Why are people being so utterly vile?

[WrongKindOfFace]

Not on here, but online in general. I know tensions are running high, and people have very polarised viewpoints, but the level of vitriol and blatant racism is shocking. I’ve come to accept it as normal from the likes of the daily mail comments, but it’s even on Facebook - with their photo, name and place of work attached.

(And yes, before anyone says it, remainers can be pretty unpleasant calling leavers thick etc.)

Because we’re in the eye of a shitstorm and those of us who didn’t want it to happen are pissed off with those who did vote for it. Simple as (not an excuse for vileness towards individuals but a reason to feel anger)

Most of the vileness is actually the other way, by leavers against remainers.

Because they know they fucked up but they can't admit that so they are doubling down and directing all the anger at others.

I am very angry about it. Very angry indeed.

I have so far managed to sit on my hands but the temptation to type 'fuck off you thick twat' all over the internet has been very strong. Not sure what leavers have to be angry about except their own stupidity, but if they are as angry as I am I am not surprised they're being vile.

To be fair, if I see one more post about the fake version of the Lisbon treaty that’s doing the rounds I may crack.

However I have come across a marvellous German word which sums up brexit: Verschlimmbesserung - attempted improvement which makes things worse.

Yes/No referendums are polarising. Some people struggle to understand that different people think differently. It's much worse online though. Even on MN people are angry and rude on the Brexit boards. Scotland's Indyref had the same effect.
In real life people are much more understanding and willing to listen and compromise.

Leavers are starting to understand the reality of the catastrophe they were manipulated into voting for, so they are lashing out in anger and blaming politicians, big business, the ‘MSM’, Brussels and anyone else they can think of for the consequences of their own actions.

So many poor people who voted Brexit will suffer so much more after leaving than the remainers will. God knows what will happen then.

Humans are basically tribal.

Because leavers are panicking. They've seen what an absolute shitstorm the vote has caused and are now having to blame remainers for it. Even though, clearly, rationally and anyone with an ounce of intelligence can see that it's no one's fault other than those that voted for this absolute fuck up. And David Cameron obviously.

Would you reprint some examples, OP?
I'm nicely insulated in my FBk bubble. Did find this rant on Twitter, though.

I actually don’t know anyone who voted to leave.

I haven’t seen any nastiness because every single friend, family member and colleague I have voted remain.

Everyone is a combination of angry and very worried though. Not unreasonably.

I actually don’t knowanyonewho voted to leave ... every single friend, family member and colleague I have voted remain.

Wow. Are you joking? How can that possibly be true?

I’ll find some brexit examples later if I get time. Just start by looking at the mail and express Facebook pages. Blackface is just fancy dress, apparently. If you’re feeling brave move on to the Leave groups.

Wow. Are you joking? How can that possibly be true?

You really find it hard to believe? I don't know anyone who voted leave - family, friends, colleagues. There might be some hiding it I guess, but certainly no-one I'm close to. We live in a remain voting area, our families live in remain voting areas, we work in remain voting professions (NHS, universities, small businesses, arts, IT) & mix with remain voting types. Even dh's Tory voting family voted remain because anything that threatens prosperity is bad & they like living part time in France.

Wow. Are you joking? How can that possibly be true?

Not joking. I’m Scottish.

I live in a constituency with a high Remain vote.

Obviously there but be some Leave voters about but I don’t know any personally.

I only know one person who voted to leave. Apart from that, everyone voted to remain. But, then, we are all Scottish or French, we all have at least one degree, we are all relatively well-off and none of us are remotely threatened by mass immigration or any of those other lightning rod issues that Leavers get in a frenzy about.

The thing is, only 17m people voted to leave. So it is possible not to meet any when you live in a country with 60+million people in it.

How can you not know anyone who voted leave?! You must have a very small circle of people. I also live in a remain area, however I know 2 people who voted leave. Both colleagues. One of them voted leave because he’d been sold the story that more immigrants will come over and take jobs so house prices will rise. He’s not even British born, only came over from his own country about 10 years ago from outside the EU. It’s all about greed and not wanting anyone else to prosper like he has.

I’m angry because greedy little shits who thought more people will come over and take over everything have basically ruined the serenity of our country. Brexit was all about immigration. Well I hope the shits are happy now when food and bills increase in price and they find it hard paying the mortgage for their house and feeding their kids. Bet they’ll regret what they did then.

I have a close colleague in the NHS who voted leave and I am certain her husband did too (immigration). My mother in law, a retired GP, voted leave (immigration). My uncle by marriage voted leave (immigration). My multiply-volunteering Corbyn-supporting community stalwart of a Lexiter friend voted leave (nationalisation). I even have a Remain voting relative who regrets her vote and would now vote Leave ('we need to make our own laws'). I live in probably the single most Remain area of the country. I simply don't believe that you don't know anyone who voted leave, but I can imagine that you don't hear about it from them. You're lucky. I actually see the point of these votes but I just want to scream when I hear them. but I don't. I guess it teaches me self-control or something.

In the meantime, I visited a website I have never seen before today - express.co.uk. Guess what story does not appear on the lengthy front page, despite most of the stories on the page having BREXIT in the headline? The Nissan decision that the Trail thing won't be built in Sunderland.

He’s not even British born, only came over from his own country about 10 years ago from outside the EU. The cheek of it! Not even born here! What right does he have to express his genuine concerns about mass freedom of movement pushing up housing costs.

I only know one leaver, my dad (with whom I do still have a good relationship - he is a disappointed soft brexiter).

I'm sure this isn't unusual at all, because of the way votes were clustered in particular age groups and geographic locations.

mass freedom of movement pushing up housing costs.

Where did you read this?

I think this is your answer, OP.

People spout glib statements like the one above without citing any rational evidence or substantive facts. It gets people’s heckles up and then they start being aggressive and defensive and determined to show some kind of anonymous one-up-man-ship.

On both sides, I may add.

What country did he come from that meant he could vote in the referendum? EU citizens and Brits living abroad for 10+ years couldn’t vote in it.

The vitriol has been there since before the referendum. It’s just reaching fever pitch now because both sides are losing what they wanted.

At this point, I think a citizens assembly is the most reasonable workable way out of this absolute mess.

I don't know anyone who voted Leave, either!