Accountability doesn’t always have to be Punishment

In an ideal free world we don’t have the right to initiate force on each other and can explore several other options in order to hold each other accountable.

• If an economic actor rubs you the wrong way you can stop giving them your money by not patroning or donating to them.

• If an individual offends, you have the ability to dissassociate and not interact with them and watch them slowly isolate themselves.

• You can also vocally express your displeasure with actions of others softly or loudly hoping that the resulting shame will result in change.

These are all mechanism to punish people you disagree with without force, and even though these are fine and proper, should we always seek to punish for every tiny transgression?

Another way to change people’s hearts and minds is not punishment but forgiveness and compassion. Forgiving people for the mistakes they make and through compassion showing them to believe they can always become Better is so much more powerful.

Shaming, exclusion and isolation is sometimes necessary but in using It I’ll start with those that think it’s always the answer as they break hearts and minds with their perpetual judgement