On Fri, 02 Dec 2005 16:40:06 +0900, Gernot Hassenpflug
wrote in ::

Human beings classify people on a few perceived characteristics, and
in general are unable to reevaluate based on later evidence,
preferring instead to add the newer evidence as as sub-grouping of
their main initial evaluation. So it is not really possible for people
generally to accept that a person can be of "characteristic" a,b,c,d
at different times, but not be classified as any one of them.

If that statement is true, someone who commits the act of murder, for
instance, and may be capable of many other altruistic acts, is not
classified as a murderer while being altruistic. That is, of course,
absurd.

My point is, a person who has demonstrated the capacity to commit a
given act is not in the same class as one who hasn't committed that
act regardless of their capacity to demonstrate other characteristics.