Because swift, certain and severe consequences — economic, social, civil or criminal penalty — are the only deterrents that hate understands.
The goal is to reverse and dismantle the social permission structure for open expressions of hate that Trump has created.
How do I identify hate?
Hate vilifies others because of their race, religion, non-religion, ethnicity, political affiliation, sexual orientation or gender identity. The current wave of ascendant hate refuses to recognize any good in supporters of the Democratic Party, non-Christians, progressive Christians, refugees, asylum seekers, or any segment of the LGBTQ+ community.
Some common indicators of hate are:
- Blaming the hated group(s) for every single bad thing that happens.
- Refusing to acknowledge any goodness in any member of a hated group.
- Refusing to acknowledge the value of any idea — even an excellent idea — if the ideas come from a hated group or a member of a hated group.
- Intentionally maligning and defaming any ideas — even excellent ideas — that originate from a hated group or a member of a hated group.
- Advocating doing harm to members of a hated group, for the sole reason of belonging to that hated group.
- Advocating political policies or government actions whose primary or sole purpose is to do harm to members of a hated group.
- Expressing delight when harm is done to members of a hated group.
- Engaging in open harassment of a member of a hated group, in a manner that arises from that hate.
How can I bring effective consequences to acts or expressions of hate?
There are many ways. The most familiar is the boycott, but there are many other ways as well.
Boycotts. By all means, compile, maintain, and share lists of businesses — especially locally owned businesses — that promote, support, or engage in hate. It’s one thing to refuse to shop in a large national chain such as Hobby Hobby (or, as I call it, Wahhabi Lobby, so named for the specific branch of radicalized Islam that engages in terrorist acts). But it’s much more painful and swiftly consequential when the target of an anti-hate boycott or blacklist is a small, locally owned business.
Identifying and notifying employers. When an individual engages in hate speech or acts of hate, track down the employer of the hater and bring it to their attention. Oftentimes, employers will not appreciate being linked to hate, and may take disciplinary action for business reasons alone.
Shunning. When someone openly displays hate on their clothing, vehicles, or elsewhere, exhibit as much open and visible negative affect that you feel safe doing. This can be done with or without direct confrontation. A conspicuous dirty look, or just a negative remark muttered to a third party or even to nobody in particular can provide that negative feedback. Make them start to think twice and thrice before openly displaying hate in public.
Bystander Intervention. Learn the various techniques of bystander intervention that you can use when you witness an incident of hate or harassment in person. Look into Right To Be, Step Up!, this tip sheet from the American Psychological Association, or the wealth of quality training videos on YouTube. Intervening in hate as it happens is an effective deterrent.
Social media Terms of Service. Learn the guidelines and terms of service of social media platforms. Learn how to utilize the Terms of Service to bring the greatest severity of penalty possible to anyone who openly expresses hate, and be persistent about it.
Conclusion
Keep in mind that when dealing with a hater, you are likely dealing with either sociopathy or clinical psychopathy. Many MAGA activists are the products of child abuse, which tends to produce sociopaths. At its activist core, MAGA is a blend of a sociopathic and psychopathic movement, with true psychopaths becoming more common at the highest hierarchical levels. Appealing to decency, consideration for others, or basic concepts of right and wrong will have no effect on these people.
Swift, serious consequences are the only responses that get through, and in cases of psychopathy, even that is not guaranteed. To fight hate, we should be skilled in delivering swift consequences as needed.