Rule 1. Shame doesn’t do what you think it does.

 

I'm sure you know what shame is. But looking at the way it's being used by liberals and progressives, I'm not sure we all understand what it does.

 

People understand the feeling of shame, and we know that it’s a powerful disincentive. However, we do not seem to remember that shame is not a tool to guide positive behavior; instead, it reinforces the threat of social judgment and disapproval towards negative behavior. For example, most Americans I daresay would agree that being physically intimate with a close relative is contemptible, while few would say that a man shaking hands with a married woman is.

 

There are two aspects necessary for shame to be effective:

 

1. You must agree that the thing you did was wrong.

2. You must care about disappointing people if the information were revealed

 

Shaming Trump voters is like trying to put out a fire with cans of shaving cream: bizarre and dangerous. Please stop doing it.

 

When you see signs by “pro-life” advocates calling liberals “Baby-killers” and “Hell-bound sexual deviants worshiping at the furnace of Moloch”, does that make you want to reconsider your position? If you were formerly an evangelical, maybe, but for most people on the “Pro-choices” Left, these are not compelling arguments. Especially when pitted against the spectre of unlimited Government interference and regulation into every nook and cranny of a woman’s life.

 

But I was raised differently. As a pastor's son, I learned quite a lot about religions in the Ancient Near-East.  Moloch was one of the more popular of the ancient gods. Part of the worship of Moloch included human sacrifice. The worshipers would build a blazing fire inside of a large bronze idol, and then they would pray to this god: for rain, or for successful war, or for wealth. And then, to prove to this god how dedicated they were, they would take their own little babies and throw them, still living, into the fire. They would stand there in prayer, watching their child roast alive. Perhaps if the fire was hot enough, perhaps if the screams were loud enough, Moloch would hear your dedication and answer your prayer. For stuff.

 

You would not believe how easy it is for a skilled pastor to pivot that message to today: “...and more and more young women are willing to sacrifice anything for success, for status, for their careers, for themselves and their own future. The promise is seductive, “Your life will be free from inconvenience, you’ll be able to finish college, get a doctorate, and travel around the world… if you only give me what is required: The demon Moloch promises you success, if you only slaughter an unborn baby. Will you? Will you? Answer me! Your Soul is on the Line! It’s reported that 600,000 young women sell their souls to that demon every year, the demon of lust and greed and death! And Christians are sitting quietly by while this happens. God Forgive us!”

 

For someone with this perspective on reality, calling a person a “baby killer” is a very strong shame attack.

 

However, for the liberal who sees that sign, I doubt they have the same perspective:

 

1. They likely see a real and meaningful distinction between a zygote, a fetus, and an infant.

2. They believe the individual has the right to make the decision about what is and is not right on for their own bodies without government interference because of someone else's religious belief.

3. They may disagree with the notion of abortion as a form of demon worship.

 

Additionally, the Liberal seeing that sign likely has no problem disappointing the sign holder. So, shame will not work in this instance.

 

It works the same in reverse. A Trump voter is not going to be shamed by you, a liberal so-and-so being led by a person who [insert any conspiracy or scandal involving any Democrat]

 

You represent the opposite of what they believe, they believe they are right, they are surrounded by people who agree with them, and they hate you. Your shame will not work, and in fact, reinforces in their minds how little they should trust you.