Why do people need a scapegoat?

silentpilot6 said:I don't have any need for hate, nor do I harbor any animosity toward anyone.
Some people I like, some I feel nothing for, and while there are those I don't particularly care for, I never go beyond that.
Hatred has a tendency to erode and destroy the very person who holds it.
Hate—especially when it's irrational—is purely political, superficial, foolish, and frankly, infantile.

Regarding Simona Gotovac... why would I hate her? I just don't feel that way about her. 😬
Or hating people from Chicago just because I'm a New Yorker 😵... that's just silly and shallow.

👍
Hate is one of those bottom-tier human emotions. Out of all the mammals out there, humans are the only ones obsessed with it.
A true believer doesn't carry hate.
An educated person doesn't carry hate either. The more you actually learn, the wider your perspective gets, leading to more tolerance and actual understanding.
But the person who hates the least is the one who's actually putting in the work to know themselves, trying to stay objective, and constantly checking their own bullshit.

That’s nonsense, and frankly, your attitude just shows how much you distrust people.

I don't hate anyone. I just think they're too dim-witted to be worth hating.

silverraven7 said:👍
Hate is one of those bottom-tier human emotions. Out of all the mammals out there, humans are the only ones obsessed with it.
A true believer doesn't carry hate.
An educated person doesn't carry hate either. The more you actually learn, the wider your perspective gets, leading to more tolerance and actual understanding.
But the person who hates the least is the one who's actually putting in the work to know themselves, trying to stay objective, and constantly checking their own bullshit.

How can you say only humans feel hate? Isn't the urge to destroy someone else basically what hate is? Animals don't follow some deep philosophy; they just act on basic instincts. I mean, I honestly don't know what a dog is feeling when a stranger kicks it and then it snaps back to bite them. :S

As for the believers, I already covered my thoughts on that in my first post.

Adam Miller46 said:Hatred is a unique force; it creates a bond even where absolutely nothing else connects people...
It has always fascinated me how two opposing sides—or even several—will suddenly find common ground the moment they identify a shared enemy...

Totally agree.

Ronald Garcia5 said:That’s nonsense, and frankly, your attitude just shows how much you distrust people.

I don't hate anyone. I just think they're too dim-witted to be worth hating.

You sound about seven years old.

Do I really need to be naive enough to believe the world is perfect and everyone has my best interests at heart? Not many people actually do. Like, do you actually believe everything a politician says? Or do you trust every salesman who tells you that specific massage chair is a life-changer? You've gotta use your head to figure out who's trying to screw you over. It's basic stuff. Anyone with a bit of sense or life experience knows better than to trust blindly.

It’s easy enough to stir up hate—just bruise someone's ego and you're set. 😁
The people mentioned in the OP probably aren't the best example of how to judge a whole group based on a few stories. I don't think there's actual hate here—it just looks like a desperate attempt to fit in.

I believe people are fundamentally good. It’s just life circumstances that turn them sour—into criminals, sex workers, or greedy opportunists. Life essentially breaks them down along the way.

I’m a firm believer that you get back what you put out into the world. I've been screwed over plenty of times, but I've also had my fair share of luck. In the end, it all balances out.

Personally, I don't think everyone is evil. I think they're just stupid, hahaha.

Aaron Anderson72 said:Totally agree.

You sound about seven years old.

Do I really need to be naive enough to believe the world is perfect and everyone has my best interests at heart? Not many people actually do. Like, do you actually believe everything a politician says? Or do you trust every salesman who tells you that specific massage chair is a life-changer? You've gotta use your head to figure out who's trying to screw you over. It's basic stuff. Anyone with a bit of sense or life experience knows better than to trust blindly.

