Expressions of fear are not just expressions of fear. They license us to act out the darkest aspects of human nature. Being afraid harms no one. Telling everyone there is something to be afraid of lets people become monsters, because your fear tells them that it’s ok to take out the object of fear.
And it becomes a habit, you see, if you let yourself get sucked into it; if you go along with the fear– not because you have a legitimate reason but solely because you’re part of a group– even once then it becomes easier the second time, and the third time. And the easier it gets to fear things because everyone else fears them, it becomes easier to hate them.
That’s how the real monsters get you. They show you something you’re afraid of, and they tell you it’s ok to be afraid, and then they show you something else, and something else, and you become more and more afraid, until your only security and safety is those just like you; until nothing is acceptable unless it’s approved by “our kind of people”.
Homophobia. Xenophobia. Racism. Sexism.
Even calling the police because they don’t like us cosplaying near where they worship, because we’re not their sort of people.
It’s all the same– the fear of the different.
It begins with fear.
It ends in purges.
From a comment I made in Facebook over an argument that blew up.
Over moths, people.
Moths
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