The Reason Extremists are so Extreme

February 16, 2012 · 5 comments

I had an epiphany reading something on Twitter about why people on the far left and the far right are generally so extreme and hateful to each other.

Much love.

www.themarinfoundation.org

{ 5 comments }

Danae February 16, 2012 at 3:14 pm: New reader and first time commenter here! Nice video… spot on in my experience.
April Galamin February 16, 2012 at 5:33 pm: You are sure right about the “bubble”.

I think many extremist groups do their best to have a separate society from the rest of us. In their eyes, we, on the outside are the “world”.
(which in fundamentalist Christianity the “world” is NOT a good thing)
In some ways, these extremists might mingle with us, possibly through a job or school, but for the most part I think they often try to live the “be ye separate” teaching. You are correct as you mentioned, the different “worlds” that enables them to continue their thinking because they’ve built up a wall from anything that really challenges their way of seeing things differently. Nothing must contradict or challenge the sacred dogma or worldview.

Just my .02
Brandon Sipes February 17, 2012 at 6:36 am: Of course, this is only a part of the story, but a good one. Read “The Big Sort” by Bill Bishop.
Jonathon Stalls February 17, 2012 at 5:04 pm: So friggin true Andrew. It reminds me of a recent blog post I wrote: http://stallzy.blogspot.com/2011/12/time-for-honest-dialogue-2012.html

Carry on…

Jonathon
Vanessa February 18, 2012 at 10:38 am: I am reminded of a thought by George Orwell reflecting on a concept he calls “Doublethink”, which means: “…the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.”

Over the years I have come to believe that those who live at an extreme, whatever it may be, is actually the same as the one who lives at the opposite extreme. Their passionate hatred for the other, lies in the reality that they are one in the same (though manifesting differently).

While the exterior argument, issue, etc. may not look the same, they are, perhaps, quite compatible in their interior worlds.