I always revert to the wounded, dying animal analogy. They are most dangerous when they are wounded and especially when they are cornered. As demographics and society itself keeps marching on and maga types refuse to adapt, grow or even keep up, there is existential fear. It is why the replacement theories play so well. It is why most Ja…
I always revert to the wounded, dying animal analogy. They are most dangerous when they are wounded and especially when they are cornered. As demographics and society itself keeps marching on and maga types refuse to adapt, grow or even keep up, there is existential fear. It is why the replacement theories play so well. It is why most Jan 6 participants came from areas that used to be fully conservative and/or white but are now politically and racially diverse. It is why those areas are the most likely places that political violence will occur.
Eye rolling no longer suffices when you perceive that your entire world is changing without your consent. And when you listen to an entire media universe that hyperbolically screams this to you 24/7. You are cornered, numerically weakened and wounded. Snarling and biting is seen as your only chance of survival.
Forcing everyone to believe and act as you do, even when you know (or used to believe) it is wrong, then becomes a reasonable and justifiable alternative for survival. And here we now find ourselves. Snarling, biting, and adherence to a my way or burn it all down philosophy. Or a strongman/men will come along who promises to save you by smiting your enemies and returning life to some point you were comfortable.
I think you're spot on. A lot of these people are scared of the social change they see and are desperately trying to force it all back into the box.
When my conservative parents have been the most honest with me about their feelings on politics this has always been the message. They're afraid of being branded racist/bigotted for their beliefs, they're scared that young people are changing the country in ways they don't like, etc.
But they never seem to do the introspection and ask why their beliefs may be offensive. They never consider that some of us want social change because the old order was cruel and damaging to so many people.
I sometimes wonder if conservatives understand, deep down, the pain and terror they've inflicted on certain groups, and they subconsciously fear that if those groups ever gain power, they'll seek retribution.
Keep in mind, part of the conservative mindset is a healthy distrust of human nature. With that as your baseline, why wouldn't you assume that others will use power to benefit themselves and hurt others, just as your group has?
I always revert to the wounded, dying animal analogy. They are most dangerous when they are wounded and especially when they are cornered. As demographics and society itself keeps marching on and maga types refuse to adapt, grow or even keep up, there is existential fear. It is why the replacement theories play so well. It is why most Jan 6 participants came from areas that used to be fully conservative and/or white but are now politically and racially diverse. It is why those areas are the most likely places that political violence will occur.
Eye rolling no longer suffices when you perceive that your entire world is changing without your consent. And when you listen to an entire media universe that hyperbolically screams this to you 24/7. You are cornered, numerically weakened and wounded. Snarling and biting is seen as your only chance of survival.
Forcing everyone to believe and act as you do, even when you know (or used to believe) it is wrong, then becomes a reasonable and justifiable alternative for survival. And here we now find ourselves. Snarling, biting, and adherence to a my way or burn it all down philosophy. Or a strongman/men will come along who promises to save you by smiting your enemies and returning life to some point you were comfortable.
I think you're spot on. A lot of these people are scared of the social change they see and are desperately trying to force it all back into the box.
When my conservative parents have been the most honest with me about their feelings on politics this has always been the message. They're afraid of being branded racist/bigotted for their beliefs, they're scared that young people are changing the country in ways they don't like, etc.
But they never seem to do the introspection and ask why their beliefs may be offensive. They never consider that some of us want social change because the old order was cruel and damaging to so many people.
I sometimes wonder if conservatives understand, deep down, the pain and terror they've inflicted on certain groups, and they subconsciously fear that if those groups ever gain power, they'll seek retribution.
Of course they fear it. And not subconsciously.
Keep in mind, part of the conservative mindset is a healthy distrust of human nature. With that as your baseline, why wouldn't you assume that others will use power to benefit themselves and hurt others, just as your group has?