"They appear to have become so attached to their outrage that they are even more outraged that they won't be able to be outraged anymore"
About this Quote
Barney Frank's quote delves into the appealing mental and social characteristics surrounding the concept of outrage, particularly in political or social contexts. The declaration recommends a paradox where people have established such a strong attachment to the emotion and expression of outrage that the prospect of losing the reason for their outrage becomes, ironically, another source of outrage.
This can be analyzed to indicate that outrage has actually ended up being not simply a response to particular events or circumstances but a habitual state of being for some individuals. This habitual outrage can serve different purposes: it can forge group identity, serve as a rallying point for collective action, and even supply a sense of function. However, when outrage ends up being a primary lens through which individuals engage with the world, the dissolution of its causes can present a danger to their emotional and mental balance.
Frank's observation highlights a phenomenon where outrage itself ends up being a valued emotional currency. This attachment can be seen in political arenas or social movements where there is a continuous need to maintain momentum and engagement. For some, being annoyed is not just about being singing against perceived oppressions but about keeping a constant emotional state that specifies them and their interactions with the world.
Additionally, this quote can likewise assess the media landscape, where outrage can be sensationalized and perpetuated to maintain viewer engagement. The cycle of outrage can be self-sustaining, as completion of one outrage-inducing problem prompts the search for a brand-new one to maintain psychological and ideological engagement.
Eventually, Frank's remark is a commentary on the intricacies of modern psychological engagement in social issues, where the accessory to outrage can itself become an impediment to resolution and progress, as the procedure of being annoyed takes precedence over the desire to fix the underlying problems.
