Rebuilding Trust Through Community and Accountability

Let us discuss some of what we have learned in our running learning thought experiment story about hate, corruption, and the belief that certain people are somehow “better” than others. These dynamics do not arise in a vacuum. They are shaped by countless small details and historical patterns that resurface whenever people engage in misconduct (Sometimes up to 5 waves). Over time, such behaviors become learned and normalized, often reinforced through social networks, inappropriate incentives, and personal gain.

Adam has seen much of the world, 
reads history, and has learned about
different peoples. He knows that
hate and misbehaviors detract
from society. So he created
a thought experiment to teach
a few of the central codified
and sancrosanct values so 
that they are respected in
decision making. He thinks
the next generation should learn 
these values as well. 

To explore this, consider a learning thought experiment. In this scenario, a clan-oriented court system and a tight-knit group of friends—mixed with a few rogue officers—engage in ongoing wrongdoing. These officers targeted individuals who spoke out after witnessing corruption, and they also targeted minorities to discourage them from visiting or living in the area. Their aim was to protect their own interests, enrich their friends, and remove anyone who threatened the group’s ability to control others. All of the actors belonged to the same insular social circle, one with a long history of bullying, belittling others, and displaying smug contempt. Rather than correcting the misconduct, the court favored these “local friends” and rewarded bad behavior, deepening the harm inflicted on those outside the group. Sometimes the out-group was the community itself that wants a healthy positive place to raise their children and learn sports from good mentors and see themselves as all valued no matter their race, religion, eye color, size, etc... (The next generation that is often forgotten in decision making).

When we analyze patterns like this, we often find additional victims. The same individuals and rogue officers had mistreated others for personal gain. Formal complaints existed, yet they were repeatedly ignored. In many cases, those who came forward faced swift retaliation. Whistleblowing offered no real confidentiality; instead, it was used as a pretext to spread false rumors, initiate baseless investigations, and discredit victims. Some misbehaviors continued for a long time and impacted not only adults but also youth.

What makes this especially troubling is that all involved knew their actions were wrong. They justified them because their own group benefited. The clan-oriented court prioritized familiarity over merit, reflecting deep racial and religious bias rooted not in fairness, but in perception and favoritism. This unfolded during a period when political extremism was gaining momentum, framing issues as “all for us or all against us,” and providing cover for misconduct. Life should never be reduced to such absolutes unless one is attempting to manipulate opinion.

Mo Mo couldn't see others
well so he had to buy glasses. 

We live much of our lives in little
fishbowls and until we swim
in other fish bowls we won't 
be capable of judging the fish
there. This is why
connecting with others
creates more shared
perspectives (unless
someone is trying to divide)

Philosophically, if you
spend some time multiple 
fish bowls you will see
the similarities in each.
There is a logic to life.

In this learning example, the wrongdoing was never fully undone because it extended beyond individual actors. This helps explain why trust in institutions might decline fairly rapidly during certain eras (era being defined here as 10-20 years through social changes). These institutions were meant to serve everyone, guided by shared expectations of fairness, justice, and socially sanctioned rules and values. Silencing political opinion, targeting victims, and undermining free speech through aggression are not principles on which a country was founded—no matter how often some may try to misuse them.

The silver lining is that many people recognized the injustice. The vast majority of officers—and people more broadly—are good and openly disagreed with the misconduct. Some raised concerns and articulated the idea of a “clan court,”(Here social and official get wrapped into one) where certain individuals behave as though they are above the law. Unfortunately, that perception sometimes proves accurate, allowing harmful behaviors to persist in different forms. Still, good people challenged the corruption, and when accountability improved, economic and social health began to recover relatively quickly (Something to think about if someone talks about improving the economy but fails to address human capital development needed to achieve those goals on a broad scale. Technology and human capital are part of social and economic growth. In theory.).

As for the smug, “better-than-others” social influencers who thrived during this period of misconduct, they are neither wholly evil nor admirable (Don't think of evil here as a purely absolute state. Think of it in a general term such as wrongdoing or a bad act. Such an act is "evil" because it detracts from society or self.). They are shallow individuals who lack genuine respect for others. They are not more successful, skilled, or accomplished than the people they target, yet they convince themselves that their insular, cult-like networks grant them superiority and entitlement. Many define themselves through sports—often exaggerating their abilities. History is full of similar examples, where complaints are dismissed and victims are told to stay quiet and move on.

What is encouraging is that beyond stopping corruption, good people came together and strengthened their sense of community. They recognized their shared responsibility to one another and to future generations. They appreciated the community, its history, and were well aware of the oversized egos involved. This reflects true civic patriotism. Communities are the central purpose of institutions, and those communities thrive when they draw on talent, ability, and moral conscience to build something greater than any single group.

We also learn something about ourselves by observing those who engage in smug hatred. They are incapable of fairly judging others because they know little about the people they condemn—their contributions, service, skills, or character. Their worldview is shaped by narrow social perspectives, leaving them unable to see others clearly. Perhaps the people they judge are in a completely different fishbowl and they cannot see clearly through the dirty glass. Interestingly, when removed from a cult-like atmosphere, many of these individuals become reasonable again, as if the spell simply dissolves. Poof magic! 🧙🏼‍♂️🤷

As a piece of imperfect but practical advice: when confronted with rude, aggressive people who take pleasure in harming or belittling others, it is often best to remain calm and polite while firmly maintaining boundaries. These individuals create conflict wherever they go. If it is not one person who challenges destructive behavior, it may be a minority, or someone who speaks out; if not them, then someone else whom a friend can exploit. Rumors, however, cause real damage. They have harmed communities by turning social life into something resembling a “kiss-the-ring” mob rather than a genuine exchange rooted in respect and authenticity.

Ultimately, we should strive to build the best society possible. There is always room for institutional growth and reform, and healthy social development can go a long way. When long-standing issues persist despite widespread concern, it becomes necessary to elect leaders who genuinely care about improving systems—leaders who support the vast majority of ethical officials while holding accountable the small number of bad actors who repeatedly escape consequences. Most people in these professions are honorable, and young people should be encouraged to join, engage, and be part of the solution rather than being misled by black-and-white thinking that too often benefits only a narrow segment of society.

Until next time—stay faithful to your principles, and to the shared values on which a healthy society depends. Makes no difference if we are discussing ancient or modern times as some things are important through the centuries. "Happy indeed would be the condition of youth if they had one corrupter only, and all the rest of the world were their improvers."-Socrates-Apology