Before this topic is taken down ...
I’ve studied the causes of toxicity, contempt and destain for each other for about 8 years, being involved in several "unite" groups -- including my own. Here are some comments, from a "uniter’s" perspective.
- we’ve gone from the holding certain "idealogies" of the sixties, where we were passionate about specific issues, but still liked and respected each other to "identities", where we ARE the thing we support. It’s VERY personal. We just can’t imaging being anything other than who we are. And those who don’t support the "thing" are the polar opposite of US as individuals. We are intelligent, loving, caring, moral, and ethical. Those who disagree with us are ... quite the opposite. There is no wiggle room whatsoever. We are "the good guys" and they are "the bad guys."
This "identity" can be healhly, or unhealthy. One who places their indenity as a group member above there identity as a family member, or even their personal identity, can have devastating results. They hate <fill in the blank> more than they love their <fill in family member, lifelong friend, coworker>.
- What’s in it for them? Anyone who contributes to a particular subject has a reason for doing so. It could be that they want to contribute, learn, be challenged or have an intellectual exchange. It could also be not-so-admirable traights (too many to list here). There’s also a difference between an attempt to be persuasive, and an attempt to nullify and humiliate.
The list will continue on the next post. (I want to get these out there before it’s taken down).
