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righteous indignation

What motivates people who dislike a popular TV show, movie, musical artist, TV or movie actor, etc. to go on the internet and voice their dislike. You'd think it would be as simple as "watch something else on TV", "don't see that movie", "don't listen to their music", "don't watch movies and TV shows that actor is in". Instead, some people have to use their dislike to feel superior to those who have completely different tastes.

Instead of changing the channel, some people keep watching a new TV show so they can express their righteous indignation before an internet community of people who do enjoy the new TV show.

by That Guy on That Show May 5, 2014

18👍 41👎


Righteous Indignation Junkie

A term for what motivates a keyboard warrior (or moral grandstanding in general.)

Morality or ethics isn't the point. Genuine concern for the issue they're talking about, isn't the point. And social status/clout, doesn't quite cover their motivations either. Because this is a very specific kind of affirmation seeking.

People who are righteous indignation junkies today, are basically like a modern representation of the Salem Witch Trial crew...They've just exchanged their pitch forks for keyboards, and stake kindle for declarations of hardline"wokeness".

Just as some hivemind Salem dipshits, got a dopamine/neuroepinephrine rush, burning people at the stake back in the day (because they thought their actions were on the side of the angels)...Today's righteous indignation junkies are motivated by a similar chemical cocktail.

It's just that torture and public executions aren't a common pastime anymore, so that thirst for blood had to get a post-modern rebranding. That's what today's insincere moral outrage essentially is. Blood thirstiness channelled into a more socially acceptable package.

Have you ever come across someone who appears to constantly jump on the bandwagon of angry editorial headlines, without really knowing or caring about the topic at hand? Do all their posts have a tone of righteous indignation? Do they never talk about things that might improve a social issue (or things that are currently being done)? Does it appear like critical thinking is a foreign country in their brain? And everything they say is motivated by wanting to feel righteously indignant?

That's a righteous indignation junkie.

by Olive989 March 26, 2023