>>I find that the most anti-intellectualism, cheap-shot emotional abuse, and stereotyping on the Internet is motivated by moral sentiments through online pseudo "activists" who are really working out their anger and self-esteem issues under the supposed imprimatur of one cause or another.
I'm starting to come round to the Joe Rogan theory of these people - they are deeply unhappy, angry people with issues, but finding a "cause" lets them express these antisocial tendencies in a semi-legitimate way. Basically their chosen issue gives them an outlet for their asshole tendencies.
But certainly, entire causes can't be reduced to being only such behavior. And while they all "brand" themselves under the name of a cause, it's often easy to tell the difference through the anti-intellectualism, bad use of logic, and inability to justify their actions other than through relative comparison to the sensational evil they are supposedly opposing. (But which they are actually indirectly fueling through their promulgation of hate.)
I'm starting to come round to the Joe Rogan theory of these people - they are deeply unhappy, angry people with issues, but finding a "cause" lets them express these antisocial tendencies in a semi-legitimate way. Basically their chosen issue gives them an outlet for their asshole tendencies.