Agree. My post is about how the crowd reacts to stuff. I think there is not a small amount of fear in a reaction which, without seeing a picture of the enclosure or hearing any explanation whatever the exact way the kid got in or how long he was left alone, the crowd blamed the mother, period. OVER 400,000 have signed a Change.org petition which began as a direct call for the mother to be charged; now the language has been modified somewhat.
Of course, lots of people did the same thing in the Sandusky case, blaming all sorts of people, including the mothers of some of the victims, for what happened. Why do people do this?
I think fear is the motivator. When I would see a story about a woman getting murdered by her husband/boyfriend, with the fact included as it often is that the perp had abused her in the past, I would say, 'Why didn't she leave?"
I have since found out that 2/3ds of all intimate partner homicides of females occur after she leaves. Its the most dangerous time of her life. So, maybe she did not leave because she was afraid he would kill her. I was then caused to question why I would accept such an easy way of dismissing the matter despite the easily gathered info that there is a very good, sensible reason why she might not have left. Why was I so stupid? Fear. I have daughters, sisters, friends and their children. If I do not want to confront the danger they face, I have to make sure that victim is different from them, and that they would not make such a "dangerous choice" as to stay with an abuser. That way I could set this case away from my kids and friends kids.
What does this have to do with the gorilla? Simple. When you see that kid getting flung through the water, you see your own kid. Ahhhhh..."But that wouldn't happen to MY kid because....." "The mother's an idiot and must have done something wrong. Let's start a petition!" Justice for Harambe!
Once you start watching for this dynamic, you will see as I have that it is everywhere. What people think, especially about the death or abuse of an innocent person, is often driven by an overwhelming desire to calm their OWN fears that it could happen to them. If that means you throw a murder victim or a frightened mother or a venerable football coach under the bus, then under the bus they go. Your heart will override your brain to make the pain go away.
I do it too, as I said at the beginning, so I am not pretending to have an answer.
