It's compounded when we realize people have strong emotional reactions to an issue not because of the issue itself but because of what the issue represents to t

It's compounded when we realize people have strong emotional reactions to an issue not because of the issue itself but because of what the issue represents to them. For example, even if I have a perfect record calling my parents when out late for almost a year, my parents may get irrationally angry when I forget for the first time. Upon agruing its revealed that they really are uncomfortable that I'm leaving for college and won't have to call as much anymore. I often see this on the internet and in real life, people disliking others not because of their actions per se but because of what that person's actions represent to the disliker. (edit: grammar)