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diff --git a/posts/2025/pushing-the-limits.md b/posts/2025/pushing-the-limits.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..08049e3 --- /dev/null +++ b/posts/2025/pushing-the-limits.md @@ -0,0 +1,115 @@ +# Consequences of Deviance + +_Published 2025-03-18_ + +Wikipedia has a comprehensive [definition of deviance][1]: + +>Deviance or the sociology of deviance explores the actions or behaviors that +>violate social norms across formally enacted rules (e.g., crime) as well as +>informal violations of social norms (e.g., rejecting folkways and mores). + +There's a _lot_ of that happening, all the time, across the world. +Everything, from something as small as someone being "rude" in a social +situation, to someone violating the constitution of a country, counts as +"deviance." + +Where we have our key differences is in how we respond to it: + +>Although deviance may have a negative connotation, the violation of +>social norms is not always a negative action; positive deviation exists +>in some situations. Although a norm is violated, a behavior can still +>be classified as positive or acceptable. + +Deviance is foundational to a good, well-functioning society. As Rise +Against put it in their song lyrics, "You have to cross the line just to +remember where it lays." If a law is written, or a rule proclaimed, and +no one violates it, is the rule good? Does it _do_ anything worthwhile +for the society? If no one challenges a rule, does that make it a good +rule? Is it useful? + +No, any rule defined but unchallenged is an inconsequential rule. We +_need_ deviance at various levels to trigger our social immune-response +to a violation. That response to violation of a rule is what defines the +_consequences_ of the rule and without consequences the rule doesn't +_matter_. This is why people get upset when others hold them to account +for their behavior - it's not the *behavior* that holds power, it's the +response it elicits. + +Similarly, if someone breaks a rule, and everyone says "yeah, good +job" or just doesn't react to it... the rule is also inconsequential. +The action-without-consequences means the norm doesn't apply any more. + +## So what? + +Why does this matter? It's key to literally everything we've seen in the +news, politics, and your local school/coffee/corporate-office +discussions for the last forty years. + +When people collectively decide "doing X is wrong" or "doing X is +uncool" or "doing X _isn't_ wrong any more", you're talking about +modifying the social contract and moving the "bright lines" on what is +considered "good behavior." This is completely normal and regular +feedback mechanisms (reactions, opposition, enforcement, etc) are all +signs of a well-oiled society. + +Where it goes wrong is when a group (or even an individual) deviates +from "normal" behavior and gets _no feedback_. As stated above, "no +feedback" is "approval" when it comes to deviance. Or, in a more pithy +way "silence is consent." + +## Again, so _what_? + +One cannot ever be silent to deviations from norms. Reactions to such +deviance depend on the severity of the violation. + +1. Polite verbal response: "You probably shouldn't do that", "That's not + polite." +2. Direct verbal response: "That is unacceptable", "Cut that out", "Have + you no decency?" +3. Polite physical response: slapping someone, shoving them, as an + attempt to "disrupt" their actions. +4. Direct physical responses: unambiguous violence, beatings, murder. + +When people do not respond to the first or second level of "correction," +violence _is_ the only acceptable solution to violation of norms. We see +this constantly in cases where the Talking Heads do and say things that +are continuously violating norms, and yet, no one is able to give them +corrections in real time. This is inherently degrading to our society +and removes foundational social feedback from where it is most needed. + +Conversely, when people *do* have the opportunity to give feedback and +corrections in real time, you get [situations like this][2] ([archive +link][3]). You can hear the cheers and boos as challenges are leveled at +the representative. The representative also says "can you give me a +chance to answer the question?" -- a clear call for the audience to +adhere to Question-and-Answer norms, allowing the respondent to speak. + +In other parts of [the meeting][4] ([archive link][5]), you can see +attendees that "violate" the norms of behavior are being escorted out by +law enforcement. + +The problem with this situation is the power imbalance: attendees are +indviduals (just like the representative) and yet their behavior is +policed with force (i.e., physical removal) without actually reaching +level 3/4 of "corrective action" toward the representative. The +representative could have given a verbal response, but we never see +whether that was effective. And, if the representative is _wrong_, +they're still in a position to enforce their position against the +corrective actions of an attendee. + +## Why We Fight + +This is why real world, physical fighting is so effective. We can call +physical-corrective-actions "riots" or other names to try and +delegitimize the action, but ultimately it is the _strongest_ +**legitimate** corrective action available to a people when norms and +rules are being violated. + +So, when people tell you "violence is never the answer"? They haven't +ever been punched in the face. + +[1]:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deviance_%28sociology%29 +[2]:https://youtube.com/shorts/Piidt2JEHO8 +[3]:https://gluecode.net/videos/GOPTownHall_Feedback_2025.mp4 +[4]:https://youtu.be/lUtySVmgb2E +[5]:https://gluecode.net/videos/GOPTownHallNorthCarolina_2025.mp4 |