The sadism of this sort of group discipline is always justified by reference to the

growing threat of ascendant right wing sentiment and political movements. Pointing
out that sadism is met with a kind of sanctimonious gaslighting - this is merely
the bloodless administration of high princple, we take no satisfaction in what
history has tasked us to do (for your own good). It might be too much to expect
self awareness, but I sincerely wish people could take a step back and evaluate
whether these kinds of tactics actually work. It is always worth pointing out that
Antifasistische Aktion failed spectacularly in its principal aim in the 30s.

In the vehemence of the pile on, there is a tacit recognition of impotence here:
what the left is doing, has done, is not working. People are scared, and it is
easier, it feels like doing something, to enact revenge for a perceived betrayal
than it is to pause, and have the humility to recognise that