Do we become that who we resist?

[Flexi-Girl]

I see this often in politics, religion, and life in general. One group opposes the other, takes active steps to resist, only to slowly become like their enemy over time. The skeptic becomes the dogmatic non-believer, the savior becomes the tyrant, the victim becomes the victimizer. It's as if the act of resistance turns you into the very thing.

I suppose it depends how self-confident you are in your beliefs v how vulnerable to a propaganda machine (which is what much proselyting is about, to me, religious groups or hobby groups, the same. They have their policies - some people reject them then sensing a social distancing, start to conform, as you say).

I've developed a powerful resistance (for instance) to the internet spiritual snake-oil merchants such that I have to be careful I don't dismiss something I'd later find valuable! I can hardly think I'd become like them. Although... mischief is always a temptation. I could write a book on some new theory...!!

♥

[Carnate]

Not as a general rule.. sure, it happens, particularly when negative events (such as abuse) are considered. But overall, I think there's too many variables involved in how our self-identity changes to boil it down to 'who/what we resist'.

[mihael_11]

It depends of your strength and will. Will you stand for what you believe no matter what?

[FallingLeaves]

Originally Posted by Flexi-Girl

I see this often in politics, religion, and life in general. One group opposes the other, takes active steps to resist, only to slowly become like their enemy over time. The skeptic becomes the dogmatic non-believer, the savior becomes the tyrant, the victim becomes the victimizer. It's as if the act of resistance turns you into the very thing.

problem is that over the very long term, if you resist someone is going to want to try to convince you. Eventually, you will get tired of resisting and go for the change. you are better off just going along with whatever in the first place then getting bored with THAT!

[Flexi-Girl]

I'll use an example from politics but hopefully it won't turn into a political discussion.

There are a group of people who fear terrorists, so much so that they make new laws which restrict all people, not just the bad ones. They create an atmosphere of fear and paranoia. They go to countries where terrorists reside and accidentally bomb innocent people in an effort to stop terrorists. They do all the things the terrorists their trying to stop do.

This is just one example. It's as if the very act of resisting the conditions creates the conditions. The resistance becomes it's own ideology, and the people who resist something so strongly take on the characteristics of that thing unknowingly.

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Flexi-Girl

I see this often in politics, religion, and life in general. One group opposes the other, takes active steps to resist, only to slowly become like their enemy over time. The skeptic becomes the dogmatic non-believer, the savior becomes the tyrant, the victim becomes the victimizer. It's as if the act of resistance turns you into the very thing.

Great observation, imo.

[blackraven]

Flexi-Girl - You make valid points about politics and religion. So often one groups is in fear of another and becomes like the group they fear in order to preserve their own safety, freedom or lifestyle.

I think one can become like another to whom one is repulsed by for the fact that if something about that person didn't resonate with another, they wouldn't have any impact at all. I have often said, "I avoid that which I need the most." That can be taken in many different ways. But it can also apply to other people. For example, I had a neighbor once that drove me into hiding, but in my own hiding wasn't I being the same as her? I didn't approach her with her harassment, I just coward in my home and avoided being in the yard. I could have showered her with kindness because I suspected her behavior stemmed from insecurity, but instead I went along with the mind games. I was no better. The issue never was resolved. I just moved and the once alive me returned.

Interesting topic, Flexi-Girl.

[shoni7510]

There is a saying that "it is like the cat calling kettle black"

[firstandlast]

I became everything I hate-- It was actually a big theme for me--

If you do this consciously though, this becomes an interesting story; most of the time when I watch people argue, they are usually a different form of the same thing they are against already... it makes a lot of effort in the world look quite pointless from the mundane perspectives--

Generally everything is the same thing from another perspective, and instead of using these inherent qualities of the nature of our situation towards a coherent structure that benefits the whole, it often refines its form by responding to an aspect of itself that doesn't seem to fit its principles--

I was a very hardcore anarchist, now dogmatic; but that both of these together can confine one to liberation--