Mob Violence

Editor's note: With today's post, I don't mean in any way to downplay or ignore any of the actual serious problems of intolerance of the past nor those so prevalent in the world right now, such as actual bigotry or war or the chaos the ensues from drawing, say, a cartoon of a prominent religious figure. Today's post is not mean to take that tone nor to equate the following examples in any way, shape, or form with actual struggles of the oppressed and the persecuted. It's intended to have a lighter, more satiric tone than what would be required to address any one of the above issues.

Thank you.

It's a good thing we've left behind the intolerant, ignorant, and barbaric ways of the past, isn't it? Modern-day prophets aren't tarred and feathered like poor Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were in the early days of the Church in 19th-century Ohio. We don't have to worry about witch trials or Red Scares or even the Spanish Inquisition, either.

Yes, mob violence is a thing of the distant past . . . right?

'Tain't necessarily so, though. Mob mentality still exists. It creeps even into social situations.

Consider the following scenarios, perhaps at a social gathering near you anytime soon:

 - Getting people at a party to agree on which pizza toppings should go on the pizza. You will never get people to agree on this issue—ever.

 - By the same token, getting people to agree on which DVD will be shown at a party—which is the main reason why I tend to avoid these types of gatherings like the plague. Likewise, you will never get people to agree on this. (However, if you tell me in advance exactly what movie is going to be shown, then I can make an informed decision. Either way, people will likely end up asleep on the couch or not talking to each other in way or another, and I'll skip it regardless.)

 - Playing the party game "Mafia," which 100% of the time leads to hurt feelings among friends.

 - Posting an unpopular opinion on a social media site, and then watching the fallout. (Egad!) Or on a blog. (I would never, though.)

Scary stuff.