General Discussion

grumpyduck

(6,672 posts) Sun Nov 23, 2025, 04:29 PM Nov 23

Does a lot of the anger among consrvatives stem from... ?

I was reading a book by Stephen King the other day, and a quote from Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, which is the beginning of the novel, jumped out at me:

No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream.

Now, I'm no psychiatrist or psychologist, but now and then I see something that makes me want to connect the dots, and this quote did. It made me wonder how much of the recent anger and hatred in this country is due to people just focusing on negative "news" and not having (or wanting) any channel for relief or escape from it.

Here in DU, most members seem to be die-hard Democrats, but yet there is a lot of levity, humor, cartoons, animal videos, stuff on science, cooking, photography, and lots of other subjects. Yet, back when Conservative Underground was still online, their forums were all about bashing Democrats. Sure there were a few other subjects, but they were rarely used; a humor section just had a few cartoons from years previously. Did these folks not have any interests or hobbies besides partisan politics? And is this true of mainstream conservatives?

So I have to wonder what a committee of PhD sociologists would say about this, given that first sentence in Shirley's book. Do distractions from reality help people [fill in the blank]?

6 replies

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Highlight:

Does a lot of the anger among consrvatives stem from... ? (Original Post) grumpyduck Nov 23 OP

A lot of the anger among conservatives stems from J_William_Ryan Nov 23 #1

Generalizations KentuckyWoman Nov 23 #2

Stephen King: Needful things usonian Nov 23 #3

We all have things which we believe that just aren't so. markodochartaigh Nov 23 #4

Neuroplasticity means the constant media diet of hate and fear Qutzupalotl Nov 23 #5

Always thought it had something to do with hemorrhoids. Sneederbunk Nov 23 #6

J_William_Ryan

(3,220 posts)

1. A lot of the anger among conservatives stems from

Reply to grumpyduck (Original post)

Sun Nov 23, 2025, 04:39 PM

Nov 23

an unwarranted fear of positive, beneficial change, diversity, and expressions of individual liberty.

Conservativism is fundamentally reactionary and authoritarian, seeking to compel conformity and silence dissent, a longing for an idealized American past that never actually existed.

Fear among conservatives combined with ignorance and blind partisanism results in hate, anger, and contempt for those perceived to be different or at odds with conservative political, social, economic, and cultural dogma.

As America becomes more diverse and inclusive, the anger of the fascist right only increases.

KentuckyWoman

(7,365 posts)

2. Generalizations

Reply to grumpyduck (Original post)

Sun Nov 23, 2025, 04:43 PM

Nov 23

Democrats - I have it rough. How can we make it better for everyone.
Republicans - I have it rough. Who can I blame?
MAGA - I have it rough. Who can I hurt?

I don't know about the book, but among working class and middle class types, I honestly think the whole deal with the right is a simple lack of maturity. Lack of maturity, destruction of public education in red states, add in decades of hate radio and TV and then top it off with the echo chamber social media tends to create. Churn it all together and you are going to end up with MAGA every single time.

My humble opinion.

usonian

(22,848 posts)

3. Stephen King: Needful things

Reply to grumpyduck (Original post)

Sun Nov 23, 2025, 04:46 PM

Nov 23

Almost spoiler from WIkipedia

A new shop named "Needful Things" opens in the small town of Castle Rock, Maine, sparking the curiosity of its citizens. The proprietor, Leland Gaunt, is a charming elderly gentleman purportedly from Akron, Ohio who always seems to have an item in stock that is perfectly suited to any customer. The prices are surprisingly low, considering the merchandise – such as a rare Sandy Koufax baseball card, a picture of Elvis Presley, a carnival glass lampshade, and a fragment of petrified wood stated to be from Noah's Ark – but he expects each customer to also play a "prank" on someone else in town. Each customer enters a trance and becomes highly agreeable when making a deal with Gaunt, afterwards forgetting anything abnormal about the encounter. Gaunt has complete knowledge of the long-standing private histories and conflicts between the various townspeople, and the pranks are his means of forcing them to escalate.

He gets people to lust for stuff that's really only of symbolic value, and gets them to fight with each other for his pleasure and domination.

He da Debbil.

Sound familiar?

Compare with DJT, the ....
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1218&pid=328259

markodochartaigh

(4,760 posts)

4. We all have things which we believe that just aren't so.

Reply to grumpyduck (Original post)

Sun Nov 23, 2025, 05:14 PM

Nov 23

But at this point in US history it seems almost axiomatic that Republicans, especially the 80% of Republicans who are maga, have a number of beliefs which are not reflective of reality.
They live in a bubble constructed by propaganda outlets like Fox and OANN, religious groups and leaders, business and tech leaders, and the zeitgeist which in much of the US is blood red.

Even the fact that maga is living in a dream state seems to be unconsciously acknowledged when they call people to the left of them "woke".

Qutzupalotl

(15,610 posts)

5. Neuroplasticity means the constant media diet of hate and fear

Reply to grumpyduck (Original post)

Sun Nov 23, 2025, 05:51 PM

Nov 23

literally rewires their brains, making those emotions their default mode. It hinders any inkling of conscience or thought of helping others.

Sneederbunk

(17,071 posts)

6. Always thought it had something to do with hemorrhoids.

Reply to grumpyduck (Original post)

Sun Nov 23, 2025, 07:29 PM

Nov 23

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