Ex-punker and obvious X-files fan "Cigarette-Smoking Man" penned a post in late October called "Quarantine the Hate." It explained the damage done, the odd dynamics of hate itself that reach beyond the affiliation using it, and what to do about it within a civilized society. Interesting, on the money, thought provoking. Right up until that final paragraph.
Exposing the nature of the hate that has gripped your opponent can be very effective. We have a whole topic category here called "Hatred Rising", and believe it's a big issue. Still, there are pitfalls. To reduce your risk of crashing and burning on such an important mission, just follow a few tips...
JOE'S TIPS FOR HATE-HUNTERS
- Be really, really sure that what you're looking at is hate, and not something else. Hate isn't the same as disagreement, or even vehement disagreement.
- Save exposure for extreme cases, and remember that your missed shots count against you. So have a sniper mentality. Prefer nailing 100% of your targets beyond a doubt, even if that means holding off on some shots that are 'maybes' or even 'probablys'.
- Show the problem, don't assert it.
- Be very specific re: exactly whom you're talking about, and always paint with a slightly narrower brush than you think is justified. Narrower re: the group you're talking about, and narrower in terms of the psychological factors involved.
- Be really, really cautious about psychoanalyzing your opponents. You have to come off as a serious adult here, and your understanding of their thought processes is just conjecture and poor guesswork unless you've lived on both sides. Even then, suspect yourself. Remember those hilarious "mind of a conservative" studies by childish leftist professors who weren't even within bus-ride distance of a clue? Think of them and remind yourself to be more humble.
Otherwise, the frothing nut in the picture could be you. And the mission is just too important for that.
I like Joe's Tips. It's excellent advice no matter where you fall in the political spectrum.
By coincidence I read A Friendly Drink in a Time of War by Paul Berman this morning. He makes a similar observation:
Volatile inflamatory rehtoric is too often the tool of choice today. It takes a effort of will to stay above it. Responding in kind advances neither side's cause in the other's eyes.
Hate is akin to anger, which arises when an individual loses control of a situation.
Truth is the antidote for hatred, but some people are poisoned by lies that have grown comfortable; so comfortable they can view truth as a poison and reality as a lie. Throw relativism into the mix and there may seem to be no reason to consider another look.
G.M.
Joe's Tips are a prescription for wise understatement, inducing the listener to take the final step, if they wish and can. Good sense and good tactics.
I don't hate Michael Moore. Loath and despise him, yes, but that's another matter - and he is, after all, getting richer by the minute out of provoking such. He's not worthy of hatred.
I can't help hating Arafat though. Or Mengele. Or Pol Pot. All now cosily and safely dead, so my hate can't corrode my soul too much.
Saddam though.... I don't hate, I just want him dealt with as expediciously and effectively as possible. When he's dead, then I can hate him in safety, and not before.