Here’s a toxic rhetorical move I’ve just understood: “[group of people] do [bad thing] because they want [relatable but shameable human need.]”
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It’s actually *good*, all else equal, to do things because they’re convenient or fun or get positive attention or satisfy one’s physical desires. You wouldn’t want people to *not* do that, right?
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This kind of “emphasis on mocking the motive rather than condemning the action” is how you incentivize “just following orders” excuses. “I didn’t do anything REALLY bad like WANTING to do a thing! I just killed people disinterestedly!”
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Or, more innocently, things like me trying to find a “legitimate excuse” to suggest breaking for lunch, less embarrassing than “I’m hungry”. This still causes needless miscommunication.
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Attacking people for having universal human motives is bad in the same way as passing laws that make everyone technically guilty of a crime. You can always selectively attack your enemies.
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I really hate the new slang term “cope” for this reason. Oh noez, people do things to make themselves feel better! I caught this fucker *regulating his emotions!*
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End of conversation
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