Seriously though, how is it not rational when people cop abuse all the time, I've witness and heard first had stories from friends about being cornered or called out in some way for showing overt lgbtqi support….and that was before such an inflammatory event
I'm stoked you and you're friends are so comfortable and feel so safe, that's the way it should be…but dismissing people that don't have that as unhinged/irrational or any of the other terms you've used is just seems unnecessary
Its not rational. Ill give you a specific example that I work with daily.
Knife crime. We are seeing more and more boys especially, carrying bladed weapons. Every study and statistics shows that carrying a knife puts you at a much higher rate of being stabbed, either through accidental injury, someone using that knife against you, or just escelating situations. The other stat is that 65% of young men who are care experienced get criminalised. So if you are in the system, known by police, and you decide to carry a blade (i shouldn't say knife, a sharp stick can be a criminal case) you are 9 times more likely to get arrested for it.
There is no rationality behind carrying a knife, except out of unfounded fear, installed in them by a manipulative and coercive power (usual gang related).
There are 3 options when these boys leave the house with a knife:
Use the knife to stab someone, get caught and imprisoned.
Brandish the knife in an escalation and get stabbed.
Not show or use the knife at all.
There is no positive outcome, no defencive life saving use of a knife, you cannot claim self defence when you pre emptively leave the house with the knife.
If the best outcome is not to use it, or show it, or even remember its up your sleeve or down your pants leg, then leave it in the house.
Now the boys continually carry despite the stats, despite them knowing boys who have been sent down, and despite knowing boys who have been stabbed, so why do they do it? They've been conditioned to be scared of the most extreme thing possible, just like you.
I won't give up telling them the consequences, and appease their lived experience, because it won't help them, why would I do that for you, knowing this fear won't improve your life?
Currently, your are not a gang member, but you are being told daily that you are part of a team, and the opposing team is out to get you, because they hate your team, they want to eradicate your team, and your team is the just, the moral, and the one at threat, they are evil, they have no morality, they just hate for the sake of it, they started this issue, you didnt, all you want to do is live, and be free, they want to oppress and be violent against you, you should be scared of them...
Thats also what the algorithm tells straight white right wing men, they are the true victims, they are ostracised in society, feminism is after their livelihoods, immigrants are taking their country, LGBTQ is endangering their daughters, they are failing at relationships, not having as much children or sex as their parents and grandparents, the government want their money and to take their cars and speech, they are failing jn education, criminalised more than anyone else.. blah blah blah.
This isnt real life, this isnt how anyone should want to live, victimhood isnt good for anyone, we should all be unified against the one true threat...
the answer to the Fermi paradox.
ccjls.scholasticahq.com
