It is not polite to be too attentive to other people’s business, under some circumstances the members of actor’s group may define too great an interest in the behavior of out-group members as a form of treason. The Bible explains that we should not meddle in other people’s business, but we should worry about our own affairs. Do not put your input into matters that do not concern you, it only creates more problems. Many people want to know your business not to help, but just to know it and have something to gossip about. However, when are minds are set on God, we do not have time to meddle in another person’s situations. “Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before,” 1 Thessalonians 4.11. We can never truly be inside of the mind of another person, nor understand what they are experiencing. Even in the interactive form there may be a reason to deceive—to protect secrets and self-image, for example. There may be things about an individual that they personally have a hard time accepting and they would rather not have their business spread all around town like the 5 O’clock news. This may cause difficulty when an individual moves into a new situation. #RandolphHarris 1 of 6

Not only that, when you disclose highly sensitive information about a person, they may be embarrassed to face people from their past and it could leave them vulnerable to abuse and extortion. Not only that, the information disclosed may be less than complete and “accurate” because others do not really know what they are disclosing. Privacy has been under assault for years. Far from just minding our own business, privacy is central to virtually every liberty we tend to take for granted, not the least of which is freedom. The rights in relation to a person’s seclusion and private affairs is the foundation upon which our rights exit. It is not legal nor ethical to intrude upon a person’s seclusion or solitude, or into his or her person affairs. Nor is it lawful to publicly disclose embarrassing private facts about an individual, nor publicity placing one in a false light in the public eye. Violating one’s right to privacy is not only illegal, but it is dangerous. Privacy is more than just about who is reading your electronic mail; privacy is about who controls your life. Everything we consider personal and intimate concerns, from doctor-patient confidentiality to discussions with our spouse are functions of privacy. #RandolphHarris 2 of 6

Erosion of privacy affects not only what information is available to self-interested parties, but the decisions one can make without the coercive influence of those same parties. People will sometimes shamelessly hijack one’s personal information, and these self-declared advocates just into someone’s personal life only in part for their concern, not for one’s well being, but more to satisfy their own personal convictions. During the vilification, slander, and violation of personal information the target may get attacked, receive death threats because of the sheering willing of these parties and of the government to set aside the constitution in pursuit of their own agendas. At stake is not only the right to be left alone, but the right to make fundamental decisions that have a bearing on the quality of life without interference or intrusion. At issue as well is the point at which decision may be arbitrarily made for the “common good” and whose interests are being served. And it is abundantly clear that experimenting on someone and exposing them to things you know are poisonous is torture. Not only that, but enforcing the beliefs of special interest groups over an individual is stripping that individual of their humanity, and is called oppression—the very thing countries have one to war over on numerous occasions. #RandolphHarris 3 of 6

Embedded within American society is the belief that independence and individualism are virtues. There is a high value places in the right to privacy and a fear that, be invading the privacy of others, our own converted privacy is lost. However, our unwillingness to speak out and become involved has covered up scandals and illegal and unethical behavior by individuals and organizations. Our silence allowed these offenses to continue unimpeded, and people have suffered as a result. There is no justice in silence, for justice cannot be served until the silence is broken. Social pressure also works against speaking out and breaking the conspiracy. Those who speak out risk being resented and derided by the people who resent having the status quo disturbed, their lives interrupted, or the need to change, even if it is for their own good, People with the courage and conviction to speak out are often not well thought of by society. However, when the conspiracy is uncovered people might be criticized for not speaking out and could also face legal consequences. If it is related to any crimes or violence, the authorities will have to take action. #RandolphHarris 4 of 6

Social ills, personal crises, and even petty annoyances cannot be attended to or corrected until someone stops the conspiracy of silence that enables them to continue and allows us to redirect out thoughts and actions to a more beneficial course. It is almost a tenet of faith that behavior is motivated by a desire for social approval. If deviant behavior is what is desired for social approval, the actor will play this role when it is a reference group the actor is trying to please. The sad state of ethics and virtues is not a new development. The chain of silence can only be broken if people are able to reach consensus and agree to abide by and enforce a strong moral tradition. It takes courage to stand up for one’s values and ethics. However, some people do not speak out because they relish the perceived control, power, and excitement of being able to keep someone else’s deep, dark secrets. Many people have a certain craving for the titillating and juicy stories of someone else’s pain and suffering. If others assume that the attitudes and behaviors actor uses in one role represent the essence of the person, they will expect him or her to use those attitudes and behaviors in many other instances, and actor will develop a preference for this pattern because he or she is rewarded for doing so. #RandolphHarris 5 of 6

Abuse is the treatment of others or self in a way that causes injury or offense. It harms the mind and the spirit and often injures the body as well. It can cause confusion, doubt, mistrust, and fear. It is a violation of the law of society and is in total opposition to the teachings of God. The Lord condemns abusive behavior. In cases like these, if people expect actor to behave in a somewhat unusual manner, actors should try to meet those expectations, if they wish reinforcement. The use of the same behaviors for many roles may result in self-reinforcement. A role merger often saves effort when many roles are to be played, it gives actor an improved basis for predicting how others will react to him or her, it permits him or her to use a set of behaviors that are particularly satisfying more frequently than would otherwise be the case, and so forth. It is designed to provide high rewards, and if there were any alternative that were particularly profitable, there would have been no innovation to begin with. #RandolphHarris 6 of 6