.....the world doesn't bend to suit our every need.....but....
...the idea that someone specifically wants to cause you harm.....
not many people are truly conscious of the impact of their actions. A shopkeeper isn't ripping you off because they have a personal vendetta against you; it's just because they want to maximize their profit margins... and they aren't really thinking about what it means to take that much from everyone else. And sure, we all judge people, but that doesn't mean everyone falls into two camps of "people we trust" and "people we hate."
...for me, I generally choose to believe people, and I don't see that as being naive... it's actually the only healthy way to live. But once I realize someone has a habit of lying or being deceptive, I stay clear of them. It's like how you wouldn't give a small child a set of power tools or let them run wild with sharp kitchen knives—you just take precautions based on what you know.

Ronald Garcia5 said:That’s nonsense, and frankly, your attitude just shows how much you distrust people.

I don't hate anyone. I just think they're too dim-witted to be worth hating.

I am totally with you on this one.

I mean, what is even the point of hating someone?
What's the actual purpose behind having this massive, desperate urge to just tear someone else down?

A true believer doesn't hold onto hate because they're being forced to by their faith, it's because they actually listen and try to live by the Ten Commandments. They actually follow what Jesus was teaching us.

Even a dog will run away if you hit it, and if you push it too far, it’s going to fight back just to protect itself. That isn't hatred, it's just basic instinct—everyone's just trying to survive out here.

I hate to say it, but it's just a fact that people who carry around all that hate and go out of their way to hurt others are pretty much stunted in their own personal growth. If you aren't stopping to ask yourself why you're doing what you're doing... then what's even the point of living?

quietpilot87 said:It’s easy enough to stir up hate—just bruise someone's ego and you're set. 😁
The people mentioned in the OP probably aren't the best example of how to judge a whole group based on a few stories. I don't think there's actual hate here—it just looks like a desperate attempt to fit in.

Yeah, you might have a point about Simona Gotovac. Though I'm not 100% sure, since I think a lot of people feel hate simply because someone is clueless or just seems out of touch because they're loaded... maybe some of that comes from envy.

And like when a couple of snobby folks from New York bully someone just for having an accent? If that isn't hate, I don't know what is. To me, it's pure hatred toward anyone who's different. People just love forming cliques, you know? Like, "we're right, you're wrong, and we can't stand you."

Rebecca Scott3 said:.....the world doesn't bend to suit our every need.....but....
...the idea that someone specifically wants to cause you harm.....
not many people are truly conscious of the impact of their actions. A shopkeeper isn't ripping you off because they have a personal vendetta against you; it's just because they want to maximize their profit margins... and they aren't really thinking about what it means to take that much from everyone else. And sure, we all judge people, but that doesn't mean everyone falls into two camps of "people we trust" and "people we hate."
...for me, I generally choose to believe people, and I don't see that as being naive... it's actually the only healthy way to live. But once I realize someone has a habit of lying or being deceptive, I stay clear of them. It's like how you wouldn't give a small child a set of power tools or let them run wild with sharp kitchen knives—you just take precautions based on what you know.

Some folks really love twisting words. That part about the shopkeeper wasn't about hatred, it was about having faith in people.

Rebecca Scott3 said:.....the world doesn't bend to suit our every need.....but....
...the idea that someone specifically wants to cause you harm.....
not many people are truly conscious of the impact of their actions. A shopkeeper isn't ripping you off because they have a personal vendetta against you; it's just because they want to maximize their profit margins... and they aren't really thinking about what it means to take that much from everyone else. And sure, we all judge people, but that doesn't mean everyone falls into two camps of "people we trust" and "people we hate."
...for me, I generally choose to believe people, and I don't see that as being naive... it's actually the only healthy way to live. But once I realize someone has a habit of lying or being deceptive, I stay clear of them. It's like how you wouldn't give a small child a set of power tools or let them run wild with sharp kitchen knives—you just take precautions based on what you know.

