Shaming is More Popular Than Ever

Ever since the day's news has been reported, large heaping doses of salacious vitriol get spoon-fed to the masses. It is always presented with a generous amount of embellishment of ghastliness to cater to worse in all of us. Gossip and innuendo will always sell more than happy puppy stories or fact-based science discussions.

I always scratch my head about this constant barrage of negative word barf filtering its way through all forms of media. All we can do to avoid the freak show is walk around in a bubble with blinders on and earplugs inserted. It's gotten so bad lately. I think it has become a daily addiction for a lot of folks. I heard the term "Outrage porn," which sounds like a reasonably accurate description. Why does this happen, and why do people want this? The only thing I can come up with is the chance for viewers to feel fortunate we are not the poor saps being written about. We wish the misfortune never happens to us as it did to people who lost their home in a fire or the family who died on the interstate. We can hope for the best to learn from it and never again play with matches, text and drive or eat the old romaine lettuce in our refrigerator.

Since the old days of privacy and confidentiality are now officially gone with the invention of camera phones, doing stupid acts in the open are being documented for further research and public viewing. Unfortunately, this includes all the silly, perverted, and hideous things along with the more innocent, like singing dreadful karaoke or dancing with your shirt off at a Rolling Stones concert. Shaming is right around the corner when you are exposed to social media.

We as people better grow some thick skin and learn to accept a new level of humiliation in our lives. You either get immune to seeing your public embarrassment or don't indulge in anything that resembles too much fun. My wife still likes to show our family and friends when we were on vacation in Puerto Vallarta while I performed a tequila enhanced cha-cha on stage at a resort. I sit there and laugh at my lack of rhythm while others chuckle at my expense. I'm lucky if this is all I need to worry about in my closet of secrets being exposed. The problem is this won't be the last time I drop my guard and let loose with a series of off-beat dance moves.

We as people of the modern world should carry on like no one is watching, or we will be doomed to act like controllable tiny robots. Don't lose your sense of humor because somebody wants to document your behavior. I say give them something to look at. This doesn't mean that you should go Sean Penn on them, break their camera, and then push them to the ground. We are now in the age of overt exhibitionism and endless selfies, so no need to ever worry that you have something so shocking that it shouldn't be seen. If you have skeletons in your closet, I hope they were there before 1998.