[Zambyte]

> If you're part of a group and you speak against the group, esp. to another group, the group will move to destroy you.

Not all "groups" are created equal though. I think a big factor in this is how much people make the group a part of their personal identity. If they feel like they are the group (ie "I am American"), then they feel like an attack on the group is an attack on them (is "Americans are dumb" means I am dumb).

Not all groups latch on to their members sense of identity like that, and in that case an attack on the group is much more acceptable to members of the group.