When shame is the rule...

I always ask myself about the ways the society provides us with situations in wich shaming is not only possible, but is the rule. For example, when someone enters university...how do we call this "rituals"? Usually he has to do things to be laughted at, to show he is "inferior". And the clowns...I didn't like them, when I was a kid, because I had pity for them. And the comediants...they make us laught about "what they are" (Very good example is Woody Alen). And usual "jokes" friends make with each other, and nicknames they call each other, all based on a "friendly humiliation"? Well, there are lots of situations like these. What do you think about that? Any good idea???

• An idea at your request by Jonathan Grindlinger, M.D., 2/7/99
  • Thanks for your answer! by Lia Ades, 2/18/99