Some of us have felt like that for thirty years.
Once apon a time there were a group of people who swaggered through life saying whatever popped into their brains whom ever it offended or belittled. They engaged in metaphorical, but brutal, wrestling matches not just with each other but with any body who crossed their paths.
Now life is very hard for them.
Should have happened thirty years ago. Has it gone too far? Probably. <sound of a very small violin>
I hazard to say this post is a good example of the problem.
The Jews were demonized by Christians in the ye-old days based on imaginary qualities that simply weren't true.
So were the Land-lords.
So were the "witches" and the "heretics".
Are you attributing certain characteristics to people only because they are part of that group ?
Should people that are born into that group without a choice be punished for what other members did or are accused of having done in the past ?
Mostly white. But not only.
Reflecting decades later I think they were probably mostly insecure, and at the time I realised they were mostly only marginally competent.
"Only a fucking idiot would do that" meaning "I do not know what you are talking about but if I admit it I might look bad, so I will attack you instead"
Some times they were truly brilliant. I could call out some very famous project leaders (one of whom attacked me on a mailing list on a topic over which I was an expert and he was not. Deeply personal attacks) but I do not think it would be helpful. There are plenty of examples, and they are easy to find in old logs.
But times are changing and being a total prick to prove a point is not tolerated in the worlds I (mostly) move in now. It takes debate and reasoning to prove your point.
Should have happened thirty years ago. We lost a generation to fields where asbestos suits were not mandatory to participate. That was literally the advice for almost every forum back in the day "wear your asbestos suit"
Not them, but people physically similar to them. An important distinction. The people you're actually describing are generally retired or dead.