The court of public opinion:

I will begin by making the observation that faith, in the majority of our social interactions, becomes the court of public opinion. It becomes the general state of public discourse it sets the stage for the individual’s interaction with the social group. The group is driven by a general sense of public opinion. This general sense of public opinion is driven by the emotional state of the group as it drifts through time. The emotional state of the group is largely a result of innuendo, hearsay and gossip. In many cases, the outsider is simply described by a few in the group by the words: “I don’t like the way he thinks.” The dominant persuasive individuals of the social group call for respect by other group members, this becomes the status quo, and therefore, a judgment by the court of public opinion that accepts or rejects acceptance into the group. Individuals singled out in this way may be unaware and oblivious to their own circumstance. If the individual in question attempts to make amends or take corrective action to become accepted by the group, this option is simply unavailable, they have been permanently ostracized through the court of public opinion. This is an oversimplification of human behavior. In my opinion, it can be found originating from the teachings within Christian congregations. It is the process of condemnation for those that do not conform. It is the process that led to the Salem witch hunts. It is a process that does not respond to rational processes or reason, or even factual information. It is simply a condemnation by the group emotional state. Furthermore, they do not wish to discuss the differences of opinion, they have no desire to make amendments or change, they simply feel better about themselves because they have someone or some thought or idea to objectify. This has been the plight for those that have been persecuted and ostracized by the majorities in society throughout human history. We can observe that the exceptional individuals within the social structure have always been the ones that have been persecuted and ostracized by the majorities in society.