Victims of public shame, such as Monica Lewinsky, Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Justine Sacco from “Is the Internet a Mob Without Consequence” are humiliated following the disclosure of their secrets, harassed by critics of the incident, and have spoiled reputations based on one broadcasted mistake, therefore, public shame should be left in the past. Victims of public shame face humiliation following the disclosure of their secrets because their actions are renowned by those who, through the victim’s shaming, have been made aware of a shameful event. Monica Lewinsky, for example, became infamous for her affair with the former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, after its occurrence became known.
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For instance, according to “Is the Internet a Mob without Consequence,” Justine Sacco, the former communications director for InterActiveCorp, was attacked after posting a racist tweet online stating: “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m White!” (Bilton 4). The turmoil of the tweet spiraled out of control when: “...people threatened to rape, shoot, kill, and torture her” (Bilton 4). In an effort to demean Ms. Sacco, strangers online took it upon themselves to verbally abuse her in ways seemingly far more hateful than her original comment. The public shaming following her foolish tweet was so harsh that it put her in danger and caused her to lose her job. The public shaming Ms. Sacco faced was far more intense than such a miniscule comment should have provoked; therefore harassment as a form of punishment in public shaming situations similar to Ms. Sacco’s are excessive and potentially harmful. Likewise, Monica Lewinsky was harassed by strangers on the internet following the publication of her scandal. In her speech, Monica discusses the unprecedented judgement she faced by strangers who, she states: “I was branded as a tramp, tart, slut, whore, bimbo, and, of course, that woman” (Lewinsky 04:53). Monica was faced with such hatred never before so prevalent in her life because of one egregious mishap in her life. When strangers deem it necessary to publicly shame someone, they do not only try to criticize, but they try to hurt
For instance, according to “Is the Internet a Mob without Consequence,” Justine Sacco, the former communications director for InterActiveCorp, was attacked after posting a racist tweet online stating: “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m White!” (Bilton 4). The turmoil of the tweet spiraled out of control when: “...people threatened to rape, shoot, kill, and torture her” (Bilton 4). In an effort to demean Ms. Sacco, strangers online took it upon themselves to verbally abuse her in ways seemingly far more hateful than her original comment. The public shaming following her foolish tweet was so harsh that it put her in danger and caused her to lose her job. The public shaming Ms. Sacco faced was far more intense than such a miniscule comment should have provoked; therefore harassment as a form of punishment in public shaming situations similar to Ms. Sacco’s are excessive and potentially harmful. Likewise, Monica Lewinsky was harassed by strangers on the internet following the publication of her scandal. In her speech, Monica discusses the unprecedented judgement she faced by strangers who, she states: “I was branded as a tramp, tart, slut, whore, bimbo, and, of course, that woman” (Lewinsky 04:53). Monica was faced with such hatred never before so prevalent in her life because of one egregious mishap in her life. When strangers deem it necessary to publicly shame someone, they do not only try to criticize, but they try to hurt