The people who squeal are often gross offenders.
I have found this to be true in class as well. And there is probably a reason for it. The biggest tattlers in class are children who have difficulty with impulse control and act out often. They don't completely understand why they are always in trouble, and so they begin to memorize rules, and apply them compulsively, because they are unable to generalize the rules of good behavior on their own, and I think they hope that by becoming compulsive about rules, without understanding them, they will be seen as good citizens. They become consumed with making sure that everyone is punished the same way, even when infractions are actually different- and they are unable to discern degrees of bad behavior.
I know it amuses a lot of teachers that their worst behaved students are often their biggest tattlers, and the most rabid monitors of behavior in others. I have heard teachers even go so far as to ridicule children for this. I know it seems even more ridiculous in adults, but try to remember that in every adult who tattles is a wounded child. They are probably working out some childhood traumas, and we probably shouldn't call them names. I will try to have compassion for that person, whoever they are. They are kind of a drain on free speech, but we will just have to forgive them for not having the fortitude to simply ignore that which bothers them. It does take a certain amount of will power to do that. Not everyone has that. Now let use say a little agnostic prayer for the unknown squealer. |