And there it is, that's the whole thing right there.
It really just comes down to having a little bit of common sense and good intentions.

kor-im said:it isn't about hate—it’s just pure group catharsis
it builds that sense of belonging, participation, friendship, and identity; it vents stress, and honestly, kids just find it fun and comfortable

if there weren't a structured system of control and certain authorities they fear, those few individuals who pick someone to target based on group dynamics would be doing much worse things

so, it’s not that they actually hate the person—even if that person probably hates them as much as humanly possible

I couldn't agree more! People can be incredibly corrupt—I know that from firsthand experience. I was mentally bullied in my class back in school because I was extremely introverted, and then they eventually branded me as some "killer psycho" just because my teacher let it slip that I was on antidepressants.

Now, I’m not sure if that stems from malice or just deep-seated insecurity? 🤷 But it feels foolish to say everyone is evil—there are good people out there—but it is certainly true
that there are more malicious ones than not.

You see this exact thing happening even on this forum, where a group will dogpile or spit on someone simply because they spoke the truth or dared to be different. 😉

Look silverraven7, I’m not saying hate is some great thing. 😁 Or even that it makes sense. But people don't always act logically. No matter how much you talk about those heart-wrenching scenarios, the reality is that people just hurt each other day in and day out.

Maybe there's a lot of confusion around the word "hate." To me, it’s basically the same as wishing ill on someone... you know? When you want bad things to happen to someone, that's hate. And all those kids who bully each other? They honestly just get a kick out of seeing someone else in pain. It's like what Donna Wood52 was saying... and honestly, how many times have you seen kids pick on a kid just because they're considered "ugly"? Because of that, they feel this surge of pure malice toward them and actually enjoy causing pain. It isn't just about being part of a clique, because if it were just about fitting in, they wouldn't feel that internal satisfaction from it.

Aaron Anderson72 said:Look, silverraven7, I’m not saying hate is some kind of virtue. 😁 No matter how much you drone on about those "heartfelt" sentiments, the reality remains—people inflict cruelty on one another day in and day out.

Maybe we see so much confusion because of how we define the word "hate." In my view, it’s functionally identical to wishing ill upon someone... plain and simple. When you actively wish for someone to suffer, you hate them. And all those kids who bully their peers? They aren't just following a crowd; they genuinely get a kick out of seeing someone else in pain. Like Donna Wood52 mentioned... besides, I can't think of many cases where kids pick on a child just because they're unattractive. It's more than that—they feel this deep-seated malice toward them and find joy in the suffering. This isn't merely about group identity—if it were just about fitting in, they wouldn't feel that internal surge of satisfaction from causing harm.

I couldn't agree more! 👍

Doing evil and feeling hate are one and the same.

If you're the straight-A student, you're the target; if you're failing miserably or hitting rock bottom, then
they label you a pariah and tear you down. If you're the quiet type, you're bullied; if you have lower social standing, then
you're stuck at the bottom of the food chain. If you drive a Mercedes or come from money, they'll always manufacture some excuse to claim it was
unearned; if you're unattractive but actually a decent person, the harassment starts immediately... and honestly, the list goes on forever.

You end up hating someone simply because they’re the direct reason your plans fell through, leaving you feeling frustrated and totally powerless to shut them down with any kind of grace or speed. Eventually, that frustration morphs into this targeted resentment, fueled by a petty desire to just... neutralize them somehow.

Or, you just pick a target—anyone or anything that fits some arbitrary pattern of blame you've cooked up in your head—and you go after them just to feel a momentary spark of satisfaction. It's a way to vent all that internal chaos by harassing someone who hasn't actually done a single thing wrong, just so you can stop feeling unsuccessful or unsettled for five minutes.

It’s typical behavior for people who lack the backbone to look someone in the eye, yet somehow find the courage to act out when they're safely tucked away in a mob. I suppose it's how they convince themselves they're actually important, powerful, or capable... 🤷

🙂 honestly, whenever I see someone getting bullied, I just get this sudden urge to 🤮 and just 🙂

So, we have this one guy in my class—and I noticed something pretty wild today. For the first two periods, there were only five of us in the room (since there are usually 12 of us total), because everyone else had headed out to some competition or whatever. During those two hours, he didn't insult anyone once... honestly, we were all getting along so well, it was actually kind of chill. But then, the second the rest of the class walked back in? He immediately went right back to being a jerk and insulting people. It's like he can only act normal when there aren't enough witnesses, I guess.

People really have this nasty habit of hating on someone just because they aren't conventionally attractive. I honestly can't tell you how many times I've overheard someone get insulted for their looks, only for everyone else to immediately write them off and treat them like they're somehow less important than everyone else.

Honestly, if you ask me, it’s actually the exact opposite—people tend to "hate" those who are good-looking, smart, and killing it in life, mostly because they're just projecting everything they wish they had but don't.
In my experience, there's rarely any actual reason for hate; like, if someone screws me over or hurts me, fine, we're done, peace out. I don't hold onto hate because I'm too busy living my own life and I've got enough self-confidence to not care about what others are up to, which is exactly what seems to drive people crazy. If someone tries to mess with me, I just shake it off and move on, and once they run out of ways to attack me, they just turn to pure hatred and look for any way to tear me down.

I try to stay far away from those kinds of people, unless it's someone like my boss where I'm basically stuck for a bit—in that case, I'm already looking for a new job just so I can get out of there ASAP.

The bottom line is that some people are just jerks, sticking their noses into business that isn't theirs because they're bored with their own lives and filled with envy... It's such a shame because it hits the more sensitive folks hard too, and unfortunately, that cycle of negativity just keeps spreading.

We tend to forget—or perhaps we just refuse to admit—that we are essentially biological machines, hardwired and engineered for survival. We are merely the latest link in a chain of millions of generations that evolved through every branch of the animal kingdom, carrying the structural remnants of our ancestors within us. Our brain architecture follows this exact blueprint.

Every individual is capable of experiencing the full spectrum of emotion, from profound love to intense hatred (assuming there isn't some mechanical defect or congenital neurological deficit present), because these feelings were vital components in the ancient struggle for existence at one point or another.
Why was hatred necessary? You can’t fight a member of your own species if you don't feel that visceral animosity, yet you had to fight for food, mates, or territory. Hatred simply focuses our energy toward a specific goal; it emerges as a reaction to the feeling of helplessness when faced with a persistent threat—acting as a follow-up once the initial fear, which might have saved our lives in a critical moment, has subsided.
Broadly speaking, the brain has been "designed" via evolution to produce specific emotional and cognitive responses to various external stimuli. Over time, it even developed a need to actually experience these sensations—much like how a machine occasionally needs to be "run" or tested to remain functional.

In the modern era, we generally lack the primal reasons to fight one another, since it's much easier to satisfy our basic material needs through cooperation (unless, of course, we hate the boss who is blatantly exploiting us). Living in our relatively comfortable daily routines, we find ourselves forced to invent new excuses to trigger that latent hatred within us. Usually, these targets are other people who—based on whatever arbitrary standard we hold dear—differ from us and our inner circles. Maybe they root for a different NFL team, look different, live differently, or have names and behaviors we deem "weird." They get labeled as "outsiders," whether justified or not (we all know how that plays out), and we instinctively perceive them as a potential threat.
That sense of "differentness" always triggers a danger signal deep within our subconscious, setting off a mental chain reaction that inevitably clicks into a readiness for hostility. Later, our rational minds simply manufacture an excuse for it—though for those petty, everyday instances of spite, we don't even really need one.
This pattern manifests everywhere, from toddlers in preschools (who are essentially just "practicing" for independent life) to adults who exert massive effort to construct entire ideological systems built upon it.

Hatred, which is an unavoidable emotion for most people (and one that can lead to catastrophic results in a modern civilization), needs to be properly understood, experienced, restrained, and, when necessary, redirected. If we do that, everything should be fine.

The same logic applies to our craving for fear, aggression, love, and other intense emotions. This is why people living secure, predictable lives are drawn to horror movies, action flicks, soap operas, or extreme sports... all those things missing from our current lifestyle that our physical and mental makeup were originally designed to handle.