Agnosticism for Idiots; or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the People Who Hate Atheists

[NYC_SKP]

187. By no means do I discount their plight, neither do I presume a stranger's condition.

But the noise to signal ratio is so off the scale, one can't tell.

If I see physical bullying or verbal harassment on the street or playground, I tend to suspect some traumatic history on the part of the abusive person.

But if when asked that person just goes off on a rant without specifically telling a story that might be sympathetic and instead just has a fit, then there's little to be done.

Cognitive behavior theory and dialectical behavior theory both tell us to try to isolate emotion and conclusions from dispassionate awareness and descriptive dialogue (that's poorly worded).

The point is to try to be observant and mindful, not draw conclusions, base statements on facts and avoid characterizations.

And, for sure, insults and namecalling and ROFLs and secret clubs and trashtalking don't even make it into the room where any productive work is done.

It's just mean almost for the sake of destroying any hope of progress.

Or so it seems. It reminds me, seriously, of cutting and other behaviors that present when people feel helpless and powerless.

I don't mean that as a slam, I sincerely wonder what is making people behave so poorly.