> Some people seem to be interested, albeit possibly subconsciously or indirectly through ignorance, in harming other people.

I don't think it is malicous, it's just that some people think that this is Las Vegas. They have a desire to win and are not really thinking about the cost anymore in a rational way. It's that human desire to be on top in any competition, even if perhaps at some point the competition is not something they would want to win anymore if they stepped back and thought about it.

"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity."