Vituperative Reactions
February 17, 2025
While I was attending Cornell University ILR Extension College our Professor for one of my classes said he recently came across the word “vituperative.” He acted really impressed by its definition: “uttering or given to censure : containing or characterized by verbal abuse. I now add the definition of “censure” — “a judgment involving condemnation” and “the act of blaming or condemning sternly.”
I have an entry level Medium membership, looking to express my thoughts and for developing conversations on various topics. At first, it was interesting responding to essays and responding to responses…
At the same time, I have been surprised at some of both emotional responses to my essays and other people’s hate-filled essays spewing some of the most vituperative writings filled with hate that rises to a higher degree than I have experienced in my seven decades of living… and I was a Union Rep!
Sometimes I have responded, trying to calm them down and explain things, but often they respond with even worse vituperative comments.
Whatever such people’s problems are is beyond my “expertise” and I have surrendered the higher choice or continued patience, simply by clicking the “unfollow” or the ‘Mute author/ mute publication” buttons.
My physical ailments are catching up to me very quickly, in so much as I feel I just don’t have enough time anymore. Heck! I believe that there is that much time left for anybody… but that’s another story.
Just to mention one thing I did try (give me a little credit) was to tactfully (?) suggest that their immature responses were due to some past hurt or pain in their lives.
Lions! And Tigers! And Bears! Oh my!
The responses got even worse, and beyond what I could have possibly thought possible! Nevertheless, as I just admitted my decision to change course off of those troubled waters… If they want to wallow in the mud, I cannot do any more than having offered a hand…
So, I end with this research:
“While not all hate stems directly from personal hurt, a significant portion of hatred is often rooted in feelings of being injured, threatened, or mistreated, which can be considered a form of “hurt”; this can be due to personal experiences, perceived injustices, or even societal factors that create a sense of powerlessness or fear in the individual harboring the hate.
Key points to consider:
- Fear as a root cause: Many psychologists believe that hate often originates from fear, which can be triggered by perceived threats or situations that make someone feel vulnerable.
- Learned behavior: Hate can also be learned through social influences, upbringing, or exposure to prejudiced views.
- Psychological defense mechanism: Sometimes, hate can act as a defense mechanism against personal pain by projecting negative emotions onto others.
(Source — AI Overview)
