Psychologists, please pitch in - how is it that chronic hostile and mean people don't

[Baitball Blogger]

recognize their own anti-social behavior? If they don't see it, then they won't recognize when they poison the waters to the point that there won't be any civil discourse. We are at that point now - But, that still didn't stop me from laughing hysterically at Newt's comment:

Link to tweet

?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.motherjones.com%2Fkevin-drum%2F2018%2F06%2Fnewt-gingrich-is-sad-about-todays-political-nastiness%2F

[Phoenix61]

1. They believe their behavior is a

reaction to what others have done to them so it's justified. Also, if you get hurt by what they say/do you are over sensitive. My personal favorite, when you call them out on some hateful/hurtful shit they did they tell you they were joking.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Newt Gingrich said that?

Just a bit of a self-awareness problem there, Newt? Until Trump came along he was the epitome of a mean republican.

[JHB]

8. It's been Newt's MO since the 80s...

Say anything -- ANYTHING -- that will get his audience riled up and ready to stampede in the direction of his agenda of the day.

The only thing that comes out of Newt Gingrich's mouth that should be taken at face value is vomit.

[uponit7771]

3. "nastiness" is stealing peoples babies, fuck their idea of what's nasty

[pbmus]

4. There has been an undercurrent of fear based anxieties....

Related to people that are different in culture, color, language, and religion....

These are tribal fears based on myths sponsored and promoted by powerful entities driven by greed, avarice, and control....

The ugliness portrayed is a symptom of the disease....like a cancerous growth....

Sometimes it overcomes the host....sometimes the host overcomes IT...

[Caliman73]

5. People tend to lack insight into their own behavior.

They also tend to attribute qualities, attitudes, and behaviors differently for themselves and people they like, than to those whom they do not know, or who they dislike.

This is not just a conservative thing, it is a human thing. One thing that I notice about conservatives however, is that they tend to project, A LOT. Attitudes and behaviors that they display are often attributed to liberals.

[struggle4progress]

6. Don't spend even one minute thinking about anything Newt says

He's just hoping to garner enough attention for a comeback

[safeinOhio]

7. It's making them self-medicate as

counties with the highest addiction rates went for trump.

[llmart]

10. Or maybe...

it's because they self-medicate with drugs and alcohol, they lack the healthy brain cells to have a logical thought process.

[JHB]

9. Classic Newt: Always paint the oppposition as loathesome and vile. 24/7

All of the people pearl-clutching over civility have consistently failed to lecture the man who directed the entire Republican Party to talk about Democrats as "the enemy of Normal Americans." A. Quarter. Century. Ago.

If they'd done as much hand-wringing about a man who was made Speaker of the House as they have over one restaurant, they'd have worn down their hands so much they'd have nothing left below the elbows.

[Cosmocat]

11. Moral justification - decades of brainwashing

The brainwashing from the "conservative movement" has three levels.

1) You are true patriots and christians. Pump up the ego and pride.
2) As great patriots and christians you are under attack. Stroke their inherent victim coplex.
3) Focus anger on others - generally the evil liberal boogyman, and dehumanize them.

Repeat, OFTEN, with great passion.

Decades of marianating soft heads with this process, and they develop a mindset that ANYTHING is justifiable in the epic battle of good and bad. You are the true patriot/christian, the evil liberal will stop at nothing and therefor anything you do or say is righteous and worthy in the great battle of patriotism/god vs communism/the devil.

NOW, I don't get how some people, many of which are decent, even kind and giving, fall prey to this, while people like us have it hit our ears and fall to the ground. That is the one thing I don't get at all.

But, this is the process I have seen, and have tried to lay out to people since the early 90s when I first heard Rush Limbaugh on the radio at a gym I was working out at.

I was like, WTF are the pumping this blovating jackass in while I am working out instead of the actual band Rush. But, then I looked around me, and saw how people were lapping it up.

I don't get it, but I see it clear as day.

Probably standard for any strongman dictator or historically in other countries. What is so painful here is that we don't have some ruthless dictator (prior to 45 taking the whip) putting us in fear of our lives, so many have just voluntarily, and eagerly, lapped all of this up.