Lynch mob
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In modern usage, the term usually refers to any attempt by a large group to unfairly destroy someone's life based on belonging to some group or holding some belief. This usage can be controversial, since it is often said to mask the true horror of the literal lynch mob. The single most controversial usage of this was probably [[Clarence Thomas]] saying that he was being subjected to a "high-tech lynching".<ref>http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/122/hill/hilloutline2.htm</ref> | In modern usage, the term usually refers to any attempt by a large group to unfairly destroy someone's life based on belonging to some group or holding some belief. This usage can be controversial, since it is often said to mask the true horror of the literal lynch mob. The single most controversial usage of this was probably [[Clarence Thomas]] saying that he was being subjected to a "high-tech lynching".<ref>http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/122/hill/hilloutline2.htm</ref> | ||
| − | A lynch mob is often also metaphorically used to describe the actions of a mob(ocracy) picking on one of their own (often a trolling newcomer) who happens to be on a different wavelength to the rest. It might be that in such case the lynchers are justified in expelling (lynching) the oddball for the preservation of the general mob. The rights and wrongs of such action should be carefully examined before being carried out as subsequent division might fracture the mob. A prospective lynchee should decide whether the changes (s)he wishes to make | + | A lynch mob is often also metaphorically used to describe the actions of a mob(ocracy) picking on one of their own (often a trolling newcomer) who happens to be on a different wavelength to the rest. It might be that in such case the lynchers are justified in expelling (lynching) the oddball for the preservation of the general mob. The rights and wrongs of such action should be carefully examined before being carried out as subsequent division might fracture the mob. A prospective lynchee should decide whether the changes (s)he wishes to make within the mobocracy are worth the constant opprobrium (s)he is faced with. |
| + | Those thinking about taking part in lynch mobs should first ask themselves if they may be guilty of [[groupthink]]. | ||
Revision as of 11:00, 19 October 2007
A lynch mob is any mob of people whipped up to kill someone, usually by hanging. In the Southern United States, from the late 1800s until the 1930s, it was a common occurrence for groups of whites to catch a black man who was accused of some small infraction of social code and lynch them. Recently found and restored photographs have documented the often festive air of these lynchings, where whole communities would get together and have picnics to the backdrop of a dead black man.
One of the first major civil rights fights of the 20th century was the fight to make lynching a federal crime.
In modern usage, the term usually refers to any attempt by a large group to unfairly destroy someone's life based on belonging to some group or holding some belief. This usage can be controversial, since it is often said to mask the true horror of the literal lynch mob. The single most controversial usage of this was probably Clarence Thomas saying that he was being subjected to a "high-tech lynching".[1]
A lynch mob is often also metaphorically used to describe the actions of a mob(ocracy) picking on one of their own (often a trolling newcomer) who happens to be on a different wavelength to the rest. It might be that in such case the lynchers are justified in expelling (lynching) the oddball for the preservation of the general mob. The rights and wrongs of such action should be carefully examined before being carried out as subsequent division might fracture the mob. A prospective lynchee should decide whether the changes (s)he wishes to make within the mobocracy are worth the constant opprobrium (s)he is faced with.
Those thinking about taking part in lynch mobs should first ask themselves if they may be guilty of groupthink.