Do you believe in Karma?

If we are talking about whether we believe in Karma or not (as opposed to offering empathy to the bad turn of events affecting BlueFace)....

Then I would have to further clarify:

I am willing to believe in "Karma" as the predictible consequences of one's own actions while interacting with the world through (mal)adaptive behaviours. Sure, you treat people in a crappy way and people will return the favour once they come to recognize your behaviour (no one helps you out of your misfortune when they recognize that you relish in other's misfortune). Or, you run through life in a wreckless pattern and the consequences of doing so wil catch up to you (like getting a ticket because you choose not to renew your license plate, or you get in more car accidents because you drive carelessly/selfishly). I would accept "what goes around comes around" in those circumstances.

But, to believe that somehow we are cosmicly accelerated towards a fate of deserved (but not directly related in a "cause and effect" fashion) consequences? I wouldn't accept that. The concept is too internally non-consistent to use to predict or rationalize events in our lives.

For BlueFace to say this guy "had it coming" and accept that as Karma, but to not look at LooseCard's misfortune as a form of Karma for his own misdoings? This is internally-inconsistent. It is for this reason (amongst others) that I would not believe in some mystical Karma. Bad things happen, good things happen. Whether it affects "good" people or "bad" people or anyone at all is governed by much more trivial and unrelated factors, not whether or not "it is deserved". Also, remember most "good" people have their "bad" moments, and if that was all that you had to reference them by, you would leave with the "bad" impression.

And remember:

When I evaluate your actions, by default I count them as a product of your person. But, when I evaluate my own actions, by default, I count them as a product of my environment. How easy we change the nature of motivation and circumstance simply by changing our vantage point.

Cheers

John