Common Enemies Are Not So Uncommon.

by Englishman 8 Replies latest jw friends

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  Englishman

  I was just musing..The majority of us here enjoy taking an occasional swipe at the WTBTS. They've actually succeeding in uniting us against them by becoming what many of us perceive to be our common enemy.

  Then people here and at other boards sometimes feel unhappy where they are, so they leave, and they in turn unite against their former posters whom they now perceive to be their common enemy.

  It seems to me that nothing unites folk more than a common enemy. The US is more patrioticly united than ever against it's foes, at the other end of the spectrum UK people who haven't spoken for years are talking to each other as they villify British Airways for nicking Concorde away from them.

  JW's perceive the whole wide world to be their common enemy. Football team managers impress upon their players how much the opposing team's supporters hate them.In doing so, the goal of the players is actually to succeed in silencing the enemy crowd by a dazzling display of skill.

  Isn't a pity that our human nature seems to require us to have a common enemy so that we can feel part of a group?

  Englishman.
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  plmkrzy

  at the other end of the spectrum UK people who haven't spoken for years are talking to each other as they villify British Airways for nicking Concorde away from them.

  Interesting way of putting things. Did you entend to give an impression that people in the UK are not outspoken as a general rule about thier feelings or ideas?

  Being at this end of the spectrum, it is hard to imagine living in a society of reallt quiet people...in "that" regard.
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  Satanus

  When frightened, monkeys run together for comfort. They also like to attack in packs.

  SS
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  plmkrzy

  aw you shouldn't call yourself a monkey s.s
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  xjw_b12

  Well Hate IS a poweful emotion.
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  Englishman

  Interesting way of putting things. Did you entend to give an impression that people in the UK are not outspoken as a general rule about thier feelings or ideas?

  Brits do tend to hold back their emotions, but only until they've established a rapport with the person to whom they're speaking. That's why we always prattle about the weather when we first speak to somebody we don't know very well. It gives us some safe common ground until we feel comfortable with each other, and either participent can walk away without appearing to be rude if they don't want the association to continue.

  Once we feel comfortable with someone, that's fine. As Jst2laws discovered in the pub when we made him an honoury Englishman.

  Englishman.
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  rocketman

  Interesting post Englishman....and sadly, yes, very true - uniting against a perceived common enemy seems all too common.
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  hillary_step

  Mike,

  Yes, an interesting observation. In uniting against any common enemy, personal values often go out of the window which is probably the most dangerous aspect of these liasons. Uneasy alliances among past enemies are formed and differences laid aside to focus on the enemies perceived weaknesses.

  This is true of politics, business, religion in fact any social group, even on-line boards?. What they all have in common is that their life?s blood comes from parasitically feeding on the body of the enemy. Take away the enemy and their alliances would fall apart rapidly, they would then divide into their own groups again and seek out new enemies to feed on. The big picture is that it is insecurity and a tribal inclination that lie at the foundation of this behavior.

  I think Darwin and Huxely had much to say about this matter!

  SS,

  When frightened, monkeys run together for comfort. They also like to attack in packs

  Exactly, you hit the nail on its cranium.

  Best regards - HS
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  Odrade

  Monkeys??!!! Bwahahahaha!

  Whew.