Pretty Hate Machine

I've been thinking about how truly hateful people accuse decent and caring people of hate because they don't agree with their opinions. They get mad if you point out bad traits or horrible behavior in their leaders and idols. On one hand, it's an age old tactic bullies use to try to twist the narrative. They don't really understand or care what's going on, it's just basically a case of "I know you are, but what am I?" Some decent people get caught up in this behavior as well, because they aren't really aware of what game they're playing, they are simply defending what they feel they need to defend to keep the status quo, and feed their insecurities.
The thing is, it's actually alright to hate things. It's even okay to hate the occasional human being here and there if they prove themselves worthy of scorn and derision. As long as you hate someone on an individual basis, not because of their skin color or gender, sexual preference or social status, etc. Hating truly horrible people is healthy.
That's where the other part of the equation comes in. Most hateful people are afraid to admit what they hate, at least in public. They are hypocrites and lying to themselves. It's like how closeted politicians rail against gay rights or church leaders rail against sex, because they don't trust their own desires and feelings. They can't even admit to hating anyone for fear the floodgates will open, even thought must people can plainly see how hateful they are.
That's why people can support horrible people who do horrible things, but claim that they don't feel the same way. They support Trump, but they aren't racist or misogynist or homophobic. They can somehow reconcile that within themselves. The same way people say that they can love the art but hate the artist. If you're consuming the art, you're supporting the artist, there's no way around that fact. If you support truly abusive and violent people, you condone abuse and violence; yet people who support serial abusers and racists somehow find a disconnect in there.
So they lash out, and call people who have genuine concerns and questions about politicians and artist haters. Usually, they throw in a lot of verbal abuse and insults, and turn it into an ad hominem attack rather than debate the actual issue at hand. It's an adolescent thing to do. Somehow, they do all this while proclaiming how much they love everyone, and how they are taking the high road. It's a master class in passive-aggressive behavior.
And it also functions to help them ignore their own shitty positions and attitudes, and live with themselves. They spend all their time convincing themselves that they are the victims, they are the ones being attacked, and that must mean that all the other people are the hateful ones.
That's a dangerous path, and the longer you're on it, the more you're going lose yourself, and the people who matter. That's why hatred flourishes in the world. That's why Trump gets elected. That's why psychopaths get to keep making movies and music and running corporations and studios. The hateful people prop each other up, and come to feel that they are doing something noble by feeling like they do. It's smoke and mirrors and bullshit, and like most things, it's just fear and insecurity wearing different masks. Learn to recognize what's going on, or be consumed by it.