> My take is that people generally enjoy having "punching bags". I don't think this is true for a person, but is regularly encouraged at the group level and hi

> My take is that people generally enjoy having "punching bags". I don't think this is true for a person, but is regularly encouraged at the group level and higher. Particularly if the group has developed a hierachy. Nations states do this a lot. Religion does this a lot. Corporations do it a lot. I don't believe it's a truism of humans, but a truism of authoritarians and those with power. Fear of death is an individuals core motivator. Understanding ones environment, and safe ways to utilize what's available in it to prevent death. Authoritarians have manipulated the people around them to prevent their death. Authoritarians want to keep that power, so they peddle propaganda to their followers to give them a justification to support them, not $VILLAINS_OF_THE_WEEK.