This is an excerpt from Wiki on public humiliation:
"Public humiliation was often used by local communities to punish minor and petty criminals before the age of large, modern prisons (imprisonment was long unusual as a punishment, rather a method of coercion)."
I am sure we all have seen old movies, history-based shows that provide ample examples of public humiliation, the most popular being, public stoning and beheading. The intent behind these seems to be obvious: to make a befitting example for all other criminals. If I park my comments on the manner of punishment and the righteousness of the judgement aside, I feel that public humiliation is a suitable way of letting everyone know that you cannot get away with messing the law of the land. What do you think?
I say this also in the context of the recent outrageous crimes against women in Delhi and NCR, specifically. People have asked for public castration, beheading, setting up on fire and what not. You know what, I agree with them. The so called humanists talk about how these methods are bestial and blah and blah. Well, what the wackos have been doing is nothing short of what can be expected from beasts of the worst kind. So why be human with them? I think, given our present social construction, just a judgement will not suffice. More than the law we fear what "others" might think of us. So, to let everybody know, a public execution of the judgement seems like the need of the hour. Doesn't it?
In another context, in this age of social media, public humiliation has become quite rampant and it takes minutes for the incident/comment/situation to go viral: via MMS, Twitter, FB, or even YouTube.
While it has obvious ramifications on our personal lives and more so the personal lives of the people affected, does it also make us more accountable in the larger sense of the world, or no? I wonder.
Have you noticed how most brands are quick to respond when you post a complaint on their FB wall or using their Twitter handle?
I believe now hiring firms, and even schools, do an "online" background check to see how you "behave" in the eworld. Does that scare you?
Are you confident of your online identity? Do you use you real name mostly or hide behind pseudonyms and anonymity?
Do you take what's written about you in real and in reel seriously or with a pinch of salt?
Have you ever been publicly humiliated - for your fault or for somebody else's?
Have you seen public humiliation work?
[Image source: Google Images]
