Why do some people who like a particular person then

[Subdivisions]

dispense so much hate when that person says or does something they don't agree with?

Take Bill Maher's comments on public beast-feeding. Some of you who have spoken favorably of him turned on him simply because of his opinion on breast-feeding in public, to the exclusion of everything else. BTW, don't flame me, I'm all for breast-feeding whereever a mother decides it's necessary to care for her child. This is just an example to illustrate my point and my question. I don't agree with Bill Maher's comments on this subject, but I don't hate him for it.

But, more so than public figures and celebrities, I see this more often when one DUer says something others may not agree with. The vitriol and hate that can be manifested from the simple stating of an opinion is painful to see considering we're supposed to all be in this together. I have myself fallen victim to such viciousness, though I'll reserve what the subject matter was for fear of being attacked again.

[LaurenG]

1. Oh boy... this could get interesting really quickly

Do you want some butter on this, :popcorn: I'll share. :)

[tammywammy]

2. Oh, I want some of that

[eleny]

3. I think people are passionate about the issue Maher raised

And I've had people lace into me, too, about some things. Try not to feel too badly. It happens. Try to let it roll off. That's the best advice I can offer since it works for me. Not that you were asking for advice.

Regarding Maher again - remember that even bad publicity is good for those in show biz.

[wuushew]

4. Perhaps misogyny > Bill Maher's political wisdom

You're acting like all issues are equally weighted.

[Bjornsdotter]

5. Sometimes

...someone crosses our personal line in the sand. That line is different for everyone and people have to act accordingly.

BTW, I didn't see Maher's comments, this is just a general answer.

Cheers

[rpannier]

6. Nature of the beast sometimes

1. It's easier to 'light into someone' on a keyboard, than it is in person.

2. It's the large number of people here and on other sites. If you have 1,000 or more people at a site, chances are at least 3% of them will be passionate about some issue and at least 1/2 of those will voice their opinion in a very emotional way.

3. Sometimes we take responses to our posts in ways they were never intended by the responder, because we are reading it from our point of view.

4. Some people are flavor of the week types. Today they love Lou Dobbs tomorrow he's an a**h**e!