Why do people compare things they don't like to Hitler?

Using Hitler is easy way to express hatred. He’s the current embodiment of evil, a sort of human devil; and when you compare someone to him, people instantly know what you are saying without having to say too much.

It is most certainly an exaggeration, and I don’t think it’s a good habit.

Hitler was responsible for the systematic and systematic extermination of more than six million Jews in the Holocaust, in accordance with the Final Solution he had conceived and carried out, as well as for the extermination of millions of non-Jews and the destruction of many European countries. The crimes against humanity and the war crimes committed by Hitler were manifestations of extreme racist and anti-Semitic ideology, expressed in his book Mein Kampf.

Because of these things people are comparing bad things to Hitler's bad deeds.

Those teenagers aren't Hitler. In fact, many do NOT want any gun bans at all. But those who DO want to add to our already more-than-2000 gun laws have no clue. We've had guns and even high capacity automatics for years before this bizarre spike in random mass shootings began. Especially school shootings.

godwin's law

Funny enough, I asked a similar question yesterday.

People like to compare things, so they find the worst they can, and then hold it up

The question yesterday was, who did they compare Hitler to, before Hitler?

You're right... It's a cheap trick and both parties are equally guilty of it.

As to why... Anytime you toss out "red meat" flag words (like Hitler) in order to criticize someone, it is meant to stop all constructive dialogue. It then deteriorates into personal attacks instead of a meaningful discussion.

Human nature.

Because Hitler is the lowest common denominator, the worst of the worst.

Flimsy and unfounded hatred, based on stupidity.

In part because this is what they've learned from parents, friends, facebook, twitter, teachers (sometimes), ETC. Considering nuances or more complex ideas is uncomfortable to a lot of people.