Last night I was reading on article on public shaming and how it’s become a cyber thing and mostly abused in our society but not sure I agree.   If we knew the way we acted, treated other people and so forth would be seen or talked about in public would we behave the way we do?  The article talked about reporters making racial comments, dentist killing lions (we’ve all heard that one) and even people that posted on facebook about something a friend did, cheated on a spouse, stole something, etc. and wondered if public shaming was too harsh especially in the social media.

Define too harsh.  Isn’t your social media your page to add or not add what you like? Regardless of that, stop and ask yourself of things you’ve done lately.  Would you have said that, acted that way or done that if you knew people would hear about it?  Do you act one way in front of people then get nasty if your real behavior becomes public knowledge.  Do you lie about situations so the other guy looks like the bad guy and hope the truth isn’t posted somewhere public?  Do you pray over every meal yet forget to pray over the way you treat people.?

If you look back at the original idea of public shaming I think it served a purpose.  There was no small claims court and such where you took people that cheated you, lied about you, etc.   When those people got caught their behavior was public and I’m just guessing, but I think they learned a valuable lesson in life.   I know I have done things in the past had I known I’d be shamed in public I would have seriously rethought the idea.

I look at a current situation I’m dealing with and think public shaming would be a fair result as I don’t believe in suing people.  I’ve helped two people I thought were friends financially for thousands of dollars over the past year and half, paying lawyers, child support, taxes, car repairs, credit cards, etc.  I put a roof over their heads and food in their mouths for months because they didn’t keep their end of the agreement to pay their share.  Once I said paying their share left me in a financial bind and we had to look at other living options those same people said they needed to distance themselves from me, I made them uncomfortable and had ripped apart the friendship (because I have no more money?).  They have remained in my home for the last 20+ days with me still paying all the bills and one walks past me without speaking and won’t so much as take out a trash bag.  The other won’t sit in the same room as I am, has returned Christmas gifts by laying them on a table and both suddenly they have money to eat out most nights, rent a new house and spend weeks redoing it, etc.   I ask myself what lies they told the next person that stepped out and helped them and how long before they ruin that relationship by abusing their kindness.  I can’t stop the behavior because watching the change in their actions and attitudes the past 3 weeks and looking back at comments and behavior, I realize this is a lifestyle for them.  I am sure I am not the first to be taken advantage of and dumped when the money ran out but I wonder . . . . if they knew what they did, how they acted or treated people would be posted for the public on facebook, twitter, friends pages, etc. would it make them think before they did it again?  So maybe public shaming should be brought back.   Just my humble opinion but this is my blog and that’s what I add here, my opinion.