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Marc2b -> RE: People are making me sad.... (9/6/2012 8:22:05 AM)
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The “kill him first, figure out if he’s guilty later” sentiment is, unfortunately, endemic to the human race. LadyHibiscus and PeonForHer pretty much nailed it. There are few things people enjoy more than being self righteous… it is such a cheap and easy way to give yourself an ego stroke off. People are so eager for a righteous orgasm that they often shoot (metaphorically speaking… usually) at the wrong target. IIRC some people in L.A. had to go into hiding because they had the same last name as the accused in the Trayvon Martin case?
I find it depressing, at times infuriating, how much you see this sort of thing, thanks to the internet. Somebody does something – or just says something – that at first glance (and often out of context) appears contemptible and the next thing you know it seems as if everybody and his brother is excoriating them… often in the vilest terms imaginable (I’ve recently come to the conclusion that the internet is turning the whole world into a giant middle school).
I claim no immunity from this myself. I don’t think anyone is immune. It is a very human thing to do… we don’t think clearly when we are feeling that first burst of anger. I do, however, try to put some effort these days into not joining the judgmental brigades… at least not right away. I finally learned my lesson about six years ago (I think it was) when the media informed me that I should hate some lacrosse players in North Carolina because they were a bunch of raping, racist, sexist, privileged, preppy white boys. They were the lowest of the low, knuckle dragging Neanderthals, foul smelling pond scum who should be expelled and imprisoned and beaten and castrated and… What? You sure about that? I see. Oh… Okay, then… Uhm… Well! Gotta go!
That is why I try (after the initial burst of anger over hearing something disgusting) to back off from commenting on the latest “string ‘em up” episode playing out in the media. I like to wait at least a few days for things to “shake out” and additional information to come to light. It seems like there’s always some additional information not mentioned in the original reporting. My “policy” on these matters is: I wasn’t there, I don’t know the people involved… so what do I really know about it? Let’s wait and see how things play out a bit, what new information comes to light, and then decide. At least then I can be self righteous with a little more confidence that I’m not being a total ass.
Unfortunately, I have also learned that the Judgmental Brigades not only have little tolerance for dissent but also have little tolerance for a neutral position, which is usually equated with condoning the unsavory act in question or, at least, of not caring. It’s the old, “if you’re not one of us, you’re one of them,” bullshit.
So what can you do? If you’re not directly involved in the Judgmental Brigade’s latest cause, there is little you can do except not join the mob and accept the fact that some people will hold you in contempt for not conforming to the group mind. I find it helps to regard myself as intellectually and morally superior to them. Heh, heh, heh. Okay, irony noted. But it does make you feel better.
What about when someone you know and care about is the target of such attacks? I’ve not really known such a situation in my lifetime (a relative of mine was accused of arson and murder once but I was too young to understand the situation… and it turns out he was actually guilty, anyway). As I see it you have two choices. You can step back and adopt a wait and see attitude, knowing you’ll have to take some lumps for doing so. Or, you can stand up state your doubts about the guilt of the accused. There too you’ll have to take some lumps (especially if it turns out you’re wrong) and, coming from people who know nothing about the situation or the people involved, I can imagine how supremely frustrating that would be. All you can do there is shake your head sadly, ignore them, and hope they mature a little some day.
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