, leads me to believe that any biblical character would be way down there on the Scale of Evil (if we're using body count as the measure). Edited to Add: I'm not trying to single the Bible out, either. I think any ancient text is subject to the same criticism. Last edited on 01:28 am by Brian "It's been a long December, and there's reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last." -- "A Long December", Counting Crows |
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construct Pioneer100© Member The Boy Next Door
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Well, yes, but so would Robespierre, but I was willing to consider him (despite my personal admiration of him). Part of the problem with Sennacherib was the deportation and relocation of huge proportions of the peoples he subjugated and the cruelty of his displays of his captives. He was said to parade them through the streets by fish hooks through their cheeks!
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librtyhead Original500© Member 
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construct wrote: Well, yes, but so would Robespierre, but I was willing to consider him (despite my personal admiration of him). Some put fishhooks and safety pins in their bodies for pleasure today. And to look ...um cool.  But in answer to the question Pol pot comes to mind. Last edited on 02:16 am by librtyhead |
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JustifiedByFaith Pioneer100© Member  Without Jesus we fall short...
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Lord Marcovan wrote: Hitler seems an obvious choice. But Stalin certainly gave him a run for his money. Ted Kennedy? Oh,  historical. Sorry. 
Jesus said, "Take heed that no one deceives you." Matthew 24:4 |
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Lord Marcovan Original500© Member Robertson Shinnick
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Let's not forget Pol Pot. As to American villiany, that's a good question. McCarthy? J. Edgar Hoover?
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sirlamre Pioneer100© Member Official Forum Troublemaker
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Sauron Darth Sidious Lord Voldemort
Armed with the power of Thy name nothing can ever hurt me, and with Thy love in my heart all the world's afflictions can in no wise alarm me. |
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24HourForums.com > The Top 10 Supported Forums > Aethelred's History Chamber > Who's your pick for #1 historical villain of all time? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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