Pitfall #1: Taking emotions as indicative of truth or fact.
The evaluation of emotions on the spectrum of false<->true (obvious idiomatic example: "true love") muddles the relationship between feeling and fact, and can lead to the (potentially extremely harmful) conclusion that feelings can be right or wrong. This is not the case. Beliefs about the world can be wrong (as in incorrect). Choices / actions can be wrong (as in causing or enabling undue harm). Feelings are never wrong, they simply are.
Pitfall #2: Translating emotion directly into action.
Emotions can certainly be overwhelming, but I hesitate to ever endorse the assessment that "I just couldn't stop myself." I believe both in treating oneself with understanding and forgiveness, and in recognizing one's capacity to replace gut reactions with conscious choices. I think it's more appropriate to say "I didn't stop myself." Evaluations of "could" and "couldn't" are fundamentally oracular in nature, and generally speaking we cannot say with absolute certainty what could or couldn't have happened.
I present these thoughts as a backdrop to my approach to civic engagement, because people on all sides (me included) seem extremely volatile in their emotional response right now, and it's something that needs to be recognized and addressed. It sure would be awesome if we could avoid destroying each other and the planet along with us. (I do not believe that presenting these as possible risks is an exaggeration, hence my personal volatility). Stay tuned.
