Sociopaths

When driving to work this morning, I saw a green tow-truck pull ahead of a matatu and then block it off. A policeman got out of the tow-truck, and apprehended the matatu driver while the tow-truck team proceeded to set up their chains so they could tow the matatu to the police station.  These few seconds of activity caused traffic to back up for about 300 metres. 

It made me reflect on the importance of respecting the rule of law. The relative safety, smoothness, and predictability that we need to live life is predicated on an assumption that there are certain rules that most people will follow most of the time. If I thought there was a 50% chance a waiter might choose to spit in my tea, I would never order tea outside of home.

But the desire for predictability is unconsciously tied to an assumption that someone somewhere will ensure the rules are followed so that those of us who are motivated to follow the rules get a fair shake.

In the public spaces, this responsibility of ensuring that everyone more or less adheres to the rules is given to law enforcement or the police. When individuals in a society begin to disregard the imperatives issued by law enforcement officials, this is a sign of anarchy that must be arrested immediately or else society will decline precipitously and the predictability we all want and expect will evaporate putting everything up for grabs.

Whereas we are all justifiably suspicious that the law enforcement official might be more interested in obtaining a bribe from the law-breaker, it is more important for society and for our own self-interest that we stand on the side of respect for law-enforcement officials.

Recently, I observed a situation, outside of the public sphere, and more within private and relational spaces, where person A carried out actions that indicated a reckless disregard and contempt for others, in the process creating exposure to a very real risk of physical harm for person B. Person B, on the other hand had a clear understanding of rules of decency and appropriate behavior and appealed to a higher authority for justice and fairness. 

In reflecting on this situation over time, I have come to the conclusion that person A is operating within a context where they have not been taught to have respect for third parties or to understand what constitutes decent rules of human behavior. 

A sociopath is defined as a person whose behavior is antisocial, often criminal, and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience. There are many signs in our society that we are breeding sociopaths - exemplified by the typical matatu driver whom we are all becoming like. Even if we get the short end of the stick, it is important that we do not lower ourselves to the socio-pathic behavior that is so often manifested around us.