it's all your fault

As humans we have a tendency to invoke general rules and high-sounding principles when they can be made to support our position, but to ignore them when it doesn't suit us.

We're all for tort reform when we think someone else is cashing in on a minimal injury, but when Walmart's insurance company wants to send us a big check for breaking a fingernail on their packaging, we're suddenly about "Big companies taking responsibility for their actions" or whatever.

When our neighbour's teenage daughter gets pregnant, we're for Discipline and Personal Responsibility. When it's our daughter, we're for Love and Understanding.

I've heard white people blame the *person* when the perp is black, but blame the person's upbringing when they're white.

I've heard people say both of these things:

1) Well, of course [black person] is selling drugs -- but have you considered who's BUYING them? Who's creating the market? The problem is mainly the white middle-class buyer -- the supplier's just filling a need, making a buck.

2) Well, of course [black person] is using drugs -- but have you considered who SUPPLIES these drugs? Who flies them into the country in bulk? The problem is mainly the white high-level supplier.

IOW, we apply philosophical rules to suit our needs at the moment. Generally, it's to make something be someone else's fault. And we all do it, constantly.