Public Shaming

Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling is banned from the NBA for life for expressing his racist views. His private words were publicly exposed. His words were so offensive that he suffered a backlash that cost him a $2.5 million fine and he is forced to sell his ownership of the team.

Sterling did not commit a crime. His free speech is legally protected. This is not a legal issue. He was judged and convicted by social media. When his bad behavior became too destructive to overlook, he subjected himself to public shaming. There are social consequences to speech.

So what is shame? Shame is an emotion that one feels when there has been exposure of one’s bad actions for all to see. It is a violation of cultural or social values. To “have shame” means to maintain a sense of restraint against offending others, while to “have no shame” is to behave without such restraint. Public humiliation serves a function of bringing one’s behavior back within the norm of socially accepted behavior. Or at least, serves as a warning for others.

I doubt Sterling’s punishment will cause a change of heart. He will likely always be a racist. But there is a lesson here for the rest of us. We are not above public scrutiny. As social creatures we depend upon connection for optimal mental health. Being “cast out” threatens our well-being. We should be careful of the impact of our words and actions. Integrity comes from valuing our community.