Self deprecating justification of vilification is the excusing of toxic and even abusive behaviour towards people by way of trying to make out the other person has done something so egregious that it deserves being vilified and castrated in public.
It seems to stem from tribalism, which makes sense in regards to supporting your tribe, and protecting against neighbouring tribes who may want to come and damaged or pilfer your crops, however it’s perpetuated in modern Society through sport and fanaticism, even in TV shows and celebrities.
Seems so many have this foregone conclusion they have formed of the people or things that they side with or feel attached to and if you dare threaten that at all it’s met with huge amounts of defence and even hostility.
We see these labels such as karens being thrown around and it’s a very simple way for people to immediately validate and qualify to each other that it’s ok to engage in this toxic and harmful behaviour towards this person. We even see situations where men are standing over and using extremely aggressive violent language towards females in a setting where this person has been called a Karen being called heros. Traditionally we would say that that was a bit out of line however noble the cause. After all, two wrongs don’t make a right! This behaviour is no better than the original behaviour that was perceived as justifying this vilification.
We need to stop following shallow things. Stop following people. What we need to do is shift focus to ideas and outcomes.