What is the purpose of revenge?

RiverDad said:

How about revenge as a tool to enhance reputation. If you're known to be a person, or clan, which will never rest until justice is done, then that probably protects in the future as people steer away from tangling with you.

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Revenge is not justice. Revenge is selfish; petty.

Justice is protecting and restoring the people. While these actions may sometimes be similar actions to what one might do for revenge, they aren't always, and motivation behind it is the key factor. The motivation is to protect or restore the ones harmed, or to reorient the one who did harm, not to torture the one who did harm.

A society of revenge simply breeds cruelty. A society of justice is what breeds reputation, within and without the society.

RiverDad said:

The deed is done. What do you gain by seeking revenge? Discuss.

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It could be to set a precedent to onlookers that you will not tolerate being screwed over. It can act as a deterrent to the perpetrator as well.

If you are good at it, the revenge can discourage the perpetrator from victimizing others. If you turn a blind eye the perpetrator will continue to screw others over in the future.

From a selfish perspective it would be advantageous to just let it go. You can be a hero, feel good about yourself and screw yourself over at the same time by seeking revenge. Revenge destroyers the victim even further but it could serve to benefit others.

vasuderatorrent said:

It could be to set a precedent to onlookers that you will not tolerate being screwed over.

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This is the prime motivation. Not some altruistic BS.

That is why anonymous revenge doesn't taste as sweet.