LogFAQs > #976354500

Solid_Sonic posted...

Why does this happen?

Because humans bind themselves and their sense of identity to things outside of themselves. And because the Internet has magnified every facet of human nature, both good and bad.

Are you praising something I dislike? That's tantamount to criticizing my judgment. You might as well be straight up attacking me. Of course I'm going to attack back. And the easiest target is the thing you've already told me you like. So I'm going to tear that down. I'm going to ruin your illusions and rub your nose in the rubble, because you deserve it. And God help you if you're actually disliking something -I- like. Because that's even worse!

Doesn't matter if it's something as significant as politics or religion, or something as utterly meaningless as which sports team you support or even what brand of soda you drink. If your choices feel like they're invalidating someone else's, they're going to have a strong impulse to lash out. To defend their position, or to destroy yours.

Sure, well-adjusted people might have a sense of self-worth beyond such things, or at least the introspection to refrain from that sort of thing... but there aren't that many well-adjusted people left in this day and age. At least not in the digitally connected world.