140triguy wrote:
Me and MANY other alumni have this "mental issue." It's not a disorder. And I'd say it's probably much less fanatical than people who are the "Number 1 Fan!" of any college or pro sports team, with all that entails. Consider those who risk life and limb to watch pro football in outdoor stadiums in January snow storms. Emory competes in Division III athletics, and other than being ambivalent to WashU, Kenyon, or Williams sports teams, that's all we've got. Who cares about the Bears, the Lords and Ladies, or the Ephs, when we've got Pepsi to hate? I don't even drink much soda any more. I just definitely wouldn't touch a Pepsi under all conceivable circumstances. Being stranded in the desert, I'd have to be ASSURED that I'd live after drinking a Pepsi, just so I could spend the rest of my life doing my penance.
I forgot to mention that I'd rather pass out and have to be taken to medical before I'd drink pickle juice. 140triwife is of the same opinion.
This is all childish irrational nonsense, but worse it's also a dangerous mindset. Tribalism for the sake of it. "Hate" for no reason.
Taking pride in hate makes your mentality/personality highly questionable.
Having no rational reason for that hate and thinking that the fact others like you feel the same way justifies it DOES make it a "mental issue".
This mentality, which unfortunately is not unique to you, is what makes all forms of cruelty, discrimination and basic denial of reality such a major problem. I really don't care whether you like or drink Pepsi or Coke or any other product. I do care that you are intentionally engaging in mindless groupthink. Because it makes you and your fellows a very serious problem for society as a whole.
You are the mindless mob. Easily bought by those with the means and an agenda.
You can easily be shaped to deny climate change, engage in religious or nationalistic fanaticism, and support all sorts of other ridiculous but lethal pretences.