In defence of public shaming

I highly recommend Everyday Dissent: Politics of Resistance in Newfoundland and Labrador by Jon Parsons.  I think it's a must-read for dedicated activists and the general public alike.  The book covers the lack of transparency, accountability, and proper democracy in the government of Newfoundland and Labrador.  It brings attention to projects and practices that pose risks to public health and safety such as Muskrat Falls, fracking, and the use of the herbicide Tordon 101.  It criticizes policy-makers for ignoring the science behind climate change that calls for switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy.  Parsons pushes the point that greater direct democracy, public engagement, and solidarity is required to combat the actions of irresponsible elites who are only acting in their own self-interest.

I agree with most of the points Parsons makes and like that he's not afraid to use some humour and candor.  I don't agree that Canada is a democracy.  A real democracy would acknowledge global direct democracy as having highest authority. ^2,3 I would classify the Canadian government as a constitutional monarchy.  Another criticism would be a lack of consistency when it comes to shaming and accountability.  In the article "Litter Shaming and Projection," Parsons is critical of using public shaming for misdemeanors like littering:

"Some commentators attribute litter to pure laziness.  Some suggest a campaign of public shaming, by photographing and video recording individuals perpetrating such acts and sharing them on social media, in order to embarrass so-called "litter-skeets" into better behaviour."¹

Parsons is right to imply that too much shame and judgement is given to misdemeanors like throwing "a gum wrapper on the side of the road" while major environmental damage done by those in power is met with apathy:

"For example, in our province the government and major industries are unapologetically polluting the natural environment and actually rely on degradation of the land, water, and air for what is called "growth."  They turn ponds into toxic waste dumps and spray harmful chemicals throughout the province.  They dam rivers and poison them with methyl mercury.  The earth is literally ripped open to extract oil and minerals."¹

Selective shaming is one of my biggest peeves.  I remember a woman I was acquaintances with when I was attending the University of Alberta.  She was a vegan and was involved with many volunteer organizations on campus (both of which I support).  I remember a dinner we both attended when she was still an engineering student.  Around the end of dinner, I said she could use my LRT ticket for the bus even though the ticket was already expired.  I said they wouldn't see the expiration if she just dropped it in the coin slot.  "That's stealing!! How is that not stealing?!" was her response.  She treated me like a criminal for the rest of the night.

Eventually, this woman finished her engineering physics degree but started attending law school because she said she didn't want to be an engineer and had a passion for human rights.  She was one of my Facebook friends.  As I started discovering my own passion for human rights and activism, I decided to share the following image on Facebook:

This woman messaged me, extremely upset that I shared the image and that I criticized educators for brainwashing students.  She lied and said her teachers never taught her that the USSR was communist/socialist and then continued to assert that the USSR was communist anyway.⁴  When I refused to accept her sophistic claims, she accused me of being abusive and blocked me.  This girl liked phoney-liberal "humanitarianism" which is deeply rooted in sophism.  She couldn't stand somebody bursting the bubble on that illusion.

Selective shaming stemming from judgmental people is rampant in our society.  Shame for minor wrongdoings is blown out of proportion while major wrongdoings are heavily guarded.  Parsons points this out in his book, yet on his Twitter feed he was upset at the idea of putting cameras in closed town hall meetings.  Putting cameras in closed meetings among leaders is a good way to ensure transparency and a way to make sure shame is directed to major wrongdoings.  I understand that shaming can be scary, but that's why it is necessary and effective.  I support directing major public condemnation to major offences and minor public condemnation to minor offences.  I support the use of photographs and video recordings applied to both endeavours with mindfulness of what constitutes a major and a minor offence.

The points of the book I do agree with would be too numerous to list so I encourage people to read the book.  I hope readers heed the call for greater direct democracy, public engagement, and grassroots activism.

"Never ask permission from authorities and never let anyone tell you that you can't do it.  In the end, even as it is a difficult path, grassroots politics is always worth it because it is morally and ethically right that the people themselves should be the authors of their own destinies, not some entitled elites."⁵

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1. Parsons, Jon. "Litter Shaming and Projection." Everyday Dissent: Politics of Resistance in Newfoundland and Labrador. HCE Press, 2016, pp. 80-82.
2. "Democracy and Decision-Making." http://en.minguo.info/book/panoramics/democracy_and_decision_making.
3. "Democracy Cookbook." http://pan0ramics.blogspot.ca/2017/09/democracy-cookbook.html.
4. "Basic Income Economics." http://en.minguo.info/book/panoramics/basic_income_economics_parts_1_and_2.
5. Parsons, Jon. "Grassroots Politics 101." Everyday Dissent: Politics of Resistance in Newfoundland and Labrador. HCE Press, 2016, pp. 143-145.