DISLIKE IS NOT HATRED.

The immature mind often feels more comfortable with a polar view of the world. This is good. That is bad. Period. 

There is little intelligent political or social debate of value in the United States. Our social media have been corrupted by swift reactions and tribal allegiance. Our education systems have been gutted by an attempt to kneel to mediocrity in the name of social justice. 

Our most elite educational institutions have been corrupted in this way. Racist policies against the highest-performing applicants are evidence that meritocracy is being sacrificed for social engineering. 

Censorship is a tool of rising or falling dictators. Yet, censorship is being debated in so-called democracies, as opposed to being condemned outright. 

The Southern Poverty Law Center was recently quoted in my local newspaper as a credible judge of social propriety. Their hit-list of "hate groups" included groups which simply voiced a critical dislike of Islam as a religion, especially when fused with politics. That is not hatred. That is dislike. That is opinion. I could argue that the SPLC is, in fact, a hate group.

I often think that human population has reached a critical mass sooner than expected due to digital communication. Our exposure to ourselves through the lens of ephemeral news cycles based in conflict and tragedy may well be a form of psychological poison. 

The resulting mass madness causes some to regress into tribalism, racism and finger-pointing absolutism. Disliking something is interpreted reflexively by those who haven't really taken the time to listen or engage on the topic as hatred. 

Real hatred is a shallow step away from violence. Any animal can sense that. Dislike is far removed from violence in the sane human being. Otherwise, there would be constant attacks on broccoli counters in supermarkets. 

Perception of nuance is a symptom of an educated and mature (secure) mind. It is a sad comment on our society that nuance is generally lacking in our digital media. The fusion of sexiness with easy access to cameras and free digital platforms has lowered our social I.Q. considerably. 

The miracle of presenters like Dave Rubin and Jordan Peterson is their ability to resurrect patient listening in large audiences. They have countered the 10-minute TED-Talk mentality, which has corrupted serious intellectual pursuit rather than stimulating it. 

Dislike, as opposed to hatred, is open to moderation with education or desensitization. The child who dislikes broccoli may have an epiphany when he eats his first broccoli quiche in a fine restaurant as an adult. 

However, the adult who convinces himself that dislike and hatred are the same thing may well gradually poison the mind beyond moderation. The resulting dysfunction and violence of such minds impact the society as a whole. This is particularly true if the poisoned mind in question wields sufficient influence over mass communication.