Making humans something less

I was listening to a radio program on a recent morning and a subject came up in a discussion that really caught my attention.

One of the men involved described a way people can refer to others in any negative manner they wish without having to deal with guilt or regret. He said all you have to do is “de-humanize” your target and you’re free to bash away at them without any shame.

He went on to say that when your hateful, antagonistic comments are directed at a “character” (as in a fictional movie or TV program) rather than an actual person, you’re not as prone to feeling remorse if you harshly criticize them, call them derogatory names or otherwise lob “shade” at them.

After giving it some thought, I found myself realizing how much truth was in the point the gentleman was making. I mean, what better way to distance yourself from repercussions of trashing a fellow human than to mentally turn them into something else?

I don’t think there’s any question that this kind of behavior is popular these days (whether knowingly or otherwise). People love to verbally roast other people in every possible aspect of society where an opinion can exist, and they often do so in an extremely aggressive fashion highlighted by some dang strong language.

Politics? You bet.

In fact, it might be the favorite venue for de-humanization, as people get more riled up and hostile about it than pretty much anything else.

Never mind “sides of the aisle” and stuff like that. Both “sides” are quick to pull the blame card and spew all kinds of nonsensical barbs and insults toward others who don’t agree with or comply with their viewpoints. And it doesn’t matter what the political topic is, it’s everyone for themselves and everyone else is less than human (or de-humanized).

Sports? Absolutely.

Calling out someone who might be trying their best (and in some cases even doing a good job) becomes easy when you’re dealing with a character in an ongoing drama rather than a human being on a team or in an organization. I always find it curious and ludicrous when I hear the way some so-called “fans” angrily talk about the shortcomings, lousy performances and “failures” of participants in a given sport.

In my view, a real fan would never call someone on their “favorite team” names or yell about something they did in a competitive situation. A real fan might hope for success, but never literally “expect” it.

The workplace? Sure.

Like politics and sports, competition is involved, so there’s plenty of opportunity to chastise and condemn the opposition. Heck, it’s now to the point where one company will even openly blast another in an advertising campaign or other marketing scheme.

And you can add plenty of other subjects to the list where de-humanization is found, including religion, food, education, history, entertainment and everything else where a one person’s opinion might differ from another’s.

Can’t we all just get along? Forget about it.

Anyway, there are about 8 billion human beings on Earth, but billions of them apparently like to pretend that number is much, much smaller. Too bad, because we’re supposed to be detached from that kind of thing.

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. (Luke 6:31).

Oh well. Why let graciousness, compassion and understanding get in the way of a forceful, nasty insult?

Doug Davison is a writer, photographer and newsroom assistant for the Houston Herald. Email: ddavison@houstonherald.com.

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