Take a good look at yourself in the mirror

And this is all well and good.

But imagine, just for a moment, that each day you woke up and looked in the mirror. And the person who stared back was less than they were yesterday. That each photo of a smiling you brought only back the memory of how superior you were in your past. How you learned faster, how your reflexes were quicker, how you were fitter, stronger, how you were more upstanding as a human being. How you had done less wrong in your life. In short to watch yourself change from exceptional to mediocre and less.

It's a good thing that most of humanity can see the improvements in itself, and congratulate itself that it isn't sliding backwards. In most cases its true. It's also a good thing that most people who are sliding backwards choose not to see it. They would probably go insane otherwise.

Self Judgement. Self Restraint. Self Enablement. Self Enoblement.

Think what need be thought, Say what need be said, Do what need be done.

It's funny how the rules each person lives by can be so simple. So key. Look at the ten commandments, the American Constitution, the Human rights act. All of these things frankly boil down to one thing. Don't infringe upon the freedoms of others, and everyone will be fine. The thing is these moral boundaries break down pretty quickly. Abortion- do we need to protect the freedoms of an unborn baby? Piracy- when you are dealing in tens of millions of dollars and pounds does stealing a single albums worth of music really warrent punishment?

What is also funny however, is how these blurrings can suddenly make the good guy into the bad guy. As morals become blurred, our black and white image of the world suddenly becomes one big grey smush.

Gradually, it becomes ok to fill out your mate's website an hour late, even though you promised to keep it topped up, leaving your MSN on which distresses your somewhat affectionate would be girlfriend suddenly doesn't bother you. Breaking someone's heart becomes covered up in euphemisms, "breaking up", "not working out", we cover our own fears of our own emotions, and as you watch, the person stands before you turns into someone new, and they are not the person whom they set out to be. It's a slippery slope. Better watch your next step. The road to hell is paved with good intentions (though I question it's structural suitability). And I'm sure Hitler didn't wake up one morning and say "What is the most horrendous dispicable thing I can do today?". I'm not even sure he actually intended for the Jews to die when he started out.

And almost invariably, it's not a person who is as good.

But it's all ok.

Unless they realise it.

"He who fights monsters should beware that he too, does not become a monster. For as you stare into the abyss, so the abyss also stares into you" - Neitsche