"We’re all painfully aware of those who live to attack others for insensitivity, microaggressions, etc.," observes philosopher Stephen Hicks -- folk who are "constantly scanning, online and elsewhere" for deviations from whatever they deem to be norms.
I’m reminded of this from Nietzsche’s 'The Joyous Science':
"Whom do you call bad? — Those who always want to put others to shame."
Psychologically, chronic shamers are losers in their own eyes. Yet they get a reprieve from their self-loathing by bullying others. They feel a brief sense of empowerment — a negative self-affirmation from seeing others damaged or humiliated.
It’s a kind of low-grade sadism, but one driven by an internal self-masochism.
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1 comment:
Of real concern are the facilitators who empower these people - politicians, media, corporate leaders and Big Tech
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