Excellent piece. I will add that I have also observed these traits among the extreme right wing anti-Trumpers. Or, perhaps, the extreme right wing anti-Trumpers are actually LEFT WINGers in disguise!
I have noticed this as well.
I have a theory. I think humans naturally/instinctively want to be in “the group”. Get kicked out of the tribe back in the old days and it meant sure death.
So instinctively humans want to be in the group. The media environment defines “the group” for us. (i.e. the group currently loves trans people, hates white people, and hates DJT.)
The media environment has changed so significantly, I think the human brain is having trouble keeping up and adapting. The media presence people are immersed in is so complete as to almost be likened to the matrix. Most are plugged in 100% while awake. And this media is dominated by the “in group” constantly feeding its membership values.
Social media platforms provide examples of bad behavior and the news broadcasts it as an example and warning to others. I suspect these are fabricated, many times. (i.e. woman says something about Africa, gets on plane, finds out she’s been fired after she lands. Media broadcasts and writes stories about it far and wide. Radio DJs work it in between songs on all the pop stations, etc.)
Anyway, still a work in progress. But after COVID and what I have been seeing lately, something is driving the crowd around like it’s a remote-controlled drone.