The fragility of a good reputation - or - Scrooge gets no credit for changing

[JRKH]

Why is is if a person has good reputation it takes only one slip to “wreck it” but if a person has a bad reputation, it seems like nothing they do can redeem it.

it just seems that there is this human need/desire/pathology - something - that works this way.

Why is that?

Yes I know that we are fallen people…something a little more specific would be nice…

Peace
James

 

[Cojuanco]

Why is is if a person has good reputation it takes only one slip to “wreck it” but if a person has a bad reputation, it seems like nothing they do can redeem it.

it just seems that there is this human need/desire/pathology - something - that works this way.

Why is that?

Yes I know that we are fallen people…something a little more specific would be nice…

Peace
James

Because humans are flawed, owing to original sin. It’s also why not only calumny, but also detraction, that is, the unnecessary exposure of someone’s true defects, is a sin - precisely because reputations are so fragile.

 

[Joe_5859]

Why is is if a person has good reputation it takes only one slip to “wreck it” but if a person has a bad reputation, it seems like nothing they do can redeem it.

it just seems that there is this human need/desire/pathology - something - that works this way.

Why is that?

Yes I know that we are fallen people…something a little more specific would be nice…

Peace
James

Well, we are all fallen people…

Honestly, though, that is an interesting phenomeonon. It’s the whole “rotten apple spoils the barrel” thing. We do seem apt to focus on the negative many times.

 

[Iron_Donkey]

In a word: caution.

Misplaced or misapplied at times, but that’s what it is.

There is also the psychological fact that we tend to, unless we consciously work at it, attribute actions of others to who they are whether than circumstances, and do the opposite for ourselves (so the person who snaps at us at work is a jerk, whereas when we snap at someone else, we’re just having a bad day).

 

[georget]

I think, it’s because we humans are harsh judges when it comes to others, something Jesus warned us against.

 

[Polycarp1]

It’s because of the stygmatization they suffer due to their prior bad acts. For example a person commits a theft, gets caught, then pays their dept to society. In spite of the fact that they have paid for their offensive behavior they may still carry the label as a thief for a long time. The behavior has seperated them from their “community of care” and the price they paid did not involve their being reintegrated back into it. Often our system of justice is only about facts and not all that concerned with healing all affected by the crime or offence.

In a similar way when we sin and we repent, we are forgiven but that doesn’t necessarily alleviate all the worldly consequences.

 

[Joe_5859]

In a word: caution.

Misplaced or misapplied at times, but that’s what it is.

There is also the psychological fact that we tend to, unless we consciously work at it, attribute actions of others to who they are whether than circumstances, and do the opposite for ourselves (so the person who snaps at us at work is a jerk, whereas when we snap at someone else, we’re just having a bad day).

That’s very true. I always think of this when I think of Jesus’ command to love others as we love ourselves. When it comes to ourselves, we’re often willing to bend over backwards to give ourselves the benefit of the doubt. We should do the same to others as well.

That’s my take, anyway.

 

[J_Peterson]

It could be:

1. We love to see the mighty fall because it seems to bring them down to our level (i.e. see, they are as bad as the rest of us)
2. The bad apples make us feel better about our situation (i.e. at least I’m not that bad)

 

[pollynova]

Because it’s a question of if they are sorry for what they did or are they sorry they just got caught.

 

[Margy1948]

I think that people are more forgiving than you posit.

Look at Bill Clinton, he did immoral acts, lied about it, than had to tell the truth only after the evidence would prove he lied.

Also, I find with the current scandal, that I easily forgive the Gay priests for cavorting about, forgiving the pedophile priests is more than I can handle.

I think we can trash a person for one mistake because we sometimes feel that their error was the true person and that we feel deceived.

I’m thinking about Jimmy The Greek who I believe was wrongfully sentenced by the court of public opinion even tho Bill Cosby tried to run interference for him.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

Why is is if a person has good reputation it takes only one slip to “wreck it” but if a person has a bad reputation, it seems like nothing they do can redeem it.

**it just seems that there is this human need/desire/pathology - something - that works this way. **

Why is that?

Yes I know that we are fallen people…something a little more specific would be nice…

Peace
James

I’m going to add “self-preservation”. If I know for a fact or have heard that someone lies, steals or cheats I have a chance of protecting myself. So I think the root of this is morally neutral. But then this becomes distorted, as someone already mentioned, due to our fallen nature.

I think it’s just easier for some people to think the worst of someone and makes them feel like they know something that others don’t, expecially those who might give someone a second chance. “Don’t hire that person:they’ll rob you blind.” It sounds like they are imparting wisdom and if they are right can be smug about it; but it’s not often you will they them admit they were wrong about someone.

 

[Bobby_Jim]

There are temporal effects of sin that are not automatically removed with forgiveness of the sin.