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Mayhem! More from the Master of Malice
Book by Hayduke, George
185 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 7, 2012
I'll give this one three stars -- for old times' sake.
I'll also keep the review short'n'sweet.
After a while, books of this sort stop being funny and become tedious and/or annoying. Admittedly, my age has some bearing on my changing tastes in reading material: at 44, it's harder to divide the world into clear-cut "villains" and "victims" than it is at 20. Consequently, it's far more difficult to believe that Hayduke's self-appointed justiciars and avengers bear no responsibility for the "wrongs" they endure. Certain names, for example, crop up in title after title. Am I *really* to believe that these regular contributors are in no way responsible for being screwed over time and time again? Are they such poor judges of character, or lacking in awareness that they can't avoid the company of shitweasels? Don't they ever learn? Do they examine their own behavior and consider the effects thereof on other people, or have they simply concluded that the big, bad universe is out to get them for no particular reason? Sorry, I just can't help but wonder.
Another of my complaints is the increasing lack of imagination and discernment in each volume. If, after a certain age, one is still reduced to sugaring gas tanks and pouring bleach on lawns; it's reasonable to believe that said person is a hopeless case of arrested development. Fear, while less potent a weapon than, say, nerve gas, is still superior to firecrackers in mufflers. And it's entirely possible to terrify a mark without doing anything illegal. Employing it, however, requires patience and creative thought. Dig?
So much for imagination and personal growth, and on to discernment. After reading a few articles in any given title in the series, the reader suspects that the contributors are utterly incapable of matching the severity of the "punishment" to that of the offense -- it's mostly overkill. Worse still, Hayduke's "Eleven Commandments of Revenge" make no provision for avoiding "collateral damage." This is a fatal flaw, as any career hood worth his salt can attest. What is missing is the all-important "Twelfth Commandment of Revenge": THOUS SHALT NOT F*** WITH THE UNIVOLVED. Anyone to whom the moral and practical foundations of this missing commandment aren't self-evident should perhaps spend more time on history, psychology and philosophy, and less time on "mayhem manuals."
The most glaring symptom of the contributors' piss-poor judgment, though, is the number of schemes that involve using the authorities as weapons. Wake up, boys and girls. The world as a whole is *not* becoming less authoritarian. Governments are *not* withering away, and the private sector (especially the burgeoning "security" industry) is marching in lock-step with them. Beyond adding fuel to the (Reichstag?) fire, books of this sort actually enhance *their* already vile repertoire of harassment techniques. If, for example, a disgruntled "Hayduker" can avenge himself on the pizza delivery boy who short-changed him, by planting drugs/kiddie-porn, etc. in said flunky's car; how much easier is it for the government --with all its resources -- to perfect the technique for use on dissidents?
Just a few things to ponder.
I'll also keep the review short'n'sweet.
After a while, books of this sort stop being funny and become tedious and/or annoying. Admittedly, my age has some bearing on my changing tastes in reading material: at 44, it's harder to divide the world into clear-cut "villains" and "victims" than it is at 20. Consequently, it's far more difficult to believe that Hayduke's self-appointed justiciars and avengers bear no responsibility for the "wrongs" they endure. Certain names, for example, crop up in title after title. Am I *really* to believe that these regular contributors are in no way responsible for being screwed over time and time again? Are they such poor judges of character, or lacking in awareness that they can't avoid the company of shitweasels? Don't they ever learn? Do they examine their own behavior and consider the effects thereof on other people, or have they simply concluded that the big, bad universe is out to get them for no particular reason? Sorry, I just can't help but wonder.
Another of my complaints is the increasing lack of imagination and discernment in each volume. If, after a certain age, one is still reduced to sugaring gas tanks and pouring bleach on lawns; it's reasonable to believe that said person is a hopeless case of arrested development. Fear, while less potent a weapon than, say, nerve gas, is still superior to firecrackers in mufflers. And it's entirely possible to terrify a mark without doing anything illegal. Employing it, however, requires patience and creative thought. Dig?
So much for imagination and personal growth, and on to discernment. After reading a few articles in any given title in the series, the reader suspects that the contributors are utterly incapable of matching the severity of the "punishment" to that of the offense -- it's mostly overkill. Worse still, Hayduke's "Eleven Commandments of Revenge" make no provision for avoiding "collateral damage." This is a fatal flaw, as any career hood worth his salt can attest. What is missing is the all-important "Twelfth Commandment of Revenge": THOUS SHALT NOT F*** WITH THE UNIVOLVED. Anyone to whom the moral and practical foundations of this missing commandment aren't self-evident should perhaps spend more time on history, psychology and philosophy, and less time on "mayhem manuals."
The most glaring symptom of the contributors' piss-poor judgment, though, is the number of schemes that involve using the authorities as weapons. Wake up, boys and girls. The world as a whole is *not* becoming less authoritarian. Governments are *not* withering away, and the private sector (especially the burgeoning "security" industry) is marching in lock-step with them. Beyond adding fuel to the (Reichstag?) fire, books of this sort actually enhance *their* already vile repertoire of harassment techniques. If, for example, a disgruntled "Hayduker" can avenge himself on the pizza delivery boy who short-changed him, by planting drugs/kiddie-porn, etc. in said flunky's car; how much easier is it for the government --with all its resources -- to perfect the technique for use on dissidents?
Just a few things to ponder.
December 28, 2008
I bought this when I was young and had fantasies of revenge on the motherfuckers who done me wrong. This revenge handbook--which also provided the name of my zine for a while--isn't entirely practical, but it does give some good advice. The most important, besides don't get caught, dumbass, is this: wait, then wait some more, then wait again, then strike. Time will create the distance that will throw suspicion away from you. Sure, you may want the bastard to know who burned down their house, but that's a sure way to get caught. You can't have the satisfaction of seeing them cower before you, if you want to stay free. Revenge must be satisfaction enough.
September 12, 2015
If you are new to the world of revenge, Hayduke's Mayhem is a good place to start. Yes, some of it is simplistic, but if you don't know where to begin ...
That said, if you are a master of it, you may find this to be little more than amusing, and it may cause you to revisit some old actions you've taken.
It is by no means comprehensive, but is also not meant to be. It is one book out of a series. It is good for some laughs and some inspiration. It will cause you to roll your eyes at times, but take note: If you do these things, you may be biting off more than you can chew.
That said, if you are a master of it, you may find this to be little more than amusing, and it may cause you to revisit some old actions you've taken.
It is by no means comprehensive, but is also not meant to be. It is one book out of a series. It is good for some laughs and some inspiration. It will cause you to roll your eyes at times, but take note: If you do these things, you may be biting off more than you can chew.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews