Why are some people filled with mindless hatred?

[Wyman]

Can you cite any studies showing otherwise?

No, that's why I started this thread.

I was hoping someone was aware of such studies.

I have a theory - want to hear it? - OK, as if you had a choice! It's the same as road rage - one feels anonymous, so the anger, sadistic instincts, envy, and general selfishness comes out.

What it shows is how powerful is the affect of social norms on putting these things in check under 'normal' circumstances. This is an idea expressed by Nietzsche. Society used to have to threaten things like chopping off a hand as a penalty for theft, or time in the stockades for minor crimes, or capital punishment for moral crimes like adultery. As society evolves (perhaps creating weaker, more timid subjects), the specter of public humiliation alone is enough to stop people from engaging in such behavior. With anonymity, the true nature of many humans comes out.

[Philosophy Explorer]

Can you cite any studies showing otherwise?

No, that's why I started this thread.

I was hoping someone was aware of such studies.

The following may help out this discussion:

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26837911/ns/h ... lity-zone/

PhilX

[marjoram_blues]

Can you cite any studies showing otherwise?

No, that's why I started this thread.

I was hoping someone was aware of such studies.

The following may help out this discussion:

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26837911/ns/h ... lity-zone/

PhilX

If this thread was started with such an aim in mind, why was it allowed to focus on posters as 'foes' to be ignored. So far, this seems to relate more to behaviour and explanations by psychological studies. Where does the philosophy of mind fit it? Perhaps issues of identity mixed with ethics - courage, false bravery ? When are you not you ?

[Ned]

I have a theory - want to hear it? - OK, as if you had a choice!

Wyman, I do have a choice but so far I have immensely enjoyed our dialogues, so I will continue reading you.

It's the same as road rage - one feels anonymous, so the anger, sadistic instincts, envy, and general selfishness comes out.

Excellent point, I see the parallel with road rage. Other contributing factors may be the constant level of frustration in real life most people are subject to in their aspirations, maybe some role playing, fashioned after some of the more violent video games. Certainly anonymity helps.

[Philosophy Explorer]

marjoram_blues said:

"If this thread was started with such an aim in mind, why was it allowed to focus on posters as 'foes' to be ignored. So far, this seems to relate more to behaviour and explanations by psychological studies. Where does the philosophy of mind fit it? Perhaps issues of identity mixed with ethics - courage, false bravery ? When are you not you ?"

Psychology is the study of behavior which does involve the mind.

PhilX

[henry quirk]

"Why are some people filled with mindless hatred?"

Most of the seven billion milling around are as crazy as shithouse rats...crazy folks can get mean.

Ignore them (as you can), shoot them (when you must).

[Ned]

The following may help out this discussion:

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26837911/ns/h ... ality-zone

It is an excellent article, I read all of it. I can highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the phenomenon.

It's main theme is the same as Wyman's: anonymity releases the inhibitions and people feel free to blow off steam or just indulge in sadistic behaviour.

What shocked me most reading it is how widespread it seems to be.

One comment that really bothered me: it says that the opportunity to be mean and vulgar sucks in even the nicest people who, in real life, would never utter such words and behave so abominably.

Don't they want to be individuals, saying to themselves: "I pride myself on being always civil and polite and rational -- even in the face of provocation"?

Anyway, I thank you for the link PE, I learned a lot from it.

[marjoram_blues]

marjoram_blues said:

"If this thread was started with such an aim in mind, why was it allowed to focus on posters as 'foes' to be ignored. So far, this seems to relate more to behaviour and explanations by psychological studies. Where does the philosophy of mind fit it? Perhaps issues of identity mixed with ethics - courage, false bravery ? When are you not you ?"

Psychology is the study of behavior which does involve the mind.

PhilX

One would hope so but this is a philosophy forum and one in which the subject was raised, seemingly as a direct reaction to a few posters full of 'mindless hatred'. Just trying to clarify the real aim of this thread.

[marjoram_blues]

The following may help out this discussion:

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26837911/ns/h ... ality-zone

It is an excellent article, I read all of it. I can highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the phenomenon.

It's main theme is the same as Wyman's: anonymity releases the inhibitions and people feel free to blow off steam or just indulge in sadistic behaviour.

What shocked me most reading it is how widespread it seems to be.

One comment that really bothered me: it says that the opportunity to be mean and vulgar sucks in even the nicest people who, in real life, would never utter such words and behave so abominably.

Don't they want to be individuals, saying to themselves: "I pride myself on being always civil and polite and rational -- even in the face of provocation"?

Anyway, I thank you for the link PE, I learned a lot from it.

Ned - I doubt your sincerity and level of shock. I think you knew all this before. You are not a complete idiot. You've been around.

[Ned]

"Why are some people filled with mindless hatred?"

Most of the seven billion milling around are as crazy as shithouse rats...crazy folks can get mean.

Ignore them (as you can), shoot them (when you must).

I don't think this helps us understand the issue.

Here is my favourite passage from the article:

Sheri Pineda, a 59-year-old customer service representative at the Daily Breeze in Torrance, Calif., encounters the same bad behavior in the after-hours messages left by her newspaper’s subscribers.

“It’s appalling the way people talk,” Pineda says. “They’ll rant and rave and cuss at us with extremely foul language. And I think a lot them specifically wait until we close the phones. They’re looking to let it all out and then get on with their day. And then they’re surprised when I get back to them. They’re like, ‘You actually heard that?’ and will be embarrassed.”

Hello. You have reached the split personality zone. Press 1 to melt down. Press 2 to hang up and act like a normal person again.

Apparently, it's not just forums but every walk of life where anonymity is assured.

[marjoram_blues]

They froth at the mouth, they spew out insults, obscenities, as many foul words as they can jam into a sentence, and all this without using a single argument or to intelligently reply to those already presented to them.

It is simple, mindless hatred, without a scrap of rational thought behind it.

I always find this spectacle disturbing because I like to understand things and this is beyond me.

Can anyone explain to me what makes people like this tick?

What happened to their reasoning brain?

What you have here is s self referring example.
Who on earth are you talking about. It seems to me that you are just ranting against anyone and everyone that disagrees with you.
You'll have to be more specific.

Do you mean THIS?
There now follows the reaction of people to an unlawful assassination without trial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tit9MMLg-t0

Worth repeating.

[Wyman]

"Why are some people filled with mindless hatred?"

Most of the seven billion milling around are as crazy as shithouse rats...crazy folks can get mean.

Ignore them (as you can), shoot them (when you must).

I don't think this helps us understand the issue.

Here is my favourite passage from the article:

Sheri Pineda, a 59-year-old customer service representative at the Daily Breeze in Torrance, Calif., encounters the same bad behavior in the after-hours messages left by her newspaper’s subscribers.

“It’s appalling the way people talk,” Pineda says. “They’ll rant and rave and cuss at us with extremely foul language. And I think a lot them specifically wait until we close the phones. They’re looking to let it all out and then get on with their day. And then they’re surprised when I get back to them. They’re like, ‘You actually heard that?’ and will be embarrassed.”

Hello. You have reached the split personality zone. Press 1 to melt down. Press 2 to hang up and act like a normal person again.

Apparently, it's not just forums but every walk of life where anonymity is assured.

When I get those 'phone trees' for customer service where they ask 'If you are calling about such and such, say 'such and such'' I cuss up a storm, especially when the computer program doesn't understand what I say the first time. But I know that no one is on the other side of the call; I've never yelled at a real live customer service rep.

[henry quirk]

"I don't think this helps us understand the issue."

I think, perhaps, some folks want answers were there are none to be had.

"Why are some people filled with mindless hatred?"

Because they just 'are'.

[marjoram_blues]

"I don't think this helps us understand the issue."

I think, perhaps, some folks want answers were there are none to be had.

"Why are some people filled with mindless hatred?"

Because they just 'are'.

There are other options than ignoring or shooting, yes?
Some direct challenges have been shown to change behaviour for the better.

[Ned]

"I don't think this helps us understand the issue."

I think, perhaps, some folks want answers were there are none to be had.

"Why are some people filled with mindless hatred?"

Because they just 'are'.

You are not overly curious, Henry, trying to understand cause-and-effect chains?

This is a philosophy forum, supposed to be the preeminent playground of curious people!