As Hang commented, I run a mailing list called "Be Slightly Evil" (http://beslightlyevil.com ), so the tag-line is a bit of personal branding and advertising.

But that's effect, not cause.

I guess I describe myself that way because I AM that way, and have accepted it.

I justify it when I need to, but the justification is after the fact, and depends on the context. The one I use in the mailing list home page is "a little evil is good inoculation against great evil," which I do actually believe.

Being open about operating by this doctrine strikes some people as self-defeating (shouldn't people with slight-evil or evil views skulk around working intrigues behind closed doors?).

It works for me because the tactical approach I take to actually practicing the "slightly evil" doctrine tends to rely on the power of bare-faced out-in-the-open moves, rather than secrecy.

That said, I am capable of skulking and intriguing. It is just not as effective a model in these days of social media as it used to be in the days of Cardinal Richelieu.

I am working on my evil laugh and a signature shifty-eyed look.