I don't think blackmail is "evil" at all. Can't blackmail an honest person. If you're not honest, then either be smart about it or don't feel offended when someone outsmarts you.
Apples are worse than oranges in some ways.
@Cazhune - dude you're an INTP stop making us look bad. Do this again and I'll tell everyone about our secret affair. Here ya go:
This insight came to me from a line from the show Elementary (Sherlock spinoff), in which Sherlock claims: "I find blackmailers to be more despicable than murderers in some ways," in an episode where he deals with a professional blackmailer. Its true isn't it? While murder is instant, blackmail is like a slow torture, forcing one to slowly sacrifice everything they have.
Professional blackmailers are especially dangerous; they turn secrets into poison, siphoning every last bit of money from the victim and their loved ones.
I'm sure we've all been blackmailed to some degree in our lives, although most probably have the decency to only make one demand, rather than continue posting the threat. Theoretically with an important piece of information or an important person/asset, the other person has you in their pocket (THIS is also how organized crime works, through "favors" that result in eternal, forced loyalty, and the constant threat of death or torture to "stay in the game" and do what one is told).
In many ways blackmail is a pervasive evil, even more dangerous and more difficult to deal with in some ways than murder, because a blackmailer has some degree of immunity merely because he/she has a threat to deal. The threat of blackmail is also very dangerous in the world of politics, especially from those who wield significant influence over the media (for its ability to blow small events out of proportion).
The frightening reality of this is that nobody can be truly free or objective, especially those with power or fame who have the most to lose. Blackmail is a coward's way, but its clear that its dynamics run many of the systems in our society. Do you agree that blackmail is one of the worst evils?
I don't think blackmail is "evil" at all. Can't blackmail an honest person. If you're not honest, then either be smart about it or don't feel offended when someone outsmarts you.
Hmm well we all have secrets though don't we? You can't expect that it is even humanly possible to be entirely honest with others about everything, sometimes we do have things in our past that we are not so proud of/ashamed of
Also blackmail is not always about secrets/information, it can be physically threatening in nature, or it can threaten anything you care about.
I was going by this definition, which separates blackmail from other types of extortion: blackmail n. the crime of threatening to reveal embarrassing, disgraceful or damaging facts (or rumors) about a person to the public, family, spouse or associates unless paid off to not carry out the threat. It is one form of extortion (which may include other threats such as physical harm or damage to property)."Blackmail is an act, often a crime, involving unjustified threats to make a gain or cause loss to another unless a demand is met."
What if somebody threats to beat somebody up or kill a loved one?
I was going by this definition, which separates blackmail from other types of extortion: blackmail n. the crime of threatening to reveal embarrassing, disgraceful or damaging facts (or rumors) about a person to the public, family, spouse or associates unless paid off to not carry out the threat. It is one form of extortion (which may include other threats such as physical harm or damage to property).
Threats of physical harm are a different story entirely, so going by the definition you are using my answer would be different.