it's a contract
the third john wick movie is so fucking interesting when it comes to the notion of contracts, oaths, karma - magic -> blood magic oaths
this is not something that is not real

i would dare to say
the fundamental difference between good people and bad people is their commitment to their word
if the word means nothing, then you mean nothing
for so long as the word is honored, then you are honorable
even if you would seem a terrible evil person at least you have your word
because terms are always clear, you make no pretense
but real evil is the one that breaks their word
in a way it's hilarious that nearly all americans are oblivious the federal income tax is perfectly voluntary
it's a contract
you were dumb enough to get involved in because of lack of education which is ultimately the fault of none other than you yourself
therefore if you can be made a fool of, and can be taken advantage of, and can be exploited (even in terms of an ethereum contract - or any type of contract), this is why you deserve to be
what goes around comes around. it's absolutely the first principle of consent and law and existence itself
it's not that you should expect things in return for what you have given
it's that - that is the way simply reality works
so the one who doesn't realize that cannot ever be trusted to honor their word - that is the basis of all deception which is the nature of a lie - THAT is the essence of evil
if you want a secular mystical definition of evil