Not my dad

Makes me think of the tamest OCD symptoms one can have. This is a disease, mind you, where you have to compulsively perform an action to undo, or clean away, a particular thought. It’s not hard to imagine how this basic, apparently universal, urge to perform a cleaning task in response to some physical or mental soiling can be ramped up into an out-of-control illness.

Makes me wonder what Tom Foley is washing these days. … I think this helps to explain why organizations tend to “cleanse” themselves of tainted individuals, rather than try to reform them, and why crisis management firms recommend that in these situations, the best thing to do is “come clean”, admit what happened, apologize, take responsibility for it, vow to make amends, and not do it again. It allows observers to “see” that one has cleansed themselves, so that they may now be more acceptable.

… I wonder if our elected officials have showers in their offices. I can think of a few who probably need full-fledged decontamination chambers.

Quite an interesting read. One thing I see as a core problem to the “addiction therapy” rage in America is that Americans seem to lack any sense of personal responsibility anymore. It is found among the ordinary Americans just as it is among celebrities. When caught doing something wrong, it is never one’s own fault, it is always caused by a disease or an addiction. Of course, I would argue that just because one is tempted by something or feels an impulse toward something, does not remove the CHOICE of whether or not to yield to such a temptation or impulse. But, attempting to garner sympathy by checking into rehab is much cooler! Plus, it allows people to wallow in their self-pity and talk about themselves. And many celebrities, not all of course, do have that touch of narcissism in them.

This lack of responsibility applies to criminals too. Horrendous crimes are explained away and no accountability is required because someone suffers from a “disease”.