Self Policing

02/01/15

I am regularly reminded of the concept of self-policing. It's something that is touted as a solution to various systematic problems, but often doesn't work because of... well, systematic problems.

But I suppose it's also a cultural problem. Correcting or criticizing others is often seen as offensive, especially when done in a public place, and when done between allies in a given cause, is seen as divisive or in-fighting. I don't really think such ingrained attitudes are healthy for any person or group who wants to grow.

Criticism between allies is where the most growing can be done, I think. And public criticism being acceptable allows others to see that criticism is acceptable in general towards everyone. Healthy disagreement on finer points is good, and maybe should even be celebrated.

And disagreement on big or ethical grounds is where self-policing comes into play. I think without widely spread encouragement of disagreement and criticism and discussion at the smaller level, policing at the bigger level will fail. At the smaller level nothing is at stake, expect some bruised egos or already-fragile friendships. At the big level, we're talking long-term, best-friend level relationships that could crumble, and maybe even the need for people to go to jail.

Jail-time for big-name allies is a huge morale sink for communities. It can also really de-legitimize a movement. It doesn't help that when a big-namer falls, many members of the community deny wrongdoing or justify the perpretrators actions. It can really divide the whole community, and make them all the easier to conquer.

Criticism at the small level would help prevent this, as well as prepare a community for it. At the small level, problematic members can be identified much sooner, and their actions corrected before it becomes a real problem, or their influence minimized so they don't become a real problem. And small levels of participation in self-policing by a large amount of the community could allow some amount of people within that community to be really good at it. They could gain positions as official officers within the community, they could handle big problems in a more professional manner.

I guess what I'm saying is, if you want self-policing to work, you got to cultivate a good immune system. And a good immune system needs practice to become good, and it needs a means or protecting itself as well. And also, lots of other things that I'm unaware of because I'm just thinking aloud here.

What say you, Stephan? Cricitisms?