The dumb behavior is not just from identity, but from identity as part of a social group.
People identify strongly with plenty of things without getting stupid over them. Being a good bargain hunter, or a collector of ceramic frogs, or having skin cancer might be an important part of your identity. But for the most part, these are not identities that provoke people to shout slogans at rallies or spend hours typing insults to other usernames on a discussion board.
But when you are identifying with a group, then "you" becomes "us", and the social interaction becomes "us vs. them". It is human nature to enjoy these kind of conflicts, to demonstrate that you're a loyal member of "us", and that you are ready to do battle with "them".
Unfortunately, when this plays out in a discussion group, it results in rude, repetitive, and boring conversations.
Also, I do not think it is workable to say "don't identify yourself with social groups because it will make you stupid". That is much like saying "don't let yourself feel sexual attraction because it will make you stupid". While true, it's only telling part of the story, and in any case impractical for most people. Better to be aware of your natural inclination for group bonding, and try to manage it and be aware of when it is managing you.
People identify strongly with plenty of things without getting stupid over them. Being a good bargain hunter, or a collector of ceramic frogs, or having skin cancer might be an important part of your identity. But for the most part, these are not identities that provoke people to shout slogans at rallies or spend hours typing insults to other usernames on a discussion board.
But when you are identifying with a group, then "you" becomes "us", and the social interaction becomes "us vs. them". It is human nature to enjoy these kind of conflicts, to demonstrate that you're a loyal member of "us", and that you are ready to do battle with "them".
Unfortunately, when this plays out in a discussion group, it results in rude, repetitive, and boring conversations.
Also, I do not think it is workable to say "don't identify yourself with social groups because it will make you stupid". That is much like saying "don't let yourself feel sexual attraction because it will make you stupid". While true, it's only telling part of the story, and in any case impractical for most people. Better to be aware of your natural inclination for group bonding, and try to manage it and be aware of when it is managing you